At long last: the fantasy football championship. After a grueling season, it all comes down to this. In a do-or-die matchup where every point counts, any possible advantage in your starting lineup needs to be considered. Here are some sleepers that could help secure a DraftKings DFS matchup or season-long fantasy win in Week 17.
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Top Fantasy Football Sleepers
TE Chig Okonkwo, Tennessee Titans ($3,600)
With Will Levis benched, the Titans have turned to quarterback Mason Rudolph ($5,000) behind center. While the veteran isn’t known for his arm strength, he’s an experienced passer that often favors short throws rather than deep shots. That preference has led to plenty of production for Chig Okonkwo. Tennessee’s tight end has hauled in 17 catches for 140 yards on 21 targets over the past two weeks.
On a Titans team that lacks elite weapons on offense, Rudolph should be content to take what the defense gives him. Jacksonville has been the seventh-friendliest defense to tight ends, so there’s a strong chance the veteran QB looks down the middle of the field. There’s a chance Tennessee goes run-heavy if they jump out to an early lead against the three-win Jaguars. Still, Okonkwo makes a ton of sense as a low-cost flier at the game’s thinnest fantasy position.
RB Raheem Blackshear, Carolina Panthers ($4,000)
A career year for Chuba Hubbard came to a close on Saturday. The Panthers announced that their starting running back would be placed on injured reserve due to a calf injury, cutting his season short by two games. With rookie running back Jonathon Brooks (knee) also out of commission, third-year pro Raheem Blackshear appears to be the next man up out of the backfield.
Blackshear hasn’t had much of an impact this season, rushing the ball just three times for 13 yards. Still, there aren’t any better options on Carolina’s depth chart, so the team will need to trust the third-stringer with more touches on Sunday. The Buccaneers have a solid run defense, so there’s no guarantee of a big game. Regardless, snagging a starting running back off of the waiver wire could save a desperate fantasy manager’s season.
WR Wan’Dale Robinson, New York Giants ($4,400)
The Giants have nothing to play for other than draft position. Malik Nabers (toe) is questionable for Sunday’s game vs. the Colts; conventional wisdom suggests that playing your top wide receiver in a meaningless contest doesn’t make sense. Even if the rookie does suit up, there’s no guarantee that New York gives him a full workload.
With or without Nabers ($6,600), Wan’Dale Robinson is a sneaky-good option in most fantasy formats. The third-year wideout has had a mini-breakout, recording a career-best 78 catches for 585 yards and two touchdowns. Indianapolis has allowed the eighth-most receptions per game to opponents (22.7), a statistic that favors possession receivers. If New York finds itself trailing early, a likely scenario, quarterback Drew Lock ($4,900) is sure to look for a safety blanket like Robinson out of the slot.
Set your DraftKings fantasy football lineups here: NFL $2.25M Fantasy Football Millionaire [$1M to 1st]
All odds provided by DraftKings Sportsbook, lines and odds subject to change.
I am a promoter at DraftKings and am also an avid fan and user (my username is barmy) 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.
