Week 17 DraftKings DFS Sunday Main Slate Breakdown

December 28, 2025 Adam Krautwurst DFS, Season Long – All Sports
Adam's Eye: DFS at Draftkings
Adam's Eye: DFS at Draftkings

Week 17 DraftKings DFS Strategy (Main Slate)

Written by Adam Krautwurst (currently ranked #1 in the World Championship Leaderboard)

Week 17 is a motivation + matchup slate, which is critical this late in the season. Teams still fighting for seeding (Eagles, Bengals, Jaguars, Patriots) offer far more stability than eliminated squads sleepwalking to the finish line. Pricing has also softened across the slate, allowing stars-and-scrubs builds to thrive.

Core Slate Takeaways

  • QB pricing is fair, not cheap → prioritize matchup over raw value
  • Saquon Barkley is the best RB play on the slate
  • Ja’Marr Chase remains underpriced for his usage
  • Michael Mayer at $2,500 is a lineup unlock
  • You can comfortably pay up at RB/WR without sacrificing roster balance

Quarterback Strategy

Top QB: Drake Maye

Jets allow top-7 QB fantasy production. Patriots still playing for top seeding. Efficient, aggressive offense. Rushing ability provides ceiling + floor.

Value QB: Jacoby Brissett

Bengals allow 30.5 PPG (worst in NFL). Bounce-back spot after low-volume week. Still capable of 40+ pass attempts. Strong pairing with Chase bring-backs.

Running Back Strategy

Core RB: Saquon Barkley

Bills are a run-funnel defense. Eagles still fighting for NFC positioning. 5.3 YPC and TDs in three straight games. Strong leverage over Jonathan Taylor chalk.

Value RB: Ashton Jeanty

25-touch role with Bowers on IR. Giants dead last vs the run. Only offensive weapon left. Massive workload security.

Wide Receiver Breakdown

WR Anchor: Ja’Marr Chase

49 targets in four games. Cardinals allowing 34.7 PPG recently. Zero TD regression coming. Still not priced like a true WR1 overall.

Best Value WR: Jakobi Meyers

43 targets in six games. Colts missing top two CBs. Jacksonville still playing for division. Price far too low for role.

Tight End Strategy

Spend-Up: Trey McBride

Bengals allow most FPPG to TEs. Game environment screams shootout. Elite ceiling in GPPs.

Salary Lock: Michael Mayer

Minimum price with Bowers on IR. 90%+ snap rate without Bowers. Allows double-RB + elite WR builds. Cash and GPP viable.

Defense Notes

Best value defenses: Browns, Raiders, Giants, Steelers.

Week 17 DraftKings Lineups

LINEUP 1 — Balanced Chalk with High Floor

  • QB – Drake Maye ($6,800)
  • RB – Saquon Barkley ($7,600)
  • RB – Ashton Jeanty ($6,100)
  • WR – Ja’Marr Chase ($8,300)
  • WR – Jakobi Meyers ($5,300)
  • WR – Stefon Diggs ($5,800)
  • TE – Michael Mayer ($2,500)
  • FLEX – Khalil Shakir ($5,100)
  • DST – Cleveland Browns ($2,500)

Why this works: Barkley + Chase provide elite raw points. Mayer unlocks the entire build. Strong matchup across every position. Ideal for cash or single-entry contests.

LINEUP 2 — Tournament Build with Ceiling Correlation

  • QB – Jacoby Brissett ($5,700)
  • RB – Saquon Barkley ($7,600)
  • RB – Tyrone Tracy Jr. ($5,400)
  • WR – Ja’Marr Chase ($8,300)
  • WR – Brian Thomas ($5,200)
  • WR – Jakobi Meyers ($5,300)
  • TE – Michael Mayer ($2,500)
  • FLEX – Trey McBride ($7,500)
  • DST – Browns ($2,500)

Why this works: Bengals stack leverage via Chase. Brissett ceiling at suppressed ownership. Strong late-slate upside if CIN–ARI shoots out.

Final Week 17 DFS Notes

  • Michael Mayer is the most important salary decision
  • Barkley > Taylor this week
  • Chase is still underpriced for volume
  • Favor teams with playoff motivation
  • Don’t over-stack bad teams unless price forces it