Week 17 of the NFL season is already off to the races. Two games were on Christmas, a typical Thursday Night matchup took place, and there were three Saturday games on the slate. This will lead to a more mild Sunday of football compared to what we are accustomed to.
Even still, the final push for the playoffs is on and plenty of games hold significant seeding stakes. Six games will be kicking off in the 1 p.m. ET window and then just two games in the later afternoon slate.
There are far more ways to get involved in the action than just traditional betting. One of the more unique features on DraftKings this year is Pick6 Fantasy Football! This article will look at my top picks for the Week 16 slate in which you simply choose more or less than the assigned statistic. These picks will specifically look at Sunday’s matchups.
Jayden Daniels More Than 48.5 Rushing Yards
The Washington Commanders’ outlook greatly changed when they selected Jayden Daniels with the second overall pick. Last year’s Heisman winner has elevated this offseason in a major way and their playoff hopes are alive. The organization has a chance to clinch a playoff opportunity for the first time since 2020.
It will not be easy as Daniels is set to take on the Atlanta Falcons who are tied for the lead in the AFC South. While Daniels’ arm has been plenty impressive in its own right, his dual-threat ability is what makes him so special as a player. The LSU product has rushed the ball 128 times for 737 yards and six touchdowns. He is averaging 49.1 rushing yards per game and has rushed for more than 48.5 yards in seven of the 15 games.
Daniels was bothered by a rib injury in the middle of the season which limited his rushing opportunities. He has gotten healthy and returned to using his legs regularly. This will especially be the case in this matchup with the playoff stakes on the line. Daniels rushed for 81 yards last week and 66 the week before. Look for him to continue building off this and rush for more than 48.5 rushing yards for the eighth time this season.
Aaron Jones Sr. More Than 63.5 Rushing Yards
The most intriguing matchup of the weekend will take place between the Green Bay Packers and Minnesota Vikings. Both teams have clinched a playoff spot but seedings are still on the line. Currently, the Lions and Vikings are tied for the lead in the NFC North. Whichever team wins this divisional race will secure the top seed in the NFC. The Green Bay Packers are not far behind them with an 11-4 record. Detroit does not play until Monday, so they will have an idea of how the picture plays out in front of them before they take on the 49ers.
To add another layer to this matchup, Aaron Jones Sr. will be suiting up against the Packers for the second time this season after spending the first seven seasons of his NFL career in Green Bay. The 30-year-old has been revitalized by the change in scenery and has a chance for a career-high in rushing yards if he finishes the season strong. Jones is averaging 69.7 rushing yards per game which is the second highest number of his career. He has rushed for more than 63.5 yards in 10 of the 15 games he has played including in the first matchup with the Packers where he finished with 93 rushing yards.
Sam Darnold has played some great football this season and provides the Vikings offense with an ideal balance. The threat of Darnold’s arm, along with the impact made by Justin Jefferson and the rest of the Vikings pass catchers, make it impossible for opponents to key in on the run. Expect Minnesota to give Jones plenty of chances as he looks to get revenge on his former team. Expect him to record more than 63.5 yards on the ground for the 11th time this season and the second time against the Packers.
Aidan O’Connell Less Than 226.5 Passing Yards
It has been an up-and-down season for Aidan O’Connell and the rest of the Raiders organization. Last year’s 135th overall pick has started five of seven games he’s played this season. He has completed 63.2 percent of his passes for 1,156 passing yards, four touchdowns and three interceptions. Across his five games as a starter, O’Connell is averaging just 196 passing yards per game.
While the Raiders’ season outlook is bleak, O’Connell is playing for his future job opportunities and would benefit greatly from a strong performance here. He has a great chance to do so against a 5-10 Saints team that ranks 30th in yards allowed and 28th in passing yards given up.
Even with a friendly matchup, there is not much evidence to suggest O’Connell will be ready for the challenge. Just last week he faced off with the Jacksonville Jaguars who rank dead last in passing yards and total yards allowed. O’Connell managed to scrape his way to 257 passing yards but it took him 38 pass attempts to do so. New Orleans has had success forcing turnovers, ranking 11th in interceptions, and the risk of this popping up would limit O’Connell’s outlook greatly. Don’t expect this matchup to get much time on RedZone and for O’Connell to be held to less than 226.5 passing yards for the fifth time this season.
Mike Evans More Than 85.5 Receiving Yards
The Buccaneers are tied with the Falcons with an 8-7 record for the NFC South lead. The divisional race will be decided over the next two weeks, so the Buccaneers find themselves in a must-win spot as Atlanta holds the tiebreaker. Tampa Bay suffered a frustrating loss at the hands of the Cowboys last week and needs to bounce back and find its way into the win column.
