Week 17 NFL DFS Picks - Top Value Plays, Sleepers & Stacking Tips (2025)

December 26, 2025

RotoBaller's Week 17 NFL DFS value plays, sleeper picks, and tournament stacks for daily fantasy football on FanDuel, DraftKings, and Yahoo. Win big in DFS with our expert research and advice.

The shallow Week 17 slate is headlined by a high-octane showdown between the Bengals and Cardinals that boasts a slate-high 51-point total. Despite both teams being out of playoff contention, the passing volume remains elite as Jacoby Brissett leads the NFL in air yards since taking over the Arizona offense. On the other side, Joe Burrow and his premium weapons are looking to finish the season on a high note against a vulnerable secondary. This matchup is a goldmine for DFS upside and should be the primary target for game stacks this week.

In the AFC South, the stakes couldn't be higher as the Jacksonville Jaguars look to clinch the division title against a desperate Indianapolis Colts squad. This clash features the 44-year-old Philip Rivers, who is tasked with keeping the Colts' slim postseason hopes alive. He faces an MVP candidate in Trevor Lawrence, who has flourished under Liam Coen’s explosive offensive system this year. Expect a hard-fought divisional battle where veteran savvy meets a rising superstar in a high-leverage environment.

To set up a potential winner-take-all finale for the NFC South title in Week 18, the Bucs must first get past a 6-9 Miami Dolphins squad that has officially turned the keys over to rookie quarterback Quinn Ewers. This transition creates a high-variance environment for DFS players, as Tampa Bay's urgency meets a Dolphins team using these final games to evaluate their unpredictable young core.

NFL DFS Stacks & Value Picks: Week 15 Guide

Teams on playing on Prime-Time (not on the main slate):

Dallas Cowboys, Washington Commanders, Detroit Lions, Minnesota Vikings, Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs, Houston Texans, LA Chargers, Baltimore Ravens, Green Bay Packers, Chicago Bears, San Francisco 49ers, LA Rams, Atlanta Falcons.

Arizona Cardinals (3-12) vs Cincinnati Bengals (5-10)

Game Spread: Bengals -7.5

Game Total: 51

Joe Burrow ($8,700 FanDuel): The Bengals (5-10) are coming off a massive 45-21 win over the Miami Dolphins, where Burrow (16.65 FPPG) reminded the league why he’s elite. Burrow had 29 fantasy points last week, throwing for 309 yards and four touchdowns. This week, he faces an Arizona defense that has surrendered 25 passing touchdowns (ranked 29th in points against).

WR Ja'Marr Chase ($9,400 FanDuel): Chase (16.5 FPPG) remains the alpha target for good reason, coming off a 9-catch, 109-yard performance against Miami. While he didn't find the end zone last week, he is in a prime bounce-back spot against a Cardinals secondary that has struggled to contain explosive playmakers. His pricetag is high, so you will need to get creative with your lineup. 

WR Tee Higgins ($7,500 FanDuel): Higgins (12.42 FPPG) needs only one more receiving score to set a new career high, as he is currently sitting at 10 (tied for third in the NFL). He returned from concussion protocol last week to haul in a touchdown and has become Burrow's favorite red-zone weapon in 2025. At $7,500, he is the ideal mid-tier stack partner for Burrow.

RB Chase Brown ($8,000 FanDuel): Brown (13.97 FPPG) is on a tear, scoring over 14 fantasy points in eight of his last nine games. Last week, he exploded for 30.9 fantasy points thanks to his three total touchdowns (two through the air and one on the ground). Facing a Cardinals run defense that ranks 30th in FPPG allowed to RBs, Brown has a legitimate chance to finish as the RB1 of the week.

QB Jacoby Brissett ($7,600 FanDuel): Brissett (17.86 FPPG) has been a volume king, leading the NFL in passing yards, completions, and attempts since Week 6. Despite a "down" game last week where he threw for just 203 yards, he has topped 300 yards in four of his 10 starts. Against a Bengals secondary allowing the fourth-most passing yards in the NFL, Brissett is a high-floor value play.

WR Michael Wilson ($6,900 FanDuel): Wilson’s (10.32 FPPG) upside depends on the health of Marvin Harrison Jr., who was limited in practice with a heel injury. Wilson salvaged his Week 16 with a touchdown (2 catches for 52 yards), and if Harrison is limited or out, Wilson becomes a mandatory play in DFS lineups due to his massive target share in Brissett’s offense. If Harrison does play (which is likely) in Week 17, you should still consider Wilson at his $6,900 price tag. 

TE Trey McBride ($8,000 FanDuel): McBride (15.55 FPPG) is the undisputed TE1 in fantasy (and in the NFL), leading all TEs in receptions (109), yards (1,098), and touchdowns (10). After a rare quiet outing last week (4.7 points), he is poised for a monster bounce-back against a Bengals defense that gives up the most fantasy points to tight ends in 2025. Make sure to get McBride in your lineup.

Recommended DFS Stacks

• Burrow / Chase / Higgins (Bengals triple-stack): Vegas projects plenty of scoring; get these Bengals in your lineup. 
• Burrow / Brown / McBride (Full Game stack): Captures the Bengals' scoring potential and runs it back with the best TE in the league against a defense that has surrendered the most fantasy points to the position.
• Brissett / McBride / Higgins (High-leverage value stack): Bets on the Cardinals' passing volume and the best redzone threat for the Bengals, Higgins.

Jacksonville Jaguars (11-4) vs Indianapolis Colts (8-7)

Game Spread: Jags -5

Game Total: 44.5

QB Trevor Lawrence ($8,000 FanDuel): Lawrence (20.38 FPPG) is having the best season of his five-year career under new head coach Liam Coen. He has thrown for 3,489 yards (ninth), 26 touchdowns (fourth), and just 11 interceptions. He faces a Colts defense that surrendered five passing touchdowns to Brock Purdy last week. With a division title on the line, Lawrence is a great DFS anchor.

WR Jakobi Meyers ($6,800 FanDuel): Meyers (9.04 FPPG) has thrived since joining Jacksonville, totaling 33 catches for 352 yards in six games. While he has yet to find the end zone, this could be the week he finally scores; the Colts' secondary ranks 30th against WRs in 2025. At $6,800, Meyers is a top-tier low-risk, high-reward play.

RB Travis Etienne Jr. ($7,600 FanDuel): Etienne (15.16 FPPG) has enjoyed a resurgence in 2025, nearing the 1,000-yard rushing mark (999 yards) and 13 total touchdowns. The Colts surrender the 13th-most fantasy points to RBs, and Etienne's dual-threat volume makes him a very safe play at his $7,600 price tag.

TE Brenton Strange ($5,600 FanDuel): Strange (7.39 FPPG) is seeing a steady six targets per game and scored a touchdown last week. The Colts rank 28th against the tight end position, making Strange a smart budget play who is likely to outscore his low salary.

RB Jonathan Taylor ($9,500 FanDuel): Taylor (22.23 FPPG) is the best back in the NFL this year, leading the league in rushing yards (1,489), carries (288), and total touchdowns (19). Though Jacksonville boasts the NFL’s best rushing defense, Taylor's volume is simply too high to fade. As 6.5-point underdogs, the Colts will lean on him both as a runner and a receiver (41 catches) to keep their slim playoff hopes alive.

WR Alec Pierce ($5,800 FanDuel): Pierce (10.43 FPPG) has become a favorite of Philip Rivers, who has shown that he still has his elite football IQ and pre-snap awareness since returning. Pierce notched a multi-touchdown game last week and has proven to be a reliable red-zone threat on slants and deep shots alike. At $5,800, he is an excellent salary-saver for your DFS lineups.

QB Philip Rivers ($7,200 FanDuel): Rivers has stepped in admirably for the injured Daniel Jones, throwing for 277 yards and two scores last week. While he lacks top-tier arm strength at 44, his ability to read defenses allows the Colts' skill players to thrive. He is a viable value play at the QB position if you are spending up elsewhere. He won't win you any DFS games, but he will save you salary.

Recommended DFS Stacks

• Lawrence / Meyers / Etienne (Full Jaguars triple-stack): Capitalizes on a division-clinching performance against a weak Colts secondary.
• Lawrence / Meyers / Taylor (High risk/high reward game stack): Pairing the Jags' passing game with the most reliable volume on the Colts.
• Rivers / Pierce / Strange (Budget stack): Allows you to fit every high-priced superstar on the slate into your lineup, but takes a stab at these low risk - high reward plays. Do I love it? No, but DFS is all about taking chances. 

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-8) vs Miami Dolphins (6-9)

Game Spread: Bucs -6

Game total: 45.5

QB Baker Mayfield ($7,800 FanDuel): Mayfield (16.82 FPPG) has struggled recently, failing to top 200 yards in three of his last four games. However, with a chance to secure the NFC South title on the line and his full arsenal of weapons healthy, expect the ultimate competitor to bounce back. The Dolphins rank 22nd in points allowed and 15th in pass defense, offering a bridge for Mayfield to regain his early-season form in a high-stakes environment.

WR Mike Evans ($8,300 FanDuel): Evans (9.63 FPPG) has commanded 21 targets in the two weeks since returning from injury, proving he is still the undisputed alpha in this offense. He enters this game just 13 yards shy of 13,000 career receiving yards and remains Mayfield’s most trusted red-zone threat. Despite a tough individual matchup against Miami's secondary, the presence of Chris Godwin Jr. and rookie Emeka Egbuka should prevent constant double teams, clearing the way for Evans to find the end zone.

RB Bucky Irving ($8,300 FanDuel): Irving (13.8 FPPG) led the team with 19 carries for 71 yards last week, signaling his shoulder and foot injuries are finally behind him. While Sean Tucker has vultured some goal-line work recently, Irving is seeing north of 15 carries a game and is the clear lead back. Facing a Dolphins defense that allows 130.3 rushing yards per game, Bucky has a high floor with serious touchdown upside.

RB De'Von Achane ($8,800 FanDuel): Achane (19.24 FPPG) remains one of the league's most explosive dual-threat weapons, ranking 3rd in the NFL with 1,267 rushing yards. With rookie Quinn Ewers making just his second career start, the Dolphins will lean heavily on Achane's elite volume in both the running and passing games. He totaled 90 yards and a score last week, and will be the focal point against a Bucs defense allowing 242 passing yards per game.

WR Jaylen Waddle ($7,000 FanDuel): Waddle (10.96 FPPG) quickly established himself as Ewers' favorite target, leading Miami with five catches for 72 yards on nine targets last week. The Dolphins will likely be forced into a passing script, giving Waddle a path to double-digit targets. At $7,000, he is a massive value play for those looking to run back a Tampa Bay stack. The question is, can Ewers get him the ball?

Recommended DFS Stacks

• Mayfield / Evans / Waddle (The "NFC South Title Hunt" stack): Pairing the Bucs' top weapons with Miami's primary target.
• Mayfield / Irving / Achane (Ground and Pound stack): Captures the high-volume rushing floors of both teams.
• Waddle / Achane (Budget-friendly Miami stack): Allows you to pay up for superstars at other positions while betting on the Dolphins to fall behind early.

More Weekly DFS Analysis