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NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations – Wild Card Round

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

The NFL regular season has come and gone, but that doesn’t mean the fun has ended in DFS. The Wild Card round of the playoffs brings two days worth of DFS contests. Let’s highlight some players at all positions across both days to see who could help you bring home some money. Don’t forget to sign up for our Newsletter and try our Playerlab tool, where you can filter the stats that matter the most and help build a winning entry on FanDuel and DraftKings.

QUARTERBACKS

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations - Wild Card Round

Andrew Luck vs. Houston Texans
Stadium – NRG Stadium
FanDuel = $8,000
DraftKings = $6,400

After sitting out all of 2017, the Colts couldn’t have asked for much more from Luck this season. He helped lead them back into the playoffs with one of the best years of his career, throwing for 4,593 yards and 39 touchdowns. He destroyed the Texans is two previous meetings, throwing for a combined 863 yards and six touchdowns. The Texans allowed the fifth-most passing yards per game (260) in the league during the regular season, so it’s no surprise that Luck has had success against them. It’s no easy task playing on the road in the playoffs, but this is still a favorable opportunity for Luck to be productive.

Lamar Jackson vs. Los Angeles Chargers
Stadium – M&T Bank Stadium
FanDuel = $8,200
DraftKings = $5,800

The Ravens won six of seven games after Jackson took over as their starting quarterback, propelling them into the playoffs. Traditional passing numbers are certainly not his forte, which left him to throw for fewer than 200 yards in six of his starts. Most of his value comes from his ability to run the ball. The Ravens give him plenty of opportunities to make his mark in that department, which enabled him to turn 147 carries into 695 yards and five touchdowns. The Chargers did hold him to 39 rushing yards in Week 16, but he countered with throwing for 204 yards and a touchdown. Being a rookie quarterback in the playoffs can be a challenge, but with his ability to run and this game being play at home, his floor is high enough to warrant considering him for your entry.

RUNNING BACKS

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations - Wild Card Round

Ezekiel Elliott vs. Seattle Seahawks
Stadium – AT&T Stadium
FanDuel = $8,800
DraftKings = $9,000

The Cowboys offense wasn’t very productive this season, which left Elliott to record just six rushing touchdowns. However, that didn’t stop him from piling up 304 carries for 1,434 yards. They also turned to him much more frequently in the passing game, which resulted in Elliott finishing with career-highs in targets (95), receptions (77), receiving yards (567) and receiving touchdowns (three). With his immense workload, he may have the highest floor of any running back in play this weekend.

Chris Carson vs. Dallas Cowboys
Stadium – AT&T Stadium
FanDuel = $7,500
DraftKings = $6,800

The Seahawks love to run the ball and settled on Carson to be their lead running back. He finished with six games with at least 100 rushing yards, including each of his last three contests. He also found his way into the end zone five times across his last four games. Even though this is a tough matchup against a stout Cowboys’ run defense, Carson didn’t struggle against them in Week 3 when he rushed for 102 yards and a touchdown. If you don’t want to pay up for Elliott, Carson also has a very high floor.

Gus Edwards vs. Los Angeles Chargers
Stadium – M&T Bank Stadium
FanDuel = $7,200
DraftKings = $4,200

Not only did the Ravens make a change at quarterback, but they also made Edwards their starting running back. Alex Collins had a disaster of a year and eventually ended up on IR with a foot injury. With teams trying to contain Jackson on the ground, it has made things difficult to also key on Edwards. Since being named the starter in Week 12, Edwards has amassed 539 yards and a touchdown on 105 carries. His contributions are virtually non-existent in the passing game, but that doesn’t mean you should be avoiding him this week, especially at his cheap price on DraftKings.

WIDE RECEIVERS

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations - Wild Card Round

DeAndre Hopkins vs. Indianapolis Colts
Stadium – NRG Stadium
FanDuel = $8,800
DraftKings = $8,700

Hopkins is battling an ankle injury, but all signs point to him playing Saturday. He couldn’t have performed much better down the stretch, posting 31 receptions for 421 yards and two touchdowns across his last three games. He finished with 11 touchdowns, overall, marking the third time in the last four seasons that he has reached that threshold. The Colts held him to 36 yards in Week 14, but he still salvaged his line with a touchdown. In Week 4, he torched them for 169 yards and another score. Look for him to have another big performance Saturday.

