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Week 17 NFL DFS QB Breakdown: Top Picks, Values, and Sleepers on DraftKings and FanDuel

jalen hurts scores fantasy football points with his legs

In this piece, I highlight quarterbacks who stand out in our large suite of analytical fantasy tools, most specifically, our FantasyLabs Player Models. While the models are built for DFS contests, this is an all-purpose fantasy article with actionable information for all formats.

As news breaks throughout the week and we adjust our projections (powered by Sean Koerner), player ratings in our Player Models will change as the projections change. For updates, visit the models directly.

And don’t forget about the tools that FantasyLabs has to offer, like our Lineup Optimizer to effortlessly create up to 300 lineups, or use our Lineup Builder if you like to hand-build your lineups.

Finally, make sure to check out all the projections available for purchase (Chris Raybon’s come included with a FantasyLabs subscription) within the FantasyLabs Models. Subscribers now have the option to purchase Derek Carty’s THE BLITZ from our Marketplace. Projections from One Week Season and Establish the Run are available if you’re a subscriber to those specific sites (our optimizer is a separate add-on feature).

You can also combine them to create your own aggregate projections:

Top NFL DFS Quarterback Picks in the FantasyLabs Models

On DraftKings, there are two quarterbacks near the top of the individual Sean Koerner, Chris Raybon, Cash Game, and Tournament Player Models.

  • Jalen Hurts
  • Tyrod Taylor

We’ll discuss why these quarterbacks are popping in our models, as well as take a look at some other quarterbacks.

Become an All-Access Member Today

Lineup builder and optimizer

Real-time DFS models & projections

Data-driven analysis & tutorials

 

Top Model NFL DFS Quarterback Picks

Jalen Hurts ($8,300 DraftKings, $9,200 FanDuel): Philadelphia Eagles (-10.5) vs. Arizona Cardinals (48 total)

Few things are as automatic in today’s NFL as the tush push. Jalen Hurts notched his 15th rushing touchdown of the year, posting 27.44 DraftKings points against the Giants on Christmas. Hurts’ prowess around the goal line always keeps him as one of the top projected scorers, as he can top 20 DraftKings points with ease, even with a poor game through the air.

He matches up with Arizona this weekend, who has allowed the ninth-most DraftKings points per game to opposing quarterbacks. We won’t have to worry about Hurts dealing with pressure this week, as Arizona has the sixth-lowest pressure rate and blitzes at the lowest rate in the league.

Hurts will have more than enough time to sit back, slice up this defense, and maybe get the passing game back on track. Philadelphia has just one touchdown through the air over the past two weeks, so maybe Hurts and the Birds can right the ship here.

He’s the top option in our Cash Game and Tournament Model, boasting the highest ceiling and floor projection on the weekend.


Tyrod Taylor ($4,600 DraftKings, $6,700 FanDuel): New York Giants (+5.5) vs. Los Angeles Rams (44.5 total)

Tyrod Taylor seemed to breathe a little life into the Giants offense last week, averaging over eight yards per attempt and throwing a touchdown. Taylor also adds a nice rushing element that boosts his fantasy value. In his last four games, he’s had 21, 33, 25, and 24 rushing yards.

This matchup is beatable, as the Rams have allowed the eighth-most DraftKings points per game to opposing quarterbacks. Taylor doesn’t necessarily have a talented set of receivers, but he’s very cheap. He leads the position in Projected Plus/Minus and Points/Salary.

The Giants are also underdogs of almost a touchdown, so there’s a decent chance they’re in a negative game script, and Taylor has an elevated number of pass attempts.

He’s the top quarterback in both Sean Koerner and Chris Raybon’s Pro Models.

Don’t forget to check out our SImLabs Lineup Generator to create advanced DFS lineup using the power of simulation:

Other Notable NFL DFS Quarterback Picks

Josh Allen ($8,200 DraftKings, $8,800 FanDuel): Buffalo Bills (-13) vs. New England Patriots (40.5 total)

Josh Allen and the Bills narrowly escaped last week against the Chargers. It was his second-lowest attempt number of the season, as he threw just 21 passes. He was hyper-efficient, though, averaging 11.3 yards per attempt. He had two touchdowns on the ground, which boosted his numbers, finishing with 25.98 DraftKings points.

