The NFL Week 17 slate has been upended by critical late-week injury news. The nightcap at Lambeau Field has transformed from a potential Super Bowl preview into a gritty "battle of the backups" with Jordan Love officially OUT and Lamar Jackson doubtful. We open with the Texans and Chargers in a defensive struggle out West, but all eyes are on Green Bay, where Tyler Huntley and Malik Willis are set to lead their respective offenses in freezing conditions. With backup quarterbacks under center and totals plummeting, this slate is no longer about ceiling - it’s about locking in guaranteed volume and surviving the chaos.

 

NFL DFS Slate & Game Overviews

The news of Love and Jackson missing the game changes the entire landscape. The Packers/Ravens game now features the lowest total of the week. DFS players should pivot heavily toward bell-cow running backs and defenses, as passing touchdowns will be at a premium given the defensive rankings involved.

Priority Plays: Derrick Henry, Josh Jacobs, Nico Collins, Woody Marks, Omarion Hampton, Ladd McConkey, Luke Musgrave.

Key Value Spots: Tyler Huntley, Malik Willis, Isaiah Likely, Jayden Higgins.

Houston Texans vs. Los Angeles Chargers

Spread: Chargers -1.5

Total: 39.5

Texans NFL DFS Breakdown

With the chaos in the other game, C.J. Stroud becomes the safest quarterback play on the slate by a wide margin, though the matchup is brutal. He faces a Chargers defense that ranks 8th in scoring (20.1 PPG allowed) and 6th against the pass (179.3 YPG). Despite this, Stroud is the only QB guaranteed to throw 30+ times. His connection with Nico Collins is the slate's highest-ceiling stack. Collins is one of the few receivers capable of winning consistently against a top-10 secondary and should command a massive target share.

Rookie Jayden Higgins has emerged as a critical piece of this passing attack. The big-bodied wideout offers Stroud a reliable contest-catch option, particularly useful against the Chargers' physical zone coverage. Higgins is a strong candidate for red-zone looks and serves as an excellent leverage play off the highly-owned Collins.

In the backfield, rookie Woody Marks provides a versatile dual-threat option. With the Chargers' pass rush likely heating up, Stroud may rely on Marks for dump-offs and screens. His receiving ability gives him a solid floor in PPR formats, making him a sneaky value play who can accumulate points without needing a touchdown.

 

Chargers NFL DFS Breakdown

Justin Herbert loses some luster in a game with a sub-40 total, and he faces a nightmare matchup. The Texans boast the #1 scoring defense in the NFL, allowing just 16.6 points per game, and rank 4th against the run. The Chargers will likely try to establish the run with rookie Omarion Hampton, but sledding will be tough against a Houston front allowing fewer than 100 rushing yards per game.

The best value on the Chargers remains Ladd McConkey. In a game where moving the chains matters more than deep shots against Houston's 5th ranked pass defense, McConkey's volume on short/intermediate routes makes him a PPR staple. If you need salary relief, Quentin Johnston is a "boom-or-bust" option, but on this specific slate, his "boom" potential is one of the few ways to separate from the field. You can also look to Keenan Allen here as well as a pivot off either. 

 

Baltimore Ravens vs. Green Bay Packers

Spread: Packers -3

Total: 37.5 (Adjusted down for QBs)

Ravens NFL DFS Breakdown

With Lamar Jackson doubtful, Tyler Huntley steps in as the starter. Huntley is a capable backup, but he faces a Packers defense ranked 9th in both scoring (20.2 PPG) and rushing yards allowed (103.8 YPG). Expect a massive workload for Derrick Henry after last weeks second half fiasco down the stretch where he didn't touch the football. In freezing temperatures against a top-10 run defense, volume is king, and Henry might see 25+ carries. He is the Lock of the Slate.

In the passing game, Huntley historically leans heavily on his tight ends. The Packers rank 10th against the pass, meaning windows will be tight. Mark Andrews and Isaiah Likely get a bump in target share, while Zay Flowers becomes a volume-based play on screens, though his ceiling is capped by the Packers' disciplined secondary.

 

Packers NFL DFS Breakdown

Jordan Love is OUT (concussion), handing the keys to Malik Willis. Willis offers dynamic rushing ability but is unpolished as a passer. He faces a Ravens defense that is statistically vulnerable through the air (27th in passing yards allowed), but Willis may struggle to exploit this weakness. Instead, expect the Packers to hide him behind the run game.

This makes Josh Jacobs an absolute must-play against a Ravens run defense that ranks 13th (108.9 YPG) a respectable unit, but one that can be worn down. For pass catchers, tight end Luke Musgrave becomes a fascinating safety valve. Musgrave is the clear TE1 and provides a big target for an inexperienced passer in the red zone. You can also look to receivers Jayden Reed and Romeo Doubs who offer an easier outlet for Willis over a single deep-shot dart throw like Christian Watson in hopes he gets behind the Ravens secondary. 

 
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