We are down to eight teams left. After a Wild Card Weekend loaded with blowouts, will we finally see some close games? Will we see more weather terrorism? How about returning injured stars? One thing is for certain. There is money to be won, so let’s go get it!
NFL Divisional Round: recommended DFS lineups
DK Lineup: QB Jared Goff ($6.3k), RB Isiah Pacheco ($6.4k), RB Christian McCaffrey ($8.8k), WR Amon-Ra St. Brown ($8.2k), WR Josh Reynolds ($3.7k), WR Khalil Shakir ($3.8k), TE Cade Otton ($3.5k), FLEX Gus Edwards ($5.9k), DST San Francisco 49ers ($3.4k)
FD Lineup: QB Jared Goff ($7.6k), RB Justice Hill ($5.3k), RB Christian McCaffrey ($10.8k), WR Romeo Doubs ($6.1k), WR Amon-Ra St. Brown ($9.2k), WR Justin Watson ($5.0k), TE George Kittle ($6.4k), FLEX Cade Otton ($5.3k), DST Baltimore Ravens ($4.3k)
FB Lineup: QB Brock Purdy ($6.4k), RB Christian McCaffrey ($8.9k), RB Gus Edwards ($5.5k), WR Amon-Ra St. Brown ($7.8k), WR Deebo Samuel ($7.1k), WR Odell Beckham Jr. ($4.2k), TE George Kittle ($5.3k), FLEX Cade Otton ($3.5k), FLEX Jared Goff ($6.3k)
Quarterback
| Player | DraftKings | FanDuel |
|---|---|---|
| Josh Allen | $8,000 | $9,400 |
| Lamar Jackson | $7,900 | $8,700 |
| Patrick Mahomes | $6,800 | $7,700 |
| C.J. Stroud | $6,700 | $7,200 |
| Brock Purdy | $6,500 | $7,800 |
| Jared Goff | $6,300 | $7,600 |
| Jordan Love | $6,200 | $7,400 |
| Baker Mayfield | $6,000 | $7,300 |
Weekly strategy – Lamar Jackson has the safest matchup, but there isn’t an awful play on the slate. Brock Purdy, Jared Goff, and Baker Mayfield are all much cheaper and should outperform their salaries.
Pay to Play
Lamar Jackson, Ravens vs. HOU ($7,900 DK, $8,700 FD) During the regular season, only one team allowed fewer passing TDs than Houston. This suggests that maybe we should skip Jackson this week. Fortunately for him, Houston allowed the most QB rushing TDs. These two teams faced off way back in Week 1. The Texans held Jackson in check, but Justice Hill and J.K. Dobbins ran in three short TDs. Jackson will get in on the fun this week with at least one on the ground and one through the air.
Stay Away
C.J. Stroud, Texans @ BAL ($6,700 DK, $7,200 FD) The only team to allow fewer passing TDs than the Texans was the Ravens. The big difference is that Houston allowed the eighth-most passing yards while Baltimore allowed the sixth fewest. There is some hope for Stroud in that Baltimore allowed 31% of their league-low 16 passing TDs over their last four games. Plus, he probably will play from behind. Unfortunately, Stroud only has two games this year (including the big game last week) where he has posted monster numbers while facing a top-10 defense. In those six tougher matchups (including Week 1 versus Baltimore), Stroud averaged 211-1 through the air.
value play
Jared Goff, Lions vs. TB ($6,300 DK, $7,600 FD) Tampa allowed only one passing score last week. Of course, that came against a QB with a dislocated finger playing without his top receiver. During the regular season, this defense allowed the fifth-most passing yards. This is amazingly awful when you consider that their regular season included six games against Desmond Ridder, Derek Carr, and Bryce Young. Not to mention games against Gardner Minshew, half a game from C.J. Beathard, and Will Levis in his third career start. Goff threw for a season-high 353 yards against this defense back in Week 6. He will exceed that number in this projected shootout as both teams are stifling against the run.
Running Back
| Player | DraftKings | FanDuel |
|---|---|---|
| Christian McCaffrey | $8,800 | $10,800 |
| Aaron Jones | $6,700 | $7,400 |
| Jahmyr Gibbs | $6,600 | $7,300 |
| Rachaad White | $6,500 | $6,700 |
| Isiah Pacheco | $6,400 | $7,500 |
| James Cook | $6,300 | $6,800 |
| David Montgomery | $6,100 | $7,000 |
| Gus Edwards | $5,900 | $6,900 |
| Devin Singletary | $5,700 | $6,400 |
| Elijah Mitchell | $5,200 | $5,000 |
| Justice Hill | $4,800 | $5,300 |
| Chase Edmonds | $4,700 | $4,900 |
| Dameon Pierce | $4,600 | $4,500 |
| Clyde Edwards-Helaire | $4,500 | $5,000 |
| AJ Dillon | $4,400 | $5,100 |
| Jordan Mason | $4,400 | $4,400 |
| Emanuel Wilson | $4,200 | $4,600 |
| Ty Johnson | $4,200 | $4,800 |
| Latavius Murray | $4,100 | $4,400 |
| Dalvin Cook | $4,000 | $4,500 |
| Kyle Juszczyk | $4,000 | $4,100 |
Weekly strategy – Christian McCaffrey (calf) needs to be your RB1. Aaron Jones has a tough matchup, but he has been playing well. You can say the same about the Detroit backfield and Rachaad White. So, use those four sparingly. If you decide to fade McCaffrey, use a combination of Gus Edwards, James Cook, and Isiah Pacheco. They also are your best choices for RB2.
