We kick off Week 17’s DFS action with a three-game slate on Christmas Day. And to make this week even bigger, we have a vast majority of season-long fantasy football championships being determined right around the holiday season.

Similar to Thanksgiving, this year we’re given a three-game slate for Christmas Day on DraftKings and FanDuel. There are some bad quarterbacks getting the start for some crucial matchups, so let’s focus in on the first slate of the week and look at NFL DFS Christmas Day D/ST Coach!

NFL DFS Christmas Day D/ST Coach for FanDuel & DraftKings Fantasy

This slate is fairly ugly. One game has an implied total of 36.5 points, another opened at 50.5 points. And right in the middle of both, we have a game with an implied total of 44.5 points. And the smallest favorite on the slate is still favored by six points.

We have potentially three backup quarterbacks on this slate. In some way, you can probably say we have three teams arguably going with their third quarterback option. I know it’s not how the NFL drew it up, but it’s what we’re working with for the NFL DFS Christmas Day D/ST Coach.

And remember, this is a short slate, so no defense is necessarily a true fade. Your D/ST should be considered the last piece of the NFL DFS lineup building puzzle, so pay down here if you feel so inclined. It’s a short week for all six teams on this slate, and anything could happen.

 

 

 

NFL DFS D/ST Top Tier Pick for Christmas Day

Denver Broncos – DraftKings: $3,700 | FanDuel: $5,000

Perhaps we shouldn’t assume this is such a lock after the defensive effort the Broncos displayed at home against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Moreover, since the team’s Bye week, they’ve allowed 26+ points to three of their last four opponents. The pass rush is still good, but there appear to be some chinks in the armor.

This is the game with the lowest implied total on the slate at 36.5 points. To make matters worse for the Kansas City Chiefs, the Broncos are 12.5-point favorites, giving the Chiefs an implied total of 12 points. That’s how bad this season has been for the Chiefs. They won’t make the playoffs, Patrick Mahomes is done for the year, and even Gardner Minshew’s season is likely over as well. So the Chiefs will trot out Chris Oladokun as their starting quarterback, and while the matchup is at home for the Chiefs, this is a great spot for the Broncos to get back to their winning ways with a dominant defensive effort.

 

 

 

NFL DFS D/ST Mid-Tier Pick for Christmas Day

Detroit Lions – DraftKings: $3,200 | FanDuel: $4,900

If J.J. McCarthy is unable to play for the Minnesota Vikings, then the Lions could potentially be an even better play than the Kansas City Chiefs, but we should at least be mindful that the Lions and Vikings will play indoors while the Chiefs and Broncos play in the elements of the Midwest.

The Lions need to win their last two games to even have a shot at making the playoffs. This defense has not played well of late. They’ve allowed 27+ points in five straight games, and they’ve allowed 400+ yards of offense to four of their last five opponents as well.

But again, if McCarthy can’t play as he was estimated as a DNP on Monday’s practice report, then Max Brosmer will get the start for Minnesota instead. In Brosmer’s lone start earlier in the year against the Seattle Seahawks, he threw four interceptions. The Vikings have an implied team total of about 19 points, which seems a bit optimistic given Brosmer’s previous appearances.

 

 

 

NFL Christmas Day DFS D/ST Value Pick

Dallas Cowboys – DraftKings: $3,000 | FanDuel: $4,400

The Cowboys aren’t a true “value” like we’re used to seeing, but I’m mostly just featuring the teams and matchups that make sense on paper. The three teams I’m previewing for the NFL DFS Christmas Day D/ST Coach are the ones that are the big favorites. And they’re all going against backup quarterbacks.

That’s the same case for the Cowboys, who will likely go against Josh Johnson for this NFC East matchup in Week 17. But at least for Washington, Johnson has extensive NFL experience. This game does have the highest implied total on the slate at 50.5 points, and the Commanders still have an implied team total of 22 points. If you can squeeze in two of the previous teams we’ve discussed, it might be best to go that route.

The Cowboys have given up 34+ points to three straight opponents, and the defensive efforts of late have been pretty toxic. But again, they’re a D/ST playing a third-string quarterback on a short week. It’s not pretty, but Johnson threw an interception and had a fumble in relief of Marcus Mariota in Week 16.