2023 NFL Week 17 Tips & Preview

2023 NFL Week 17 Tips & Preview

It’s the penultimate week of the NFL regular season and the most important week for fantasy football enjoyers (like myself, I’m in the final of my league in case you were wondering)

With two weeks of footy left there is still heaps of play off spots left. five in the AFC and three in the NFC to be exact.

There’s plenty on the line for both real and fictional football franchises this weekend and who else would you want going over the markets than a (soon to be) two time fantasy football champion and just an overall NFL savant.

I’ve run my eyes over each market, simulated each game in Madden and checked the waiver wire for fantasy studs.

Here is my preview of Week 17 of the NFL.

CLEVELAND BROWNS VS NEW YORK JETS
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Their is a wildcard spot with the Browns name on it if they get a W in prime time this week.

Joe Flacco and Amari Cooper torched the CJ Stroudless Texans last week. The QB/WR duo combined for 265 yards and 2 touchdowns (as well as the rest of Flacco’s production).

While expectations should be tempered slightly against a relatively stout Jets defence, this Browns team should walk over the Jets.

I’m watching Amari Cooper’s status closely (he’s one of my WRs) he’s dealing with a heel issue apparently but I think he should be fine and should be in for a huge game if he gets the green light.

Browns -7.5 @ $1.90

SGM $7.61

  • Browns -7.5 @ $1.90
  • Amari Cooper 60+ Receiving Yards @ $1.90
  • Jerome Ford Anytime Touchdown @ $2.35
DALLAS COWBOYS V DETROIT LIONS
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A win to the Cows here would put some serious pressure on the Eagles at the top of the NFC East.

Dak and the Cowboys are just a game behind Philly, yet to drop a home game this season and are an incredibly short $1.35 over the 11-4 Lions who just won the NFC North for the first time in 30+ years.

The Lions are battling Philly and San Fran for that week 1 bye but have the toughest schedule of the lot.

The line for this one is set at 6 points, while I don’t think the Lions get the W, I think they cover against this Cows team. $1.35 looks far too short.

My Bets

SGM $9.91

  • Lions +6 @ $1.90
  • Sam LaPorta Anytime Touchdown @ $2.35
  • Jake Ferguson Anytime Touchdown @ $2.15
HOUSTON TEXANS V TENNESSEE TITANS
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These two sides met two weeks ago and I got on my soapbox about how lit Derrick Henry has been against the Texans in the past. How did he repay me?

20 touches for 10 all purpose yards….

It’s looking more and more likely that CJ Stroud will return for Houston this week, he’s back training after missing two weeks with concussion and when he’s on the field, the Texans are an infinitely better team.

The Texans are 5 point favourites here and I think Stroud’s health is worth punting on here.

I will have a side bet on King Henry 100+ Rushing and a TD but it’s certainly not my lock of the week like last time.

My Bets

  • Texans -5 @ $1.90
  • CJ Stroud 275+ Passing Yards
  • Dalton Schultz Anytime Touchdown Scorer
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS V CAROLINA PANTHERS
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We’ve had plenty of bird bowls this year but Week 17 gives us a Big Cat Bowl!

The status of Trevor Lawrence is one to monitor if you want to have a punt on this game, he left last weeks game with a shoulder injury and even if he does play – that’s not an injury that fixes itself fully in a week.

The Panthers are big underdogs here at $3.35 but Bryce Young has finally turned the corner in the last few weeks. After weeks of me pumping up his tyres and seeing nothing from him – the number one pick had a career game in last weeks narrow loss to Green Bay. 312 Pass Yards, 2 Tds and no interceptions.

This week he’s up against a Jags defence that gave Davis Mills a 149 yards and two touchdowns. Will we see a performance from Bryce that beats the Jags? I doubt it but they can certainly cover that 6.5 point line.

My Bets

  • Panthers +6.5 @ $1.90
  • Bryce Young 225+ Passing Yards
  • Travis Etienne 60+ Rushing Yards
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS V NEW ORLEANS SAINTS
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The NFC South is still up for grabs and either of these teams could jump up to that top dog spot in the south with a win here.

Baker Mayfield has been incredible all season for the Buccaneers, a lot of people wrote him off – but not me.