Allen was great in the first matchup with New England despite the loss. throwing for 265 yards and two touchdowns while running for another en route to 26.3 DraftKings points. As I’ve highlighted, the Bills lean on Allen in these must-win spots, and this week is no different.

Allen is a very strong option at low ownership in tournaments.


Lamar Jackson ($7,700 DraftKings, $7,900 FanDuel): Baltimore Ravens (-3) vs. Miami Dolphins (47 total)

Lamar Jackson and the Ravens brought their A-game to San Francisco on Christmas night, beating the 49ers by two touchdowns. Jackson started slow but turned it on, throwing for over 250 yards and two touchdowns while running for 45 yards on the ground.

Baltimore now comes home for a huge matchup with the Dolphins, as both teams are jockeying for the 1-seed in the AFC. This Miami defense has allowed the 15th-most DraftKings points per game to opposing quarterbacks on the year but has been better as of late. I’m happy to use Jackson at low ownership, as it’s hard to ignore players of his caliber when they aren’t projected to see much ownership.

Be sure to check out all the pick’ems Sleeper has to offer with Sleeper Fantasy promo code LABS1 for a $100 deposit match.

My Favorite NFL DFS Quarterback Leverage Pick(s)

Jacoby Brissett ($4,900 DraftKings, $6,800 FanDuel): Washington Commanders (+12.5) vs. San Francisco 49ers (49.5 total)

Jacoby Brissett has looked good in relief in two straight games and now gets a chance to start against the 49ers. He averaged 12.4 and 7.7 yards per attempt the past two games against the Rams and Jets.

San Francisco has allowed the sixth-fewest DraftKings points per game to opposing quarterbacks on the year, but I’m expecting a lot of pass attempts at a cheap price. Eric Bieniemy has called one of the pass-heaviest offenses in the league, and I’m not expecting that to change with Brissett under center.

Brissett has very cheap stacking partners, allowing you to cheaply get exposure to one of the highest-totaled games of the weekend and load up on studs elsewhere.

 

In this piece, I highlight quarterbacks who stand out in our large suite of analytical fantasy tools, most specifically, our FantasyLabs Player Models. While the models are built for DFS contests, this is an all-purpose fantasy article with actionable information for all formats.

As news breaks throughout the week and we adjust our projections (powered by Sean Koerner), player ratings in our Player Models will change as the projections change. For updates, visit the models directly.

And don’t forget about the tools that FantasyLabs has to offer, like our Lineup Optimizer to effortlessly create up to 300 lineups, or use our Lineup Builder if you like to hand-build your lineups.

Finally, make sure to check out all the projections available for purchase (Chris Raybon’s come included with a FantasyLabs subscription) within the FantasyLabs Models. Subscribers now have the option to purchase Derek Carty’s THE BLITZ from our Marketplace. Projections from One Week Season and Establish the Run are available if you’re a subscriber to those specific sites (our optimizer is a separate add-on feature).

You can also combine them to create your own aggregate projections:

Top NFL DFS Quarterback Picks in the FantasyLabs Models

On DraftKings, there are two quarterbacks near the top of the individual Sean Koerner, Chris Raybon, Cash Game, and Tournament Player Models.

  • Jalen Hurts
  • Tyrod Taylor

We’ll discuss why these quarterbacks are popping in our models, as well as take a look at some other quarterbacks.

Become an All-Access Member Today

Lineup builder and optimizer

Real-time DFS models & projections

Data-driven analysis & tutorials

 

Top Model NFL DFS Quarterback Picks

Jalen Hurts ($8,300 DraftKings, $9,200 FanDuel): Philadelphia Eagles (-10.5) vs. Arizona Cardinals (48 total)

Few things are as automatic in today’s NFL as the tush push. Jalen Hurts notched his 15th rushing touchdown of the year, posting 27.44 DraftKings points against the Giants on Christmas. Hurts’ prowess around the goal line always keeps him as one of the top projected scorers, as he can top 20 DraftKings points with ease, even with a poor game through the air.

He matches up with Arizona this weekend, who has allowed the ninth-most DraftKings points per game to opposing quarterbacks. We won’t have to worry about Hurts dealing with pressure this week, as Arizona has the sixth-lowest pressure rate and blitzes at the lowest rate in the league.