Expect Mike Evans to play a key role in the team’s offensive attack. This is an important stretch for Evans as well. The future Hall of Famer has reached 1,000 receiving yards in all 10 of his seasons in the league. He currently has 818 receiving yards this season across 12 games. He is averaging 68.2 receiving yards per game on the season but will need average 91 across the final two weeks to reach 1,000 yards for the 11th consecutive season.
Luckily for Evans and the Buccaneers, this matchup with the Panthers presents a great chance. Carolina ranks dead last in points allowed, 31st in yards given up and 25th in net yards per pass attempt. Evans is the unquestioned top target in the Tampa Bay offense and Baker Mayfield is plenty capable of airing it out and allowing him to make plays. Evans had 159 receiving yards in Week 15 and has recorded more than 85.5 yards in three games this season. Look for him to add to this list against a struggling defense and with important playoff stakes on the line.
A.J. Brown More Than 69.5 Receiving Yards
The Eagles will be without Jalen Hurts this week which will change their offense in a major way. The star quarterback suffered a concussion in the first quarter of last week’s game and the Philadelphia offense halted with Kenny Pickett under center. Washington outscored Philadelphia 29-12 in the final three quarters of the loss. While Pickett was mostly fine in his chances, there were some clear changes made to the play call with the threat of Hurts’ rushing ability greatly missed.
One part of the game plan that remained was A.J. Brown being heavily involved. When in doubt, Pickett had no problem throwing it up for grabs and allowing Brown to attempt to make a play. He finished last week with eight receptions for 97 yards and a touchdown and saw a season-high 15 targets in the loss.
The Eagles will now face off with the Cowboys who have played better football in recent weeks. Even still, Dallas ranks 30th in points allowed, 27th in yards given up, 22nd in passing yards allowed and 29th in net yards per pass attempt. Injuries have played a role in the Cowboys’ secondary and Brown will be leaned on as the top target for the Eagles. Count on the Pro Bowl wide receiver to record more than 69.5 receiving yards just as he has done in eight of the 11 games he has played this year.
Josh Allen More Than 0.5 Interceptions
While Lamar Jackson has played himself back into the race, Josh Allen is in the driver’s seat for winning his first career MVP. Unfortunately, some familiar turnover issues have popped up for Allen in recent weeks. After not throwing an interception through the first seven games of this season, Allen has thrown for six interceptions across the past eight weeks.
He deserves credit for limiting the interceptions this season, but this is the same Allen who threw 18 interceptions last season and had thrown for at least nine interceptions in his first six seasons in the NFL. The Bills will face off with the Jets this week who have dropped to 4-11 on the year and have performed well below expectation. While they have underwhelmed as a team, the Jets’ defense has been solid. New York ranks 16th in points allowed, fourth in yards given up, fifth in passing yards allowed and the fewest passing touchdowns conceded on the season.
The Jets have not been overly successful in forcing interceptions, with just five total on the year, but their coverage has been solid and Allen’s risky tendencies could be the cure for this. Expect the Bills’ star to do a little too much for stretches in this game and put the ball in harm’s way. Allen has limited turnovers thus far on the season, but this has been more about other teams failing to capitalize rather than Allen preventing it. Expect the Jets to punish him at least once and for Allen to throw an interception this week.
What is DraftKings Pick6?
Pick6 is a peer-to-peer fantasy variant where you build a lineup (“Pick Set”) of at least two players and select whether you believe each will outperform their listed stat projection. Enter your Pick Set in Pick6 contests to compete against other users. Get enough picks correct and win a share of cash prizes.
How to Play DraftKings Pick6
Create a Pick Set
Create a Pick Set by choosing 2+ players from the same sport and Pick Group (a set of picks available from a group of set competitions). For each player, simply select if you think they’ll have more or less than their listed stat projection. In each Pick Set, you cannot pick the same player twice and you must select players from at least two different teams.
Enter an Amount
Once you finalize your Pick Set, choose your entry fee amount. Your entries will be automatically distributed into available contests, subject to your confirmation.
Sweat Your Picks
When the games go live, use the My Picks tab to follow your picks in real time to track how your players are performing against their projections and how they stack up against other users.
Compete for Prizes
Make enough correct picks and win a share of the contests’ guaranteed prizes. Any prizes won will be credited to your DraftKings account after contests are finalized.
Play at DraftKings Pick6 or by downloading the DraftKings Pick6 app on Apple or Google!
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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.
Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.Must be at least 18 years or older. Higher age limits may apply in some states. Eligibility restrictions apply. Valid only in states where DraftKings Pick6 operates. Void where prohibited. For entertainment purposes only. Winning a contest on DraftKings depends on knowledge and exercise of skill. See terms at pick6.draftkings.com.