The Baker/ Mike Evans combination has been massive this season and those two plus Rachaad White could be the difference maker in this one.

The Saints went down against the Rams last week in a shoot out and if they want a chance at winning here, they need to lean on running back Alvin Kamara.

Kamara touched the ball just 14 times last week and that simply isn’t enough.

These two sides met back in early October and it was 26-9 Tampa’s way. I think the Buccs cover.

My Bets

  • Buccaneers -2.5 @ $1.90
  • Rachaad White 60+ Rushing Yards
  • Rachaad White Anytime Touchdown
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS VS LAS VEGAS RAIDERS
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The Colts should see stud WR Michael Pittman return this week after a sickening hit he copped against Pittsburgh, he’s been massive for them this year. Combine that with Jonathan Taylor who returned after a three game absence and the Colts have earned the right to be $1.52 favourites over the Raiders.

Vegas could be a value play this week however. In their last two weeks they’ve dropped nine touchdowns on the Chargers and then beat Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs. The Raiders are $2.55 underdogs and arguably in better form than Indy here.

If the Raiders beat the Colts this week they are a 30% chance of making the playoffs and honestly, I think we back them to win here.

It’s looking more and more like Raiders RB Josh Jacobs will sit out this week, if that’s true – I’m with backup Zamir White for a big game.

My Bets 

  • Raiders @ $2.25
  • Zamir White 60+ Rushing Yards
  • Zamir White Anytime Touchdown Scorer
CHICAGO BEARS VS ATLANTA FALCONS
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The Falcons as bad as they’ve been this year are technically not out of playoff contention just yet.

Granted they need to win these next two weeks against the Bears & Saints and they probably need the Saints to beat the Buccs but their is a chance nonetheless!

The Bears have won two of their last three and Justin Fields is doing everything in his power to show this organisation they don’t need Caleb Williams.

Last week he had 170 yards and a score through the air as well as 97 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown on his legs.

I think we take the Bears line purely because of how much of a mess the Falcons are. It’s truly impossible to do the form for that team. They never do the same thing two weeks in a row.

My Bets

SGM: $4.19

  • Bears -3 @ $1.87
  • Khalil Herbert Anytime Touchdown Scorer $2.80
NEW YORK GIANTS V LOS ANGELES RAMS
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Tommy DeVito’s Linsanity run is officially over and as a bloke that claims Italian heritage more than I probably have, I was heartbroken.

Tommy Cutlets put up a stinker last week against Philly and was benched at half time. The Giants will be rocking with Tyrod Taylor at QB this week.

The Rams have some very real playoff aspirations and I imagine they should beat up this Giants team who could be officially committed to the tank.

My Bets

  • Rams -4.5 @ $1.90
  • Puka Nacua 60+ Receiving Touchdowns
  • Kyren Williams Anytime Touchdown Scorer
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES VS ARIZONA CARDINALS
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Would we call allowing the Giants who benched their QB at half time to score 25 points a return to form for Philly?

Unsure but a win is a win and that’s what the Eagles left Metlife with last week.

This week the Eagles are once again incredibly short favourites against the Cardinals at $1.16 and I think the Cardinals season could be done. Currently 3-12 with games against the Eagles and Seahawks left. Probably time to put the cue in the rack and make sure that you can pick up Marvin Harrison Jnr at the 2nd overall pick.

My Bets

  • Eagles 14+ @ $2.15
  • Devonta Smith 60+ Receiving Yards
  • Jalen Hurts Anytime Touchdown
BALTIMORE RAVENS VS MIAMI DOLPHINS
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Easily one of the games of the round, the Ravens will be coming in red hot to this game after having five interceptions against the Super Bowl favourite 49ers.

They’re $1.53 favourites over the Dolphins who finally beat a team with a positive win record last week!

It looks like Dolphins WR Jaylen Waddle is likely to miss this week with a high ankle sprain so Tyreek Hill should see a large amount of volume. I will have him for 100+ yards and a TD.

I do think the Dolphins will give the Ravens a run for their money, a play on the Dolphins +3.5 is where I’m leaning.

My Bets

  • Dolphins +3.5@ $1.90
  • Tyreek Hill 100+ Receiving Yards
  • Tyreek Hill Anytime Touchdown
WASHINGTON COMMANDERS VS SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS
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Commies are a joke.