Pay to Play
Christian McCaffrey, Niners vs. GB ($8,800 DK, $10,800 FD) No one needs to tell you to play McCaffrey. Despite sitting out Week 18, McCaffrey still finished with over 2,000 scrimmage yards and 21 TDs. This was 438 more scrimmage yards than the next closest RB, despite playing one fewer game. Dual-threat backs have gouged Green Bay all season. As long as CMC is not on a snap count, he should post 130 total yards and at least one TD.
Stay Away
Jahmyr Gibbs, Lions vs. TB ($6,600 DK, $7,300 FD) During the regular season, Tampa Bay allowed a league-low five RB rushing scores and seven total RB scores. Gibbs has been on fire, scoring seven times over his last six games. Still, it is tough to chase a TD in this matchup, especially when he is splitting backfield touches with David Montgomery. Gibbs missed the earlier meeting versus Tampa, but the remaining RBs totaled just 34 yards on 19 carries. Even if Gibbs does score here, you are going to still need all the other bricks to fall right for him to return 2.5x value.
Value Play
Gus Edwards, Ravens vs. HOU ($5,900 DK, $6,900 FD) There is only one great matchup for an RB this week. That is McCaffrey versus Green Bay. All the other defenses are very solid against the run. Among the other seven teams, the worst of the best is Houston. Last week, the Texans gave up a pair of short-yardage scores to Kareem Hunt, and the week before that Jonathan Taylor ran wild against this defense. Back in Week 1, Baltimore scored three rushing TDs against them. Edwards has a nose for the end zone. He will score this week. Just don’t expect huge yardage, since he still splits carries with Justice Hill and Lamar Jackson.
Wide Receiver
| Player | DraftKings | FanDuel |
|---|---|---|
| Amon-Ra St. Brown | $8,200 | $9,200 |
| Deebo Samuel | $7,700 | $8,300 |
| Mike Evans | $7,200 | $7,600 |
| Nico Collins | $7,100 | $8,700 |
| Stefon Diggs | $7,000 | $7,500 |
| Brandon Aiyuk | $6,900 | $7,900 |
| Rashee Rice | $6,800 | $7,800 |
| Chris Godwin | $6,300 | $6,900 |
| Zay Flowers | $6,000 | $7,000 |
| Romeo Doubs | $5,600 | $6,100 |
| Jayden Reed | $5,200 | $6,600 |
| Gabe Davis | $5,000 | $6,000 |
| Dontayvion Wicks | $4,900 | $5,700 |
| Odell Beckham Jr. | $4,600 | $5,600 |
| Christian Watson | $4,200 | $5,800 |
| Rashod Bateman | $4,000 | $5,100 |
| Khalil Shakir | $3,800 | $5,900 |
| Josh Reynolds | $3,700 | $6,100 |
| Nelson Agholor | $3,700 | $4,900 |
| Jameson Williams | $3,600 | $5,300 |
| Jauan Jennings | $3,600 | $4,700 |
| Robert Woods | $3,500 | $5,300 |
| Skyy Moore | $3,500 | $4,500 |
| Trey Palmer | $3,500 | $5,200 |
| John Metchie III | $3,400 | $5,000 |
| Bo Melton | $3,300 | $4,600 |
| David Moore | $3,300 | $4,700 |
| Justin Watson | $3,300 | $5,000 |
| Kadarius Toney | $3,200 | $4,600 |
| Kalif Raymond | $3,200 | $4,600 |
| Ronnie Bell | $3,200 | $4,500 |
| Trent Sherfield | $3,100 | $4,600 |
| Andy Isabella | $3,000 | $4,200 |
| Deonte Harty | $3,000 | $4,500 |
| Deven Thompkins | $3,000 | $4,400 |
| Devin Duvernay | $3,000 | $4,100 |
| Justyn Ross | $3,000 | $4,300 |
| Marquez Valdes-Scantling | $3,000 | $4,700 |
| Mecole Hardman Jr. | $3,000 | $4,800 |
| Richie James Jr. | $3,000 | $4,400 |
| Xavier Hutchinson | $3,000 | $4,800 |
Weekly strategy – Deebo Samuel, Amon-Ra St. Brown, and Mike Evans are the best plays of the week. You need two of them in your lineup. Rashee Rice and Zay Flowers would be the pivots. Romeo Doubs had a huge Wild Card week. He has an outside chance to repeat that here. Consider him and the rest of the Packers’ WR room as WR3 options. Otherwise, use Odell Beckham Jr., Khalil Shakir, Josh Reynolds, Jamison Williams, Trey Palmer, Justin Watson, or Mecole Hardman.
