Welcome to the NFL DFS Week 17 RB Coach article! Many of us are still busy decking halls, lighting menorahs and observing the seven principles of Kwanzaa but that doesn’t mean that we can’t put aside time to creating NFL DFS lineups that can help us win some cash to pay for all of that overspending we did this holiday season. 

 

 

 

Week 16 was probably my best week of the season as NFL DFS RBs like Bijan Robinson, Josh Jacobs, James Conner, James Cook, Chuba Hubbard, Jahmyr Gibbs all made me look good. Aaron Jones Sr. may not have been spectacular, but he performed well, and my recommendation to avoid Najee Harris in Week 16 was also spot on.

NFL DFS Week 17 RB Coach For FanDuel & DraftKings Fantasy

Well, that’s enough gloating for now… It’s time to look ahead to some of the NFL DFS RBs who have favorable upcoming matchups that you should consider adding to your NFL DFS lineups in Week 17.  

As usual, I’ve included several NFL DFS RBs at different price points that have an opportunity to have productive weeks in this article, but there are several backfields that I’m avoiding. 

 

 

 

NFL Week 17 RBs

Last week I mentioned that Las Vegas Raiders RB Ameer Abdullah was a potential good value play in Week 16 and he had a good week on the strength of his pass catching abilities. However, he plays the New Orleans Saints in Week 17 and they’ve given up the fifth fewest catches to NFL DFS RBs (16) over the past five weeks. Fellow Raiders RB Alexander Mattison (3.2 YPC for the season) should also be avoided. 

The Denver Broncos’ backfield is unusable for NFL DFS purposes because they've been using a running back by committee approach. New York Jets RB Breece Hall has what appears to be a great matchup against the Buffalo Bills, but while he’s been able to play over the past two weeks, underlying injuries have been capping his fantasy production. 

Tennessee Titans RB Tony Pollard is another NFL DFS RB who appears to have a great matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars, but he’s missed practice time this week due to an ankle injury.

Let’s switch gears to NFL DFS RBs that you should consider using in your NFL DFS lineups this week. These are a few of my favorites and I hope that by the end of Week 17 they’ll be your favorites as well.

 

 

 

NFL DFS RB Top-Tier Picks For Week 17

Jahmyr Gibbs, RB Detroit Lions - DraftKings: $8,500 | FanDuel: $9,000 

Gibbs is a regular in this column and has a favorable matchup against the San Francisco 49ers who’ve given up the third most rushing yards (677) and the second most rushing TDs (6) to NFL DFS RBs over the past five weeks. 

Gibbs’ 23 carries in Week 16 were the most he’s had all season and with David Montgomery sidelined due to injury, Gibbs remains the focal point of the Lions’ run offense. He rushed for 109 yards (4.74 YPC), scored a TD, and caught four passes in Week 16.

Jonathan Taylor, RB Indianapolis Colts - DraftKings: $7,900 | FanDuel: $8,400 

The New York Giants have been playing better against the run lately but over the last five weeks they are tied for having given up the most rushing TDs (7) to NFL DFS RBs. 

For the season they’ve also given up the fourth most rushing yards (1719) to NFL DFS RBs.  Taylor is coming off a monster game in which he rushed for 218 yards (7.52 YPC) and three rushing TDs against the Tennessee Titans in Week 16.

 

 

 

NFL DFS RB Mid-Tier Picks For Week 17

Kyren Williams, RB Los Angeles Rams - DraftKings: $7,500 | FanDuel: $8,600 

Williams has a favorable matchup against the Arizona Cardinals, who have given up third most rushing yards to NFL DFS RBs (440 yards, 5.64 YPC) over the past three weeks. 

He has five TDs in his last six games and is averaging 4.56 YPC during that time span. Williams has also rushed for at least 104 yards in three of his last four games. 

James Cook, RB Buffalo Bills - DraftKings: $7,200 | FanDuel: $8,800 

Cook has quietly been one of the most consistent NFL DFS RBs this season, rushing for 14 TDs and scoring another two through the air. In his last four games Cook is averaging 7.38 YPC and he has scored five total TDs. 

He takes on the New York Jets in Week 17, and while they’ve also been playing better against the run of late, they did give up 122 rushing yards to Kyren Williams in Week 16. 

 

 

 

NFL DFS RB Value Picks For Week 17

Bucky Irving, RB Tampa Bay Buccaneers - DraftKings: $6,700 | FanDuel: $8,000 

Irving has a great matchup against the Carolina Panthers who’ve been very generous to NFL DFS RBs this season. In his first matchup against the Panthers in Week 13 he rushed for 152 yards (6.08 YPC), scored a TD, and caught three passes for 33 yards. 

Irving has been dealing with hip and back issues lately, but he played his normal range of offensive snaps (57%) in Week 16.

Aaron Jones, RB Minnesota Vikings - DraftKings: $6,200 | FanDuel: $7,400 

Jones Sr. has his second matchup against his old team, the Green Bay Packers in Week 17. The Pack have been very tough against the run this season but in Jones Sr.’s first matchup against his old team, he rushed for 93 yards (4.23 YPC) and caught four passes for 46 yards. 

I’m banking that revenge will guide Jones Sr. to another big day against the Packers. Revenge may be a dish that is best served cold, but in Week 17 Jones Sr. faces the Packers away from the frozen tundra of Green Bay and he has played better at home (4.7 YPC) compared to when he plays on the road (4.3 YPC) this season.

 

 

 

NFL DFS RB Fades For Week 17

Rico Dowdle, RB Dallas Cowboys - DraftKings: $6,000 | FanDuel: $7,100

Dowdle has a tough matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles who have kept NFL DFS RBs in check the entire season. The Eagles have given up the sixth fewest rushing yards to NFL DFS RBs (1164) this season. 

In Dowdle’s first matchup of the season against the Eagles they contained him for just 53 rushing yards and three receiving yards.

 

 

 

NFL Week 17 RB Play Of The Week 

Bijan Robinson, RB Atlanta Falcons - DraftKings: $8,200 | FanDuel: $8,900 

Robinson is an NFL DFS RB worth paying up for in Week 17. He’s been on a roll lately, scoring four TDs and averaging 4.49 YPC in his last four games. 

His Week 17 opponent, the Washington Commanders, have been playing better against the run recently but for the season, they’ve given up the fifth most rushing yards (1702) and the fifth most rushing TDs (13) to NFL DFS RBs. 

 

 

 

NFL DFS Week 17 RB Projections