The 49ers were poor last week but will torch Washington.

My Bets

  • 49ers 14+ @ $1.87
  • Christian McCaffrey 90+ Rushing Yards
  • Brandon Aiyuk Anytime Touchdown
BUFFALO BILLS VS NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
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The Bills will wrap up their season with two AFC East games and a win against the sad old Patriots will all but lock in their playoff spot.

They only just got it done over the Chargers which should worry me but a win is indeed a win and I’m choosing not to read too much into the Patriots win last week.

It’s clear Bill is going to do everything in his power to lower the value of the Pats’ first round pick but I’m not sure he’ll be able to do much against this Bills team.

Bills 14+.

My Bets

  • Bills 14+ @ $1.92
  • Stefon Diggs 80+ Receiving Yards
  • Dalton Kincaid Anytime Touchdown Scorer
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS V PITTSBURGH STEELERS
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Seattle come into this game as $1.53 favourites but this one could be closer than the bookies have it slated.

The Steelers clearly still can ball out when they want to. Look at what they did to the Bengals last week.

The Seahawks are very much in the race for a playoff spot but only just managed a win over the Texans last week, I think the Steelers could cover the line here.

My Bets

  • Steelers +3.5 @ $1.90
  • DK Metcalf 75+ Receiving Yards
  • Najee Harris Anytime Touchdown
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS V CINCINNATI BENGALS
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Surely this is the game that the Chiefs bounce back right? RIGHT?!

They were quite poor last week against the Raiders but it looks like the Bengals have run out of steam. They’re $3.70 to win here and we still don’t know if Ja’Marr Chase will play yet.

The Chiefs are too good to lose back to back games and I’m choosing not to read too much into the outside noise, I’m with them to cover.

My Bets

  • Chiefs -7 @ $1.90
  • Rashee Rice 75+ Receiving Yards
  • Travis Kelce Anytime Touchdown
DENVER BRONCOS V LOS ANGELES CHARGERS
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The Broncos are benching Russell Wilson for these next two games to avoid paying him guaranteed money and the Chargers sucks.

If I wasn’t employed to give my thoughts on every NFL game, I’d be staying well away from this one but I infact am employed to do just that so I will be backing the over and not caring about this game the same way the Broncos don’t care about you or Wilson.

My Bets

  • Over 37.5 Points @ $1.90
  • Austin Ekeler Anytime Touchdown
  • Javonte Williams Anytime Touchdown
MINNESOTA VIKINGS V GREEN BAY PACKERS
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Wrapping up the Fantasy Football Championships is the Vikings and Packers in an NFC North showdown.

Jordan Love has been way better than the bookies are giving him credit for and I don’t believe the Packers deserve to be underdogs here.

The Vikings will be without star TE TJ Hockenson for the rest of the season, he tore his ACL last week and I don’t think people realise how important he is to the Vikings.

Packers to win.

My Bets

SGM $8.02

  • Packers H2H @ $2.10
  • Jordan Love 250+ Pass Yards
  • Aaron Jones Anytime Touchdown
FOGS' FANTASY TEAM
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We had a stinker last week. Just 1/5 not to worry though, the match ups this week have got me really excited!

The show goes on, I’ve studied the matchups for my Fantasy team multi and let me tell you, there are some serious studs with great matchups this week.

Just to recap in Week 16 we had:

  • Quarterback: Josh Allen Over 250+ Passing Yards X
  • Runningback: Tony Pollard 60+ Rushing Yards X
  • Runningback: Alvin Kamara 60+ Rushing Yards X
  • Wide Receiver: AJ Brown 60+ Receiving Yards
  • Wide Receiver: Rashee Rice 60+ Receiving Yards X
  • Multi: $8.18

Week 17’s Fantasy team looks like this:

  • Quarterback: Jalen Hurts Over 250+ Passing Yards 
  • Runningback: Rachaad White 60+ Rushing Yards
  • Runningback: Alvin Kamara 60+ Rushing Yards 
  • Wide Receiver: Mike Evans 60+ Receiving Yards 
  • Wide Receiver: Deebo Samuel 60+ Receiving Yards