Pay to Play
Amon-Ra St. Brown, Lions vs. TB ($8,200 DK, $9,200 FD) Alpha WRs have pillaged the Buccaneers all year. Back in Week 6, St. Brown eviscerated them to the tune of 12-124-1. That was just one of the 10 games this season where St. Brown has topped 100 receiving yards. St. Brown will have high ownership numbers, but he is the surest WR on this slate.
Stay Away
Stefon Diggs, Bills vs. KC ($7,000 DK, $7,500 FD) Buffalo could see more weather terrorism this weekend. Compounding this with their facing an elite KC pass defense makes this passing offense a risky play. Diggs caught only four of 11 passes in their earlier meeting as he remains mired in a long slump. He has not topped 100 yards in any of his last 12 games and has scored only three times during that span. If you want exposure to this passing offense, use Khalil Shakir or Dalton Kincaid instead.
Value Play
Trey Palmer, Buccaneers @ DET ($3,500 DK, $5,200 FD) Detroit finished the regular season third worst in both WR receiving yards and receiving TDs. Meanwhile, Palmer has scored in two of his last three games while establishing himself as the field-stretcher of the Buccaneers offense. Last week, Detroit allowed seven passes of greater than 20 yards, including two TDs. They have now allowed six 20-plus-yard TDs in their last four games.
Tight End
| Player | DraftKings | FanDuel |
|---|---|---|
| Travis Kelce | $6,000 | $7,100 |
| Sam LaPorta | $5,900 | $6,600 |
| George Kittle | $5,200 | $6,400 |
| Mark Andrews | $5,000 | $6,000 |
| Dalton Kincaid | $4,800 | $6,200 |
| Isaiah Likely | $4,700 | $5,500 |
| Dalton Schultz | $4,400 | $5,800 |
| Luke Musgrave | $3,600 | $5,100 |
| Cade Otton | $3,500 | $5,300 |
| Tucker Kraft | $3,100 | $4,800 |
| Dawson Knox | $3,000 | $5,100 |
| Brevin Jordan | $2,700 | $4,700 |
| Blake Bell | $2,500 | $4,200 |
| Brock Wright | $2,500 | $4,500 |
| Noah Gray | $2,500 | $4,600 |
Weekly strategy – Travis Kelce is a beast in the playoffs. His recent struggles have lowered his price and could lead to lesser ownership. Both Sam LaPorta (knee) and George Kittle (back) have awesome matchups. If neither suffers a setback during the practice week, use them as well. With many players using the above threesome, Dalton Kincaid will be a lesser-owned TE1 pivot. Cade Otton is less expensive than all the above options. His matchup also is juicy. His price makes him an easy FLEX choice, saving you money for the higher-priced WRs.
Pay to Play
Travis Kelce, Chiefs @ BUF ($6,000 DK, $7,100 FD) Kelce has faded this season as teams force the Chiefs to beat them with other weapons. That said, “playoff Kelce” is something to behold. He has 16 career TDs in 19 career games. He even has a passing TD in one of those contests … not to mention that 14 of those TDs have come in his last 13 playoff games. He also has topped 70 receiving yards in each of his last 10 playoff games. Kelce has faced Buffalo twice in the postseason. In those two games, he has posted an average of 10.5-107-1.5. Buffalo has a myriad of injuries in the middle of their defense right now. Kelce is sitting on a beast-mode game.
Stay Away
Dalton Schultz, Texans @ BAL ($4,400 DK, $5,800 FD) Only two teams allowed fewer TE scores this season than Baltimore. Last week, Schultz scored a TD, but that was his only catch. It was his first TD since Week 11 and also marked the lowest number of targets that Schultz has seen since his return from a Week 12 injury. Expect Schultz to catch a few more passes this week, just don’t be shocked when he doesn’t score.
Value Play
Cade Otton, Buccaneers @ DET ($3,500 DK, $5,300 FD) Thanks to a cheap DK price, Otton is the best double-TE option on the board. Over their last five games, Detroit has allowed an average of 4.6-67 to the position. Last week, Otton posted career highs in targets, receptions, and receiving yards. In another shootout, he should post another high-water performance.