Hurts will have more than enough time to sit back, slice up this defense, and maybe get the passing game back on track. Philadelphia has just one touchdown through the air over the past two weeks, so maybe Hurts and the Birds can right the ship here.

He’s the top option in our Cash Game and Tournament Model, boasting the highest ceiling and floor projection on the weekend.


Tyrod Taylor ($4,600 DraftKings, $6,700 FanDuel): New York Giants (+5.5) vs. Los Angeles Rams (44.5 total)

Tyrod Taylor seemed to breathe a little life into the Giants offense last week, averaging over eight yards per attempt and throwing a touchdown. Taylor also adds a nice rushing element that boosts his fantasy value. In his last four games, he’s had 21, 33, 25, and 24 rushing yards.

This matchup is beatable, as the Rams have allowed the eighth-most DraftKings points per game to opposing quarterbacks. Taylor doesn’t necessarily have a talented set of receivers, but he’s very cheap. He leads the position in Projected Plus/Minus and Points/Salary.

The Giants are also underdogs of almost a touchdown, so there’s a decent chance they’re in a negative game script, and Taylor has an elevated number of pass attempts.

He’s the top quarterback in both Sean Koerner and Chris Raybon’s Pro Models.

Don’t forget to check out our SImLabs Lineup Generator to create advanced DFS lineup using the power of simulation:

Other Notable NFL DFS Quarterback Picks

Josh Allen ($8,200 DraftKings, $8,800 FanDuel): Buffalo Bills (-13) vs. New England Patriots (40.5 total)

Josh Allen and the Bills narrowly escaped last week against the Chargers. It was his second-lowest attempt number of the season, as he threw just 21 passes. He was hyper-efficient, though, averaging 11.3 yards per attempt. He had two touchdowns on the ground, which boosted his numbers, finishing with 25.98 DraftKings points.

Allen was great in the first matchup with New England despite the loss. throwing for 265 yards and two touchdowns while running for another en route to 26.3 DraftKings points. As I’ve highlighted, the Bills lean on Allen in these must-win spots, and this week is no different.

Allen is a very strong option at low ownership in tournaments.


Lamar Jackson ($7,700 DraftKings, $7,900 FanDuel): Baltimore Ravens (-3) vs. Miami Dolphins (47 total)

Lamar Jackson and the Ravens brought their A-game to San Francisco on Christmas night, beating the 49ers by two touchdowns. Jackson started slow but turned it on, throwing for over 250 yards and two touchdowns while running for 45 yards on the ground.

Baltimore now comes home for a huge matchup with the Dolphins, as both teams are jockeying for the 1-seed in the AFC. This Miami defense has allowed the 15th-most DraftKings points per game to opposing quarterbacks on the year but has been better as of late. I’m happy to use Jackson at low ownership, as it’s hard to ignore players of his caliber when they aren’t projected to see much ownership.

Be sure to check out all the pick’ems Sleeper has to offer with Sleeper Fantasy promo code LABS1 for a $100 deposit match.

My Favorite NFL DFS Quarterback Leverage Pick(s)

Jacoby Brissett ($4,900 DraftKings, $6,800 FanDuel): Washington Commanders (+12.5) vs. San Francisco 49ers (49.5 total)

Jacoby Brissett has looked good in relief in two straight games and now gets a chance to start against the 49ers. He averaged 12.4 and 7.7 yards per attempt the past two games against the Rams and Jets.

San Francisco has allowed the sixth-fewest DraftKings points per game to opposing quarterbacks on the year, but I’m expecting a lot of pass attempts at a cheap price. Eric Bieniemy has called one of the pass-heaviest offenses in the league, and I’m not expecting that to change with Brissett under center.

Brissett has very cheap stacking partners, allowing you to cheaply get exposure to one of the highest-totaled games of the weekend and load up on studs elsewhere.

 

About the Author

Matt Martin writes NFL and XFL/USFL content for FantasyLabs. He just finished his undergrad in Finance and Sports Management. He is currently pursuing his Masters in Data Analytics. Prior to joining FantasyLabs in 2022, Martin started covering DFS in 2019 with Daily Fantasy Insider, and has spent time with the 33rd Team and reallygoodpicks.com.