NFL DFS Late Slate Pick Week 17

With only two games on the late slate in Week 17 (Bills vs. Eagles and Raiders vs. Giants), roster construction matters even more than usual. On short slates, you don’t win by finding all the best plays; you win by getting the right ones and being intentional about where you spend your salary. This is the week to embrace paying way down at a few volatile or low-rostered spots so you can comfortably pay up where the ceiling truly separates.

Cheap volume, touchdown equity by proximity, and players whose roles don’t change regardless of game script become your foundation, allowing you to jam in the elite pieces that can swing an entire slate with one drive. You don’t need perfection across nine roster spots; you need access to the nuclear outcomes. In a two-game slate, punting correctly isn’t reckless; it’s often the only way to unlock the lineups that win tournaments.

More Week 17 Fantasy Football Fun!: | Sneaky Starts | Fantasy Football Waiver Wire | Weekly Sleepers & Streamers | Starts & Sits | Skrip’s Week Winners | NFL DFS | NFL Player Props | IDP Analysis | Bold Predictions | Survivor Picks | NFL Injury Report | Dynasty Trade Targets | Weekly Rankings | Dynasty Risers and Fallers

Week 17 NFL DFS Late Slate Picks

Quarterbacks

Geno Smith, Las Vegas Raiders

I know we are talking about Geno Smith here. He has not been good this season, but hear me out on this one. In Week 17, Geno will go up against a Giants defense that gives up the fifth most fantasy points to opposing teams’ quarterbacks. Quarterbacks average 261 total yards and two touchdowns per game against the Giants. There are only two games in the Late Slate this week, so if you do not want to pay up at quarterback, Geno is the answer.

• FanDuel $6500
• DraftKings – $4400

Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles

The Bills are tough on the pass and not so great against the run. Hurts may be the perfect type of quarterback to take advantage of this situation. Jalen has eight rushing touchdowns this season and might add to that total in Week 17.

• FanDuel $8600
• DraftKings $6600

Running Backs

James Cook, Buffalo Bills

James has been cooking all season long. In Week 17, the Bills will play the Eagles. The Eagles give up the 10^th most fantasy points to opposing teams’ running backs. Cook has had five total touchdowns over the last two games and has eclipsed 100 yards rushing in each of those games. Look for this game to be run-heavy by both teams, and Jalen will run right through the Eagles’ run-funnel defense.

• FanDuel $9000
• DraftKings $8000

Ashton Jeanty, Las Vegas Raiders

The Raiders draw the Giants in Week 17, and it’s hard to ask for a better setup. New York has been one of the most generous defenses to opposing running backs, ranking third in fantasy points allowed at the position. Jeanty is also coming off a monster workload: 25 total touches, 188 yards from scrimmage, and two touchdowns; and this isn’t the case of chasing last week’s production. The matchup gets better. Expect Jeanty to be featured heavily once again, especially at home in Week 17.

• FanDuel – $7500

• DraftKings – $6100

Saquon Barkley, Philadelphia Eagles

Barkley has over 20 touches in each of the last three games. He also scored a touchdown in each of those games. In Week 17, the Bills’ defense is up, and they give up the fifth most fantasy points to running backs. This should be a big game for Barkley, as everyone, and I mean everyone, runs on the Bills.

• FanDuel $8700
• DraftKings $7600

Tyrone Tracy, New York Giants

Well, look here, yet another defense that stinks against the run, the Raiders. The Raiders give up the ninth most fantasy points to opposing teams’ running backs. Since the Giants play the Raiders in Week 17, Tracy is now a great player to have in your lineup. Tracy has 18 touches in each of the last two games, leading the Giants running backs in touches.  He will have the opportunity to produce big this week.

• FanDuel $6200
• DraftKings $5400

Wide Receivers

Tre Tucker, Las Vegas Raiders

Tucker has not seen a match this soft in six weeks. He has been playing against great pass defenses in all those games. He hasn’t produced well over that time frame either. In Week 17, Trey gets to play against a Giants defense that gives up the fifth most fantasy points to opposing teams’ wide receivers. With Brock Bowers out, Tucker should become the top passing option in the Raiders’ offense. Look for good production this week.

• FanDuel – $5400
• DraftKings – $3800

AJ Brown, Philadelphia Eagles

Since Philly Bitchfest 2025 AJ Brown has seen either double-digit targets or scored a touchdown in every game. He is going up against a tough Bills defense in Week 17. In the past five games, Brown has either 100 yards or a touchdown in every game. This squeaky wheel just keeps getting oiled.

• FanDuel $8600
• DraftKings $7000

 Wan’Dale Robinson, New York Giants

Robinson plays almost every single snap for the Giants on offense. He leads the Giants with a 27% target share on the season. The volume will be there in Week 17. The Giants also play the Raiders. The Raiders give up the tenth most fantasy points to wide receivers. Wan’Dale is a volume play this week.

• FanDuel – $6100

• DraftKings – $5700

Tight Ends

Theo Johnson, New York Giants

The Raiders are up in Week 17, as you know. The Raiders defend tight ends exceptionally well. Theo is the second option in the Giants’ pass game, after Wan’Dale Robinson. Johnson leads the Giants in receiving touchdowns, and this week is a good candidate to pull one in. Look for Theo to be a Big Johnson this week.

• FanDuel $5000
• DraftKings $3400

Michael Mayer, Las Vegas Raiders

This is another case of volume play. With Brock Bowers out, Mayer should see some serious volume against the Giants. In the last game that Bowers missed, Michael Mayer was a scary tight end for the competition. In that game, he had seven targets, which he turned into five receptions, 50 yards, and a touchdown. The potential for this type of game is there for Mayer as the secondary option in the Raiders’ Pass Attack This Week. Do not be scared of Michael Mayer this week.

• FanDuel $4600
• DraftKings $2500

DEF

New York Giants

The Giants’ defense showed real upside in Week 16, piling up 15 fantasy points against the Vikings with four sacks, an interception, a fumble recovery, and a defensive touchdown. The matchup gets even better in Week 17 as they face the Raiders, the most favorable offense for fantasy defenses. Over the past three weeks, opposing DSTs have averaged 12 fantasy points against Las Vegas. The Raiders also allow a league-high 3.8 sacks per game and rank last in offensive scoring at just 14 points per contest. All signs point to the Giants as a sneaky strong defensive start across all fantasy formats this week.

• DraftKings – $2900

• FanDuel – $3700

Make sure to check out all of our Week 17 Fantasy Football Rankings and Analysis!