NFL Schedule Release: Week 17 Targets for Best Ball Mania 3
Thursday marked the official release of the 2022 NFL schedule. While we’ve actually known for months who every team will play, there are fantasy implications to when they will play, especially for Underdog’s Best Ball Mania 3 tournament. With the final round of BBM3 taking place in Week 17, and ultimately deciding who takes home $2 million, targeting games that could be shootouts in that final fantasy week could help you climb the leaderboard if you have one of the 470 entries that make it that far.
For those already firing off Best Ball Mania entries in May, here is a first look at some of the best games to target with a few value plays from each team to consider for your roster.
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Broncos @ Chiefs
Any game that involves Patrick Mahomes has the potential to be a shoot out but this old divisional rivalry gets a shot in the arm with Russell Wilson now under center for the Broncos.
With Tyreek Hill now in Miami, the target totem pole in Kansas City is a huge question mark after Travis Kelce. Three of their presumed starters are going in the eighth round or later. On the Denver side, Jerry Jeudy is suddenly in legal trouble and the backfield is a question mark after Melvin Gordon’s return. We know from our study of final-round rosters, ancillary pieces are arguably better stacks than primary weapons within an offense and this matchup offers a ton of late-round value.
Value Targets
Chiefs: Skyy Moore (Overall ADP: 84), Clyde Edwards-Helaire (Overall ADP: 88), Marquez Valdes-Scantling (Overall ADP: 110), Mecole Hardman (Overall ADP: 133)
Broncos: Courtland Sutton (Overall ADP: 54), Russell Wilson (Overall ADP: 77) Melvin Gordon (Overall ADP: 114), Albert Okwuegbunam (Overall ADP: 136), Tim Patrick (Overall ADP: 144), K.J. Hamler (Overall ADP: 193)
Saints @ Eagles
It might take the public some time to recognize this game as one to target but anyone that has been paying close attention to offseason moves and the Draft knows that both of these teams have tremendous upside and players with reasonable ADPs.
After trading for A.J. Brown, Philadelphia has one of the best route-running wide receiver combinations in the league and Jalen Hurts now has overall QB1 potential. New Orleans is hoping that Michael Thomas can return to form and they added arguably the best wide receiver in this year’s Draft. Jameis Winston has a proven fantasy ceiling and if he’s still holding down his job in Week 17, this could be a game that crowns someone a millionaire.
Value Targets
Saints: Chris Olave (Overall ADP: 92), Jameis Winston (Overall ADP: 171), Marquez Callaway (Overall ADP: 213)
Eagles: Jalen Hurts (Overall ADP: 65), DeVonta Smith (Overall ADP: 73), Miles Sanders (Overall ADP: 86), Dallas Goedert (Overall ADP: 91), Kenneth Gainwell (Overall ADP: 166), Quez Watkins (Overall ADP: 216)
49ers @ Raiders
This is another game that could fly under the radar before casual fantasy managers start doing their homework. The quarterback situation is still up in the air in San Francisco but their skill players are some of the most exciting in the league. Las Vegas is a trendy pick to have one of the best passing offenses in the league after adding Davante Adams, following a year where Derek Carr finished fifth in passing yards. Neither of these defenses are expected to be particularly good and if the offenses can meet expectations, this could be a low-rostered game stack in the final round of Best Ball Mania 3.
Value Targets
49ers: Brandon Aiyuk (Overall ADP: 82), Trey Lance (Overall ADP: 98), Tyrion Davis-Price (Overall ADP: 183)
Raiders: Hunter Renfrow (Overall ADP: 86), Derek Carr (Overall ADP: 107)
Vikings @ Packers
This game is more top-heavy than some of the other contests mentioned in this space but a matchup of fantasy studs such as Justin Jefferson, Dalvin Cook, and Aaron Rodgers is always going to be one worth stacking. With Davante Adams in silver and black, there could be a huge reward for anyone that drafts A-Rod’s favorite 2022 receiver. Both of these teams also have capable backup running backs behind starters that regularly miss a few games a season.
Value Targets
Vikings: Kirk Cousins (Overall ADP: 120), Alexander Mattison (Overall ADP: 126), Irv Smith Jr. (Overall ADP: 137)
Packers: A.J. Dillon (Overall ADP: 75), Christian Watson (Overall ADP: 98), Allen Lazard (Overall ADP: 106), Robert Tonyan (Overall ADP: 138), Romeo Doubs (Overall ADP: 211)
Rams @ Chargers
This all-LA game matches up two teams that finished in the top eight in total points in 2021 and there’s no reason to expect a huge drop-off in 2022 for either offense. Both of these offenses should have extremely concentrated target shares between their top-two wide receivers but also have ancillary players that could explode in any given week.
Value Targets
Rams: Matthew Stafford (Overall ADP: 90), Van Jefferson (Overall ADP: 151), Tyler Higbee (Overall ADP: 155), Darrell Henderson (Overall ADP: 158)
Chargers: Isaiah Spiller (Overall ADP: 140), Josh Palmer (Overall ADP: 170), Gerald Everett (Overall ADP: 183), Jalen Guyton (Overall ADP: 215)
Bills @ Bengals
After 16 Weeks of best ball action, it could come down to the very last game of Week 17 to determine who takes home the title of Best Ball Mania 3 champion. Two teams with Super Bowl aspirations and a possible claim to the best offense in the league will battle it out on Monday night in what could end up being the best regular-season game of the year if the one seed is on the line.
With these star-studded offenses, it wouldn’t be a surprise if a huge percentage of teams that make it to the final round of BBM 3 have exposure to this game so finding some unique pieces here could be the difference between $2 million and a bad-beat story that no one will care about.
Value Targets
Bills: Devin Singletary (Overall ADP: 104), James Cook (Overall ADP: 110), Jamison Crowder (Overall ADP: 150), Isaiah McKenzie (Overall ADP: 209), Khalil Shakir (Overall ADP: 215)
Bengals: Tyler Boyd (Overall ADP: 114), Hayden Hurst (overall ADP: 190), Samaje Perine (Overall ADP (215)
2022 Bye Weeks
With the NFL schedule release, we also now know every team's bye week. This is usually an overrated aspect of fantasy football, but it’s important to know for best ball in order to avoid matching up bye week quarterbacks or tight ends in 2-QB or 2-TE builds.
| Week | Teams on Bye |
|---|---|
| 6 | Lions, Texans, Titans, Raiders |
| 7 | Bills, Eagles, Vikings, Rams |
| 8 | Chiefs, Chargers |
| 9 | Browns, Cowboys, Broncos, 49ers, Steelers, Giants |
| 10 | Ravens, Bengals, Jets, Patriots |
| 11 | Jaguars, Bucs, Seahawks, Dolphins |
| 12 | None |
| 13 | Cardinals, Panthers |
| 14 | Falcons, Bears, Packers, Colts, Commanders, Saints |
