Game 1: Dallas Cowboys vs. Washington Commanders

Time: 1:00 PM ET

Where to Watch: Netflix

Spread: DAL -7

Total: 50.5

Game 2: Detroit Lions vs. Minnesota Vikings

Time: 4:30 PM ET

Where to Watch: Netflix

Spread: DET -7

Total: 43

Game 3: Denver Broncos vs. Kansas City Chiefs

Time: 8:15 PM ET

Where to Watch: Prime Video

Spread: DEN -13

Total: 36.5

We're focusing on the borderline players who could make or break your Week 17 lineup. The must-start players like Jahmyr Gibbs, Amon-Ra St. Brown, CeeDee Lamb, and George Pickens should continue to be in all lineups.

So, let’s look at some fringe players in all three Christmas Day games and decide whether they should be in fantasy lineups or not in the fantasy football championship.

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott has been a reliable QB1 option for most of the year. He has scored above 20 fantasy points in eight of his last 12 games and has thrown for at least 275 yards in four of the past five weeks.

Washington has allowed the fourth-most fantasy points to opposing QBs and has let up a top-12 fantasy QB finish in eight of its last 10 games. Prescott should be in all lineups this week.

Walter's Rank: QB1

Although Prescott has been balling lately, Dallas Cowboys tight end Jake Ferguson has not. He has finished outside the top-12 at the TE position in three of the last four weeks and has scored under five PPR fantasy points in back-to-back games. That makes Ferguson a lower-end/riskier TE1 option in Week 17.

He has just a 12.9% target share over the last three weeks and has caught just one touchdown pass since Week 8. This is a solid matchup for Ferguson against a Commanders defense that ranks 29th in receiving touchdowns allowed to opposing TEs. But the Cowboys playmaker is the clear third option in this Dallas passing attack, giving him a much lower floor.

Walter's Rank: TE11

Prop: Chris Rodriguez Jr. OVER 47.5 Rushing Yards (-115 on BetMGM)

Reasoning: Chris Rodriguez Jr. has gone over this line in each of his last three games. He has operated as the top running back in this Washington offense in recent weeks and is coming off a game in which he had a season-high 57.7% rush share.

With an 8.3% EV Edge at BetMGM, Walter believes this is a bet worth taking on Christmas. Rodriguez is projected for 67.5 rushing yards in our Player Prop Evaluator.

Starting running backs against the Lions this year hasn’t worked out for many fantasy managers. Detroit has given up the ninth-fewest fantasy points to opposing RBs through 16 weeks. However, Minnesota Vikings running back Aaron Jones will be a solid RB2 play on Christmas Day.

The Vikings are expected to be without Jordan Mason in this game, which means Jones should see a heavy workload on Thursday. Additionally, this Lions defense just let both Jaylen Warren and Kenneth Gainwell score over 23 PPR fantasy points last week. Jones should be a solid option even with Max Brosmer starting at quarterback.

Walter's Rank: RB15

Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff has been on a roll in fantasy lately. He has totaled over 25 fantasy points in consecutive weeks and has finished as a top-14 fantasy QB in seven of his last eight games. This week, though, Goff will come in as a riskier QB play against the Vikings.

Minnesota has given up the fewest fantasy points, third-fewest passing yards, and third-fewest passing touchdowns to opposing QBs this season. Given that Jaxson Dart, Prescott, Sam Darnold, and Jordan Love have all scored under 12 fantasy points against this defense since Week 12, Goff should be avoided.

Walter's Rank: QB18

Prop: Justin Jefferson UNDER 4.5 Receptions (+120 on BetMGM)

Reasoning: Justin Jefferson has gone under this line in four of his past five games. Now, Brosmer will be starting for the Vikings in Week 17. The last time Brosmer started for Minnesota, Jefferson was held to just two catches.

With an 8.2% EV Edge at BetMGM, Walter believes this is a bet worth taking on Thursday. Jefferson is projected for 4.1 receptions in our Player Prop Evaluator.

On paper, this is a tough matchup for Denver Broncos running back RJ Harvey. The Chiefs have given up the eighth-fewest fantasy points to opposing RBs this year and are only allowing 82.5 rush yards per game. As we saw last week with Harvey, though, fantasy managers shouldn’t sit him in tough matchups.

Harvey went up against a Jaguars defense that has given up the second-fewest fantasy points to RBs. The rookie then went on to score 22.1 PPR fantasy points behind 121 yards from scrimmage. The Broncos RB will be a low-end RB1 in Week 17.

Walter's Rank: RB10

Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce is a must-sit in all fantasy formats this week. He only caught one pass for six yards in Week 16, and Chris Oladokun is set to make his first career start on Thursday. Last week, Oladokun threw for just 111 yards in a little over two quarters.

So, it’s best to sit Kelce this week. He comes in as more of a TE2 in WalterPicks’ rankings for Week 17 and below TEs like Elijah Higgins (TE18), AJ Barner (TE19), and Hunter Henry (TE20).

Walter's Rank: TE21

Prop: RJ Harvey OVER 48.5 Rushing Yards (-110 on BetMGM)

Reasoning: Harvey has gone over this line in three straight games, which included a 50-yard rushing effort last week against the Jaguars. The Chiefs just let Tony Pollard rush for 102 yards in Week 16, and the Broncos RB has seen at least 17 carries in two of the past three weeks.

With a 10.6% EV Edge at BetMGM, Walter believes this is a bet worth taking on Thursday night. Harvey is projected for 61.9 rushing yards in our Player Prop Evaluator.

Winner: Cowboys, Lions, Broncos

Spread Winner: Cowboys, Lions, Broncos

OVER/UNDER: UNDER, OVER, OVER

Winner Record: 8-9

Spread Winner Record: 6-11

Over/Under Record: 10-7