Tyler Lockett vs. Dallas Cowboys
Stadium – AT&T Stadium
FanDuel = $7,000
DraftKings = $5,300

With how often the Seahawks like to run the ball, it doesn’t necessarily equate to good things for their receivers. Lockett still had by far the best season of his career in large part because he posted 16.9 yards per reception. He was also one of their main scoring threats, finishing with 10 touchdowns receptions. To put that into perspective, he had nine total touchdowns across the first three years of his career. His price on FanDuel isn’t exactly a bargain, but he really stands out as a great option on DraftKings.

Allen Robinson II vs. Philadelphia Eagles
Stadium – Soldier Field
FanDuel = $6,500
DraftKings = $5,600

The Bears had a horrible wide receiver group in 2017, so addressing the position during the offseason was critical. Robinson was their big haul, even though his numbers don’t exactly jump off the page. He was limited to 13 games, but the Bears held him out in Week 17 to make sure he’d be healthy for the playoffs. The Eagles’ secondary has been hit hard by injuries, which contributed to them allowing the third-most passing yards per game (269) during the regular season. Robinson still led the Bears with 94 targets despite missing three games, so he should have a large enough role to be worth considering this week.

TIGHT ENDS

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations - Wild Card Round

Eric Ebron vs. Houston Texans
Stadium – NRG Stadium
FanDuel = $6,600
DraftKings = $5,200

Simply put, Ebron had a crazy season for the Colts. His role looked cloudy heading into the year, but injuries to Jack Doyle quickly thrust him into a prominent role. The Colts also don’t have great wide receivers outside of T.Y. Hilton, which further increased their reliance on Ebron. He came through in a huge way, registering 13 touchdown receptions. He found the end zone in both games against the Texans, as well, making him a prime target in DFS at the tight end spot.

Mark Andrews vs. Los Angeles Chargers
Stadium = M&T Bank Stadium
FanDuel = $5,900
DraftKings = $3,500

Even though the Ravens don’t throw the ball a lot with Jackson at the helm, Andrews has actually been productive down the stretch. Across his last three games, he’s caught eight of 11 targets for 168 yards and a touchdown. That score came against the Chargers. None of the Ravens’ wide receivers stand out as appealing options for this game, but Andrews is someone to at least consider in tournament play if you want to save money at tight end.

DEFENSES/SPECIAL TEAMS

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations - Wild Card Round

Baltimore Ravens vs. Los Angeles Chargers
Stadium – M&T Bank Stadium
FanDuel = $4,900
DraftKings = $3,000

The switch to Jackson was one of the main reasons why the Ravens were so successful down the stretch, but don’t forget about their stellar defense, either. They were stout throughout the year, allowing the fifth-fewest passing yards per game (210) and the fourth-fewest rushing yards per contest (82.9). They also chipped in 43 sacks and 12 interceptions, making them a great option in DFS. They held the Chargers to 10 points in Week 16 and could once again be tough in their rematch at home.

Indianapolis Colts vs. Houston Texans
Stadium – NRG Stadium
FanDuel = $3,700
DraftKings = $2,300

If you’re looking for a cheap defense to roll the dice on in tournament play, going with the Colts isn’t all that crazy. They finished with 15 interceptions this season and allowed only 21 scores through the air. They also allowed the eighth-fewest rushing yards per game (101.6). Texans’ quarterback DeShaun Watson was sacked a whopping 62 times this year, including 11 times in two games against the Colts. Even if they give up some points, the Colts defense could still provide value, overall, at their cheap price on both sites.

Author Bio:

Mike has been covering fantasy sports since 2007, joining Lineup Lab in 2017. An avid player of both season-long fantasy leagues and DFS, Mike’s work has appeared on numerous sites, including RotoWire, SportsLine and Sports Illustrated. He’s also been featured on ESPN Radio and DraftKings’ nightly show, The Sweat.

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 13 – Running Backs

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

Reader-only discount! Use code EBIRD15 at checkout to save 15%.

