DFS Digging In The Crates Daily 2020 Week 17 DraftKings

Week 17

DraftKings (Main Slate)

Quarterbacks

Baker Mayfield vs. Steelers ($5,500)

The Browns are against the wall week 17 as they push for a back door playoff berth. The hope is that he’ll have Jarvis Landry and Rashard Higgins to add some much needed offensive fire power. Mike Tomlin mentioned sitting some starters and that bodes well for Mayfield and the Browns. We’ve seen some ceiling games from Baker this season and he’ll need one week 17. The Browns got trounced week 6, but the Steelers have been vulnerable on defense over the last month. A cheap, contrarian stack makes sense and the heat is on Baker Mayfield after he fumbled a loss away to the Jets.

Mitchell Trubisky vs. Packers ($5,600)

I feel like Mitchell Trubisky makes the Crate list every week. Why not? He is cheap and he’s essentially playing for a contract and his play is being watched carefully. He’s been efficient by and large over the last month and dropped 22 fantasy points on the Packers week 12 in a shoot out. A Bears stack with Allen Robinson/Jimmy Graham or David Montgomery is in play. The point total is over 52 and that will bode well for Trubisky in a negative game script.

Running Backs

Giovani Bernard vs. Ravens ($5,400)

Joe Mixon broke a ton of fantasy footballers in 2020, but old reliable Giovani Bernard has filled in nicely both in the running game, and the passing game. He is a near lock for 15-20 touches each week, and has averaged 21 PPR points over the last two games. The Bengals will try to play spoiler, similar as to how they beat the Steelers week 15. That game script involved a heavy dose of Bernard and it was successful. At his price point, he’ll be hard not to play if we are paying up at wide receiver.

Melvin Gordon vs. Raiders ($5,700)

Phillip Lindsay has landed on Injured Reserve and that will create more usage for Melvin Gordon week 17 as he tries to pad his 2020 stat line. He’ll get a Raiders defense that allowed Myles Gaskin to run wild a week ago, and with the lack of Broncos offensive fire power in the passing game, Gordon will be relied on. I expect near 20 touches, and like Giovani Bernard, we are paying for volume on the cheap. He has the upside, but the consistency due to a lack of balanced offensive approach has held Gordon back.

Wide Receivers

Mecole Hardman vs. Chargers ($4,200)

The Chiefs have the AFC wrapped up and Patrick Mahomes is NOT going to play. It really doesn’t make sense for any of the other starters to play either. That said, Mecole Hardman would slide into a starting role. Using him will be contingent on the starters but he could easily play upwards of 75% of the offensive snaps. He’s growing before our eyes on the best offense in football and on the surface, eerily resemblant of Tyreek Hill. He’ll be an upside tournament dart that can get us Defense/Special Teams equity points as well.

Jamison Crowder @ Patriots ($5,000)

Jamison Crowder the Quarterback showed up week 16 against Cleveland throwing a 43 yard seed to Braxton Berrios. He also caught 7-of-9 targets for 92 yards, and a touchdown. Crowder will get a Stephon Gilmore-less Patriots secondary. Crowder has been the lone model of consistency, upside, and durability over the past two seasons for the Jets. He is an underpriced PPR machine, with a clear rapport with Sam Darnold on a Jets offense that has very little offensive fire power. At his price, we can use him in tournaments or cash games.

Tight Ends

Mike Gesicki @ Bills ($4,200)

Mike Gesicki is going to be a top-10 tight end next season and we’ll get him for free in season long leagues. Gesicki’s development is directly correlated to Ryan Fitzpatrick, but he’ll get Tua Tagovaiola, and he’ll face a Bills team that has allowed the seventh most fantasy points to Tight Ends. Devante Parker is highly questionable which will bump up Gesicki’s usage. Week 2 Gesicki went bananas against the Bills catching eight passes for 130 yards and a touchdown. He’s fine for cash games and has the upisde for GPP’s.

Evan Engram vs. Cowboys ($3,700)

The Giants have been an offensive mess in 2020 but Evan Engram has been one of the only models of consistency catching 61 passes for 637 receiving yards. On a point per dollar basis, Engram grades out as one of the best Tight ends on the slate. I envision 7-10 targets for the Pro Bowler. He’ll once again be used as Danny Dimes safety blanket in the middle of the field.

Bonus: Irv Smith Jr. @ Lions ($3,900)

Defense/Special Teams

Cardinals @ Rams ($2,800)

Surprisingly the Cardinals are a top-TEN defensive unit this season, in defensive DVOA. They’ll get John Wolford whom is making him NFL debut. Sign me up all day long at that price tag.