Building A Winner 17.25

Tony focuses his DFS play on FanDuel single-entry and 3-max contests. He thrives in unique formats and positional twists, always looking for hidden edges that others overlook

This article is designed to complement Mike’s weekly Fanduel Player Grid and other OWS Fanduel scroll content by giving you my view on the slate from my perspective as a Fanduel player who focuses on smaller-field, SE/3-max types of tournaments. My usual process is to build a handful of unique lineups for these types of contests each slate and a majority of my weekly DFS bankroll is dedicated to them.

As you will see as you go through the article, based on the week at hand, I find what I think is the critical starting point I want to use for my rosters. This could be a certain game environment, a specific position or positional dynamics, extreme chalk pieces, or low-owned stacks that I am interested in. Each week is unique, so the “Starting Point” for each week will be dynamic and the rest of my thoughts will build from there, helping you see how I am building my lineups and allowing you to form your own thoughts.

Starting Point

• With this week’s holiday schedule, the FD main slate this week offers an unusually small batch of just nine games to build from. There will be seven early kickoffs and only two games starting in the later window. While the games could certainly entertain, it feels somewhat anticlimactic for a Week 17 slate with only three actual NFL playoff spots still up for grabs, two of which could be settled by the end of the Saturday 2-game slate:
  • AFC North winner (PIT has a 2-game lead, BAL plays on Saturday)
  • Final AFC Wild Card spot (HOU has a 2-game lead and plays on Saturday)
  • NFC South winner (CAR has a one game lead over TB)
• There are only three implied team totals higher than 25 points on the entire main slate:
  • Bengals (30.0) vs AZ – best overall game environment on the slate (53.5 implied total)
  • Patriots (28.25) at NYJ – Pats need to win to stay ahead of the Bills and to keep pace with the Broncos
  • Jaguars (27.25) at IND – Currently a game ahead of the Texans, pending Houston’s result on Saturday at LAC
• All three teams’ key players should be in consideration while building FD lineups this week, but the Patriots players specifically are the key for me to consider on this slate, and the starting point for me key SE/3-Max team builds this week:
• In the New England RB room, TreVeyon Henderson ($7,000) has a questionable tag, and Rhamondre Stevenson ($6,400) has an affordable price tag, whether Hendo plays or sits. I’ll be using Henderson if he plays and believe Stevenson is playable in either scenario (chalky solo or lower-owned as part of a platoon).
• WRs Kayshon Boutte and Mack Hollins have each been ruled out. Stefon Diggs ($6,500) and TE Hunter Henry ($5,500) should be among the most-rostered players at their respective positions, while Kyle Williams ($4,600) will be one of the most popular punt-priced options, at any position, this week. Demario Douglas ($5,300) doesn’t have the most FD-friendly skillset, but should maintain his role in 3-WR sets.
• Targeting the Jets and Brady Cook with the Patriots ($5,000) is my favorite D/ST play of the week.
• All of the Pats’ skill position options are affordable, almost all will be popular, and each can make for a comfortable stacking partner with Drake Maye ($8,400). I plan to play a Maye lineup with multiple pass catchers and another with an NE RB and a pass catcher, but will be mindful of adding at least one more unique piece or mini-correlation around them. Using Pats as one-off plays or two-player blocks goes a long way in helping to afford stacking the more premium-priced Bengals and Jaguars offenses, too.

Running Back Approach