Week 17 of the NFL season is finally here! We kick off tonight with the Dallas Cowboys visiting the Tennessee Titans on Thursday Night Football. The Cowboys are massive 12.5-point favorites on the road with a live game total of 40 points. Dallas is coming off a big win over the Eagles in Week 16, while the Titans and rookie quarterback Malik Willis put up just 14 points against the Texans in their 5th consecutive loss last week.
This game does not mean much for Tennessee as the outcome will not change their playoff status. Whether or not they get into the playoffs will come down to their Week 18 matchup against Jacksonville. Plus, the Titans will probably be without star running back Derrick Henry (hip), who is doubtful, and the Cowboys may sit Tony Pollard, who is nursing a thigh injury. For tonight’s matchup, there is a full rundown of players and suggestions below and you can always take a look at our Weekly Match-Up Report and use NFL DFS Tools like our DFS Lineup Generator (aka the DFS lineup optimizer).
Please note that players not listed below are not necessarily a complete fade and any player listed can certainly be used as the MVP/Captain. These are merely suggestions for players to use when setting Showdown lineups.
Top Captain/MVP
CeeDee Lamb, WR, Dallas Cowboys
Lamb is coming off a big boy game against the Eagles last week. He caught 10 passes on 11 targets for 120 yards and two touchdowns. The Cowboys’ alpha receiver has put up 20 or more DraftKings in four out of his past five games and now faces a Titans defense that have struggled against wide receivers, allowing the third most DK points (42.1) and the second-most touchdowns (19). We saw what Lamb did to one of the best pass defenses in the game so what can we expect against the 28th-ranked defense? He will be the most popular GPP captain on this Showdown slate.
Dak Prescott, QB, Dallas Cowboys
After Lamb, Prescott will probably be the highest-owned GPP captain and he has earned it. He is coming off his signature game of the 2022 season- 32 DK points against the mighty Eagles defense going 35-347-3 with one pick. This season, Tennessee has allowed 279.6 passing yards per game and the third-most DK points (22.5) and if they cannot get past the Cowboys offensive line they will be in for a long night.
Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Dallas Cowboys
If Tony Pollard is out, we can expect a full load of work for Elliott. But even if Pollard suits up, Elliott is still fully in play. Over their last six games played together, Elliott has carried the ball 17 times inside of the opponents’ 10-yard line while Pollard has just seven rushes. Elliott has also scored in eight straight games. We may see Elliott come in a little low-rostered due to the Titans run defense being ranked first in DVOA, but they may also be resting some players with their upcoming Week 18 game against the Jaguars being essentially an AFC South Championship game.
Michael Gallup, WR, Dallas Cowboys
Gallup is my favorite leverage captain as the field will be looking towards his more popular teammates like Prescott, Elliott and Lamb. He’s “boom or bust” but sees 5.3 targets per game with four touchdowns on the season and is due for another explosion like Week 13 when he caught two touchdowns against the Colts. Gallup also has a decent 17.6% target share, and 24.2% Air yards share since Week 3. In the same price range is Dalton Schultz who has five games of double-digit DK points.
Value DFS picks
Brett Maher, K, Dallas Cowboys
The Cowboys are ninth in the NFL in field goals per game and with a strong 26-point team implied total the veteran kicker will be busy. He is 27-30 on the season in field goals and 9-11 over 50 yards. At his $4.2K DK price He makes for a fine cash play.
Treylon Burks, WR, Tennessee Titans
It is tough to love any Titans receiver tonight due to Willis’ struggles throwing the ball, but they are also very cheap. Burks is the most expensive, but he is still only $5.4K on DK and the Titans top dog in the receivers room with big play potential.
Dallas Cowboys D/ST
This may end up as the best play of the slate. Malik Willis is obviously not ready to run an NFL offense as he carries a 39.8 passing grade into the game (per PFF). In three starts this season, Willis has dropped back 64 times, been sacked 10 times and has thrown three interceptions while only completing 51% of his passes. Dallas’ defense ranks second in adjusted sack rate and should have their way with the rookie with plenty of sacks and turnovers.
Hassan Haskins, RB, Tennessee Titans
It looks like the Titans will be without their star running back Derrick Henry (hip) tonight, as he has been listed as doubtful plus they really have nothing to play for in the standings. Enter Haskins, who should now lead the backfield with Henry out and becomes a top value play. Haskins has totaled 11 carries for 50 yards and caught all seven of his targets in his rookie season, but we need to temper our expectations as he will be running behind a weak offensive line that features four backups.
Chigoziem Okonkwo, TE, Tennessee Titans
Okonkwo may be a sneak play as he has come on nicely as the season progressed and may be the Titans best pass-catching weapon. Before last weeks game with Willis under center he had at least five targets in four straight games. He splits snaps with Austin Hooper but has a much higher per target upside as we saw in Week 14 against Jacksonville where he caught six passes on six targets for 45 yards and a touchdown.
Dart Throws
Julius Chestnut, RB, Tennessee Titans
Will become the RB2 as Haskins’ backup tonight.
Robert Woods, WR, Tennessee Titans
A bad matchup but cheap price for a WR2.
Noah Brown, WR, Dallas Cowboys
Brown has 50+ receiving yards when he sees five-plus targets.
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