Week 17 of the NFL season is already off to the races. Following a doubleheader on Christmas and a typical Thursday Night Football matchup, there will be three games taking place on Saturday.
Kicking off at 1:00 p.m. EST, the New England Patriots will host the Los Angeles Chargers. The Chargers will be looking to cement their playoff opportunity with a win. Then at 4:30 p.m. EST, the Cincinnati Bengals will host the Denver Broncos with both teams fighting for their playoff lives. Finally, at 8:10 p.m. EST, the Los Angeles Rams will host the Arizona Cardinals with both teams in a fierce playoff race, as well.
These additional games create another opportunity for a DraftKings Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) Showdown slate. Here is a look at some DFS value plays that could greatly outproduce their salaries in DraftKings Saturday contests.
Set your DraftKings fantasy football lineups here: NFL $1.25M Saturday Special [$300K to 1st]
Antonio Gibson ($5,200)
Entering as the eighth-most expensive running back on the Saturday slate, Antonio Gibson has a chance to greatly outperform this $5,200 price tag. Gibson out-snapped Rhamondre Stevenson last week, logging 59% of the offensive plays. Head Coach Jerod Mayo hinted to the media that this change may be here to stay following Stevenson’s seventh fumble of the season and a botched backward pass that led to a Bills touchdown.
Both Stevenson and Gibson have a chance for some significant production as the Chargers have struggled to stop the run this year. Los Angeles ranks 18th in total rushing yards allowed and 27th in net yards per rush attempt, giving up 4.7 yards per carry. 16 different running backs have rushed for more than 44 yards against them this season. Whether the posturing from Mayo is just a motivational tactic regarding Stevenson or Gibson taking the reigns as a lead back is yet to be determined. But, there seems to be some substance to the frustrations with the fumbles, and Gibson has played a role in every game this season with 7.7 touches per game. With the possibility of a true breakout game on the table against a struggling defense, get Gibson into your lineups at the $5,200 price point.
Quentin Johnston ($5,100)
The Chargers offense has become increasingly more pass-friendly as the season has progressed. This has been beneficial to each of the wide receivers, with Quentin Johnston especially making his presence known in recent weeks. On the season overall, he has tallied 37 receptions for 477 yards and a team-high eight receiving touchdowns. He ranks 47th among all wide receivers in fantasy points based on DraftKings fantasy scoring with an average of 10.5 fantasy points per week.
Looking at this matchup, the Patriots rank 18th in passing touchdowns allowed and have given up an average of 1.5 passing touchdowns per week. Especially considering the uncertainty in the Chargers’ backfield, expect Los Angeles to be focused on attacking through the air. Johnston has reached the end zone three times across the past three weeks and has been targeted at least twice in every game this season. He enters this week as the eighth-most expensive wide receiver, but has perhaps the clearest path to touchdown opportunities. Expect Justin Herbert to give him a few chances in the red zone as the team officially punches their ticket to the playoffs with a win.
Audric Estime ($5,000)
The Broncos backfield has transformed into a full-scale running back by committee format, but Audric Estime seems to be the most fantasy-friendly option. The rookie running back has seen his level of opportunity increase as the season has progressed and he’s made the most of his opportunities thus far. Looking at last week, Estime ran the ball nine times for 48 yards and a touchdown. This was enough for 10.8 fantasy points, and no other member of the Broncos backfield had more than four carries.
The defense has been the root of the issue for the Cincinnati Bengals all season. The Broncos will look to exploit this against a team that ranks 28th in total points and yards allowed, 21st in yards allowed, 25th in rushing touchdowns conceded, and 21st in net yards per rush attempt. Estime is the ninth-most expensive running back on the Saturday slate and is coming off his most productive matchup of the season. This is a risky play, but if Estime has success early on in this game, don’t be surprised if he remains the primary running back from start to finish.
Andrei Iosivas ($3,800)
While the Bengals’ defense has been incredibly frustrating, their offensive attack remains dangerous. Joe Burrow is playing at an MVP level, even if the team’s outlook will keep him out of these conversations. Cincinnati has the most passing yards and touchdowns in the league this season with each pass catcher playing a role. Looking at Andrei Iosivas, he has tallied 31 receptions for 408 yards and six touchdowns. He has also been targeted in every game and recorded as many as five receptions in a single contest.
While Denver has a more respectable defense, Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins will receive the majority of the defensive attention. Iosivas stands 6-foot-3 with a strong frame and a large catch radius. He enters Saturday as the 15th-most expensive wide receiver on the slate. Expect the Bengals to have a strong offensive output as they desperately try to keep their playoff hopes alive. Count on Iosivas to make his presence felt and for him to outperform his $3,800 price tag.
Set your DraftKings fantasy football lineups here: NFL $1.25M Saturday Special [$300K to 1st]
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I am a promoter at DraftKings and am also an avid fan and user (my username is seanbarnard) and may sometimes play on my personal account in the games that I offer advice on. Although I have expressed my personal view on the games and strategies above, they do not necessarily reflect the view(s) of DraftKings and do not constitute a representation that any particular strategy will guarantee success. All customers should use their own skill and judgment in building lineups. I may also deploy different players and strategies than what I recommend above. I am not an employee of DraftKings and do not have access to any non-public information.
