By this point in the NFL season, I imagine you've hit a rhythm in your one-week league of choice. You have your strategy that works (or have discarded a slew of strategies that didn't), you have a great idea of which players you can trust and which hunches you should follow and you're ready to end the season on a bang.
You've done your homework. You've ridden the ups and the downs. You've got this.
But just in case you'd like another perspective, I've provided my DraftKings and FanDuel lineups below. Like you, a full season of playing one-week leagues has crafted my strategy. Maybe it aligns with yours, maybe it doesn't. But hey, every little bit of analysis helps, right?
FanDuel
I'm all about Cam Newton this week. In his last two starts, Newton has thrown for 427 passing yards and four touchdowns while running for another 146 yards and two scores. He's picked the perfect time of year to heat up and now faces an Atlanta defense against which he threw for 292 yards and two scores in Week 11.
And keep in mind that Atlanta is giving up 292.1 passing yards per game, worst in the NFL. Newton should have a big game for one-week owners at a pretty reasonable price.
In Week 6, LeSean McCoy rushed 22 times for 149 yards against the New York Giants. While the Philadelphia Eagles have nothing to play for, I wouldn't expect Chip Kelly to mail in a game against a divisional foe or let the Eagles go out with four straight losses to end the season, so I'm guessing the Giants will see a healthy dose of McCoy.
Start him with confidence.
Matt Asiata is a riskier play, but in the past two weeks he has three scores and more than 75 yards from scrimmage in each game, so he's certainly made the most of regaining the starting gig in Jerick McKinnon's absence. The Chicago Bears are a Dumpster fire at this point, so if you are looking for a bargain at running back, Asiata is your guy.
Julio Jones is on fire, folks, with 14 or more FanDuel points in four straight games. Carolina was the last team to really stymie him back in Week 11, yes, but this Atlanta Falcons passing game has really picked it up down the stretch.
Jones is a decent value for a player who has as big an upside as any player in fantasy football, in other words.
With Robert Griffin III showing some improvement in Week 16, DeSean Jackson is an easier player to recommend in Week 17 against the Dallas Cowboys. Jackson has 14 or more fantasy points in two of the last three weeks and, like Jones, his big upside makes him an appealing option for the price.
This is Week 17, folks—go big or go home. Jackson is risky, yes, but at that price it's hard to pass up a home run hitter like D-Jax.
Rueben Randle is a bargain-bin selection, but there is some method to the madness. Last year in Week 5 against the Philadelphia Eagles, he caught five passes for 96 yards and two scores. With Philly likely to pay very close attention to Odell Beckham Jr., I wouldn't be surprised if Randle was a big part of the game plan.
This one is a bit of a hunch. But after watching the Eagles secondary all year, I'm convinced pretty much any human being on the planet who knows the basic rules of football could torch them.
The Dallas Cowboys have really started leaning on Jason Witten, as the tight end has 14 receptions for 159 yards and a touchdown in the past two weeks. For years, Witten was Tony Romo's favorite target. With a playoff berth on the line this week, Witten reprised the role.
And don't forget, Witten had five receptions for 70 yards and a score when Dallas first played Washington. I'm expecting an encore.
As for the defense, well, the Houston Texans have J.J. Watt and are playing the Jacksonville Jaguars. I'm not sure much else needs to be said here. And at kicker, my philosophy is to always pick one of the cheapest options available, since kicker production is impossible to predict. I'm sticking by my guns this week.
DraftKings
My lineup at DraftKings is almost identical to my FanDuel lineup, with the format differences making up the majority of the changes.
At tight end, going with Travis Kelce was primarily a budget concern, as he came $400 cheaper but has produced enough this season to make him worth starting. Kelce is Kansas City's best weapon in the passing game outside of Jamaal Charles, so his ceiling is still pretty high at this point.
At the flex, I was all about getting Dan Herron for pennies on the dollar this week. He was a no-show this week against Dallas, sure, but the Indianapolis Colts had to abandon the pass after finding themselves in a big deficit early, and Herron accounted for seven of the 10 carries the Colts had in the game.
He's better than Trent Richardson, he continues to get meaningful touches and the Tennessee Titans are 31st in rushing yards allowed this season. Sign me up.
All statistics via FanDuel, DraftKings or ESPN leagues.
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