We’ve passed the last bye weeks of the season, so Week 13 will bring a full slate of games in the NFL. With plenty of options to wade through, let’s dive right in and highlight a few running backs that stand out with favorable matchups, and a couple to avoid. Don’t forget to sign up for our Newsletter and try our Playerlab tool, where you can filter the stats that matter the most and help build a winning entry on FanDuel and DraftKings.

CASH CONTEST OPTIONS

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 13 - Running Backs

Kareem Hunt vs. Oakland Raiders
Stadium – Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
FanDuel = $8,900
DraftKings = $7,800

With all of the prolific passing numbers put up by the Chiefs and Rams in Week 11, Hunt didn’t get a lot of work on the ground. He did make the most of his opportunities, carrying the ball 14 times for 70 yards. His involvement in the passing game wasn’t great, either, but he did turn his four targets into three receptions for 41 yards and a touchdown. With that score, Hunt already has 14 total touchdowns.

There are few running backs with as high of a floor as Hunt. Not only does the Chiefs offense put him in a lot of great positions to score touchdowns, but he is averaging 109.3 total yards per game. The Raiders have allowed the most rushing yards per game (151.4) in the league, so expect Hunt to have another excellent performance Sunday. The only cause for concern with him is if the Chiefs jump out to a big lead and rest Hunt in the fourth quarter. However, if they do score a lot early, it could be in large part because of Hunt’s efforts.

Christian McCaffrey vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Stadium – Raymond James Stadium
FanDuel = $8,800
Draft Kings = $8,800

McCaffrey couldn’t have looked any more dominant than he did last week against the Seahawks. They had no answer for him on the ground, allowing him to rack up 125 yards and a touchdown on just 17 carries. Things were equally as impressive for McCaffrey in the passing game, catching all 11 of his targets for 112 yards and another touchdown. If you rostered him in DFS or season-long, you likely came away as a winner.

It’s highly unlikely that McCaffrey matches that performance this week, but this is a matchup for him to exploit against the Bucs. They’ve allowed 14 rushing touchdowns this year and four more scores through the air to opposing running backs. When these two teams met in Week 9, McCaffrey finished with 79 rushing yards, two rushing touchdowns, and 78 receiving yards on five receptions.

Aaron Jones vs. Arizona Cardinals
Stadium – Lambeau Field
FanDuel = $7,600
DraftKings = $6,700

The Packers are slumping right now, but it certainly isn’t due to the play of Jones. He was effective again in Week 12 against the Vikings, rushing 17 times for 72 yards and a touchdown. While his 21 receiving yards weren’t great, it was important that he received five targets. With his role starting to expand as we head down the stretch, Jones has received at least five targets in three straight games.

The talent level seemed pretty obvious with Jones, but it took a while for the Packers coaching staff to give him the lead role. That time is finally here with Jones being on the field for at least 74 percent of their offensive snaps in each of the last three games. There’s no reason to believe that will change this week, setting him up for possibly a career day against a Cardinals team that has allowed the most rushing touchdowns (16) and third-most rushing yards per game (144.8).

GPP TOURNAMENT OPTIONS

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 13 - Running Backs

Phillip Lindsay vs. Cincinnati Bengals
Stadium – Paul Brown Stadium
FanDuel = $7,000
DraftKings = $5,400

Don’t look now, but the Broncos have won back-to-back games against two tough teams in the Chargers and Steelers. Their passing attack has been awful this year, but Lindsay has established himself as a weapon on the ground. Despite receiving just 14 carries in Week 12, Lindsay ran for 110 yards and a touchdown. That’s particularly impressive considering the Steelers are allowing only 4.2 yards-per-carry for the season, overall.

Next up for Lindsay and the Broncos is a matchup against a Bengals team that just lost their starting quarterback for the year and might still be without their best wide receiver in A.J. Green (toe). Their struggles likely won’t be limited to their offense, though, since they have allowed an average of 37.8 points over their last five games. They particularly struggle in the running game, allowing 147.5 rushing yards per game to go along with 14 touchdowns.

