Become a Factor: Playing Single-Entry in Week 17

In Week 17, most seasonal fantasy football seasons are over, so it is time to learn how to play daily fantasy football for next season plus have some fun this week.  Playing on Fantasy Factor means that you will play in only single-entry contests versus like skilled players.

Let’s see if we can use the Playbook PRO to create a winning lineup since you only need one.   Fantasy Factor is 100% supported in all our tools and features. Use the Playbook, Coaches and dozens of deep analytical editorials from our team to identify a set of players to consider.  Then use our tools to research those who would have the most success and create lineups based on value with the site you are playing on.

In week 17, we really want to see who is playing for something and what players might be sitting out to give some other talented players a chance to excel.  Here are the teams and what they are playing for to help us to determine some smart plays this week.

NFC:

  • Rams playing for 1st round BYE
  • Bears playing for 1st round BYE but need Rams loss
  • Vikings playing for playoff berth
  • Eagles playing for playoff berth but need Vikings loss

AFC:

  • Chiefs playing for AFC West division title and home-field throughout the playoffs
  • Patriots need help to improve their seeding or get home-field throughout the playoffs
  • Texans need help to improve their seeding or get home-field throughout the playoffs
  • Baltimore playing for AFC North division title.  Need help for 1st round BYE.
  • Chargers need Chiefs loss also to win the division and get home-field throughout the playoffs
  • Colts playing for playoff berth.  Colts win the division with a Texans loss.
  • Titans playing for playoff berth.  Need help for division win and first round BYE.
  • Steelers need Ravens loss or Colts and Titans to play to a tie Sunday Night

These scenarios caused Fantasy Factor to set some salaries for players super low.  Jared Goff is $2200, and Drew Brees is $3400.  Finding the bargains and unearthing them so you can afford Christian McCaffery or Antonio Brown is the game for Week 17.

Now that we know what teams to lean on and have taken a quick look at the salaries, we can DIVE deeper with the DFS Coaches to find best plays at each position. 

The Points Allowed By Position page has more data late in the season and can be more effective.  We can see all the Vegas odds and understand what teams have the best matchups for each position. 

Then, we use our Lineup Generator to complete the process.  This custom tool pulls in 33 metrics plus the editors’ views on players to give you winning lineups for Fantasy Factor.

Here are some good bargains uncovered from using the this simple less than 15-min process.

Nick Foles – QB - PHI - $3800

With the uncertainty of the week, Nick Foles is priced super low.  With the changes in timing of the games so that the Vikings play at the same time, the Eagles will have to win so they have a chance.  With the Bears still playing for home-field advantage, the Eagles could back in.  The reigning Super Bowl MVP produced last week to the tune of 471 yards and four touchdowns.  No reason to believe that he will not find Alshon Jeffery and Zach Ertz a lot and an Eagles stack could make some sense with this pricing.

Sony Michel – RB – NEW - $2600

Another super-low salary that will allow us to take top salaried guys like Saquon Barkley or Antonio Brown .  Michel has averaged 16 carries a game in the last five contests.  With an Implied Points of 28.5 for the Patriots and a New York Jets team that allows more than 21 points to running backs in the Fantasy Factor scoring, this is an equation for Sony Michel to produce points.  The Patriots are still playing for home-field advantage, so they will methodically run the ball to keep the Jets off the field and control the game.

Brandin Cooks – WR – LAR - $4100

There are other bargains with Adam Thielen at $4600 and Tyreek Hill at $5600, but Thielen plays the Bears who have been shutting down offenses with great pressure defense from Kahlil Mack and the boys and Hill has been banged up a bit.  Cooks has 1142 yards receiving this year so he should have some big yards versus the 49ers who allow 36.7 Factor points a game to wide receivers. 

These savings allow us to make sure we get the highest ceiling and highest floor players into our lineups like Antonio Brown , Christian McCaffery and Zach Ertz .

Here is the lineup we made:

In the flex, we go with Michael Thomas as he is the Saints go to receiver when the run is stopped.  With the new quarterback in Carolina, an undrafted rookie, Thomas and Brees should have a day.  You could also choose the super-hot Chris Carson , but Michael Thomas feels like he has more upside.

Remember, this is a sample lineup that is made on a Thursday so you should consider making your own with our tools as after finding some bargains, the Lineup Generator is not necessary.

Well, thank you for a great season and we hope to catch you in the playoffs.  If you have any questions or just want to talk fantasy sports, please contact me at rick@fantasyalarm.com.