We are down to the final four, and I don’t mean March Madness. The AFC sees its two perennial powerhouses lock horns in a must-see matchup, where every second truly matters. The NFC brings us the rubber match between the reigning NFC East dynasty and their divisional rival led by a rookie wunderkind. God, I love football! Is it Sunday yet?
Recommended DFS lineups
DK Lineup: QB Josh Allen ($7.5k), RB Saquon Barkley ($8.6k), RB Kareem Hunt ($5.4k), WR A.J. Brown ($6.8k), WR Khalil Shakir ($5.7k), WR Dyami Brown ($4.4k), TE Dawson Knox ($2.6k), FLEX Travis Kelce ($6.0k), DST Washington Commanders ($2.7k)
FD Lineup: QB Josh Allen ($8.7k), RB Saquon Barkley ($9.8k), RB Kareem Hunt ($6.0k), WR Terry McLaurin ($7.9k), WR Khalil Shakir ($6.4k) WR Marquise Brown($5.8k), TE Travis Kelce ($6.8k), FLEX Keon Coleman ($4.9k), DST Washington Commanders ($3.6k)
FB Lineup: QB Jayden Daniels ($7.1k), RB Saquon Barkley ($8.3k), RB Kareem Hunt ($5.3k), WR A.J. Brown ($7.0k), WR Khalil Shakir ($5.3k), WR/TE Dyami Brown ($4.0k), TE Travis Kelce ($6.3k), FLEX Zach Ertz ($4.1k), SUPERFLEX Josh Allen ($7.5k)
Based on their physical tools, Josh Allen and Jayden Daniels are the best plays. Of course, they are both the top-priced options and both face tough defenses. Still, none of the quarterbacks is a clear fade this week. Patrick Mahomes faces a tough defense … but this is Mahomes, and this is the playoffs. Jalen Hurts faces the weakest defense; however, his recent passing has been abysmal, and opponents have battered him. Whoever you select, stack them with at least two of their pass catchers.
I have a hard time fathoming anyone fading Saquon Barkley. If you do, it must be with James Cook. Still, why would you do it? Cook is facing an elite run defense, and Barkley posted 348-4 against Washington in the two earlier meetings. Cook did score twice against KC in the earlier contest, but he also finished with only 27 total yards on 14 touches. That screams touchdown dependency, and I don’t want to bet on a TD-dependent RB who has to share goal-line touches with his QB (not to mention two change-of-pace backs).
At RB2, it is a decision between Brian Robinson Jr., Austin Ekeler, Isiah Pacheco, and Kareem Hunt. Color me perplexed by Robinson’s success last week. I truly believed that Washington would feature Ekeler more. In the earlier meetings against Philly, Robinson averaged only 3.3 YPC. He did score once, but the numbers were beyond meh. Meanwhile, Ekeler missed the second meeting, but he hauled in 8-89 through the air in Week 11. I could see Ekeler as a sneaky punt RB2/Flex and the game script could drive him to outperform Robinson. As for the Chiefs, Pacheco has been Wally Pipped by Hunt. The Bills arguably have the weakest run defense remaining in the postseason; therefore, whichever back gets the most playing time could perform well this week. My bet would be on Hunt.
For those playing in Showdown contests, Samaje Perine, Kenneth Gainwell, Ray Davis, and Ty Johnson make discount dart throws. That said, I’m not getting to any of them in full-slate contests.
There are two possible WR1s and I don’t love either of them. A.J. Brown has a cake matchup, but this postseason he has spent more time reading on the sidelines than making contested catches. He saw a monster target share in the Week 16 game against Washington, so maybe he will put the book down this week. The other option is Terry McLaurin. He has been on fire, scoring nine times over his last eight games, but Philly has an elite pass defense. McLaurin gets a colossal boost if stud rookie CB Quinyon Mitchell (shoulder) misses this game. That said, they still could make McLaurin take a Darius Slay ride. There is a logical argument for starting both of them and neither of them. I’ll choose one or the other.
At WR2, you can use DeVonta Smith (if you don’t use Brown at WR1). I wouldn’t use both, as Hurts projects to throw for the fewest yards and TDs on the slate. I will probably choose between Khalil Shakir and Xavier Worthy. Shakir is a great option assuming that Trent McDuffie doesn’t shadow him. He led the Bills in targets, receptions, and receiving yards in their earlier matchup. As for Worthy, he was the only WR to catch a pass last week for KC. That won’t happen again, but he will still lead the WR room in opportunities.
Dyami Brown will garner my WR3 slot if I opt to fade McLaurin. Otherwise, I will choose between Marquise Brown (second choice), DeAndre Hopkins, Keon Coleman, Olamide Zaccheaus (groin), Mack Hollins, and Curtis Samuel. If Zaccheaus can’t play, Jamison Crowder could be a punt.
All four starting TEs are playable this week. I also will probably choose my flex from this group. Based on their prices, Dallas Goedert and Dalton Kincaid are the top two options. Much like his QB, good luck fading Travis Kelce here. Zach Ertz faces a tough TE defense, but he has scored seven times in his last nine games. Both Noah Gray and Dawson Knox have punt value and should find their homes in Showdown lineups.