Gus Edwards vs. Atlanta Falcons
Stadium – Mercedes-Benz Stadium
FanDuel = $6,400
DraftKings = $4,800

If you play in season-long fantasy, a player like Edwards coming out of nowhere to play well can help propel you into the playoffs if you were lucky enough to snap him up off waivers. He was heavily involved again Sunday versus the Raiders, carrying the ball 23 times for 118 yards. His usage in the passing game has been non-existent, but it’s hard to argue against his success with 233 rushing yards over two games since assuming the lead running back role.

The key to Edwards’ success might be Lamar Jackson remaining as the Ravens quarterback. With Jackson’s own ability to rush the ball, the duo creates a nightmare for opposing defenses. Initial reports indicate Joe Flacco (hip) isn’t ready to return, so it’s hard to see Edwards’ role fading with Jackson still running the offense. The Falcons allow the third-most yards-per-carry (5.1), making Edwards a potential steal in DFS, especially at his price on DraftKings.

Lamar Miller vs. Cleveland Browns
Stadium – NRG Stadium
FanDuel = $6,300
DraftKings = $4,600

Miller burst out for a 97-yard touchdown run in Week 12 against the Titans, helping propel him to 162 rushing yards for the game, overall. He only received 12 carries, but it marked the third time in his last five games that Miller rushed for at least 100 yards. It’s no coincidence that he ran for a touchdown in each of those contests, which accounted for all three of his rushing touchdowns this season.

Miller is peaking at the right time for Texans, which has helped them reel off eight straight wins after starting out 0-3. Alfred Blue does cut into his carries, but Miller has been on the field for at least 62 percent of the Texans offensive snaps in five of his last six games. During that stretch, Blue didn’t log more than 48 percent of their snaps in any contest. The Browns have allowed the fifth-most rushing yards per game (131.8) to go along with 15 rushing touchdowns, making Miller a great target in tournament play.

Jalen Richard vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Stadium – Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
FanDuel = $4,800
DraftKings = $4,300

Looking at Richard’s line from Week 12 doesn’t exactly install a whole lot of confidence in playing him for Week 13 in DFS. He only had one carry for one yard and caught two of four targets for an additional 15 yards. The Raiders were down big early, but Richard still couldn’t get much going in the passing attack with the Raiders having to throw a lot in an attempt to catch up.

If you want to roll with Richard, make sure you do so with the understanding that he won’t provide much in terms of rushing yards. He did post 61 yards on the ground in Week 11 against the Cardinals, but that’s more than half of his total for the entire year. His main source of value is in the passing game with a career-high 53 receptions on 63 targets. The Raiders should have to throw a lot in an attempt to keep up with the Chiefs high-powered offense, meaning Richard might be more involved then their primary rusher, Dough Martin, who only has 17 targets all year.

PLAYERS TO AVOID

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 13 - Running Backs

Tevin Coleman vs. Baltimore Ravens
Stadium – Mercedes-Benz Stadium
FanDuel = $6,200
DraftKings = $4,500

Coleman was completely shut down on the ground by the Saints last week with only six yards on eight carries. His three catches for 17 yards weren’t great, either, but he somewhat salvaged his line with a receiving touchdown. The Saints have arguably the best rushing defense in the league, so it’s not a surprise that Coleman struggled. Things won’t get much easier for him in Week 13 against the Ravens, who allow the third-fewest rushing yards per game (92.1).

Peyton Barber vs. Carolina Panthers
Stadium – Raymond James Stadium
FanDuel = $5,800
DraftKings = $3,700

Barber has reached the end zone in both of his last two games while racking up 153 yards on the ground. The Bucs have struggled to run the ball most of the season, but that didn’t stop them from giving Barber 18 carries in both of those contests. This isn’t shaping up to be a matchup to exploit, though, against a Panthers team that is allowing just 4.1 yards-per-carry. When these two teams met earlier in the year, Barber had only 31 yards on 11 carries.

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 12 – Running Backs

by Mike Barner 0 Comments

*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*

Reader-only discount! Use code EBIRD15 at checkout to save 15%.

The running back position isn’t nearly as deep for the main Sunday slate in Week 12 with the Rams and Chiefs on byes and all of the Thanksgiving games added to the usual Sunday and Monday primetime contests. There are still some great options to target, though, so let’s highlight a few that stand out. Don’t forget to sign up for our Newsletter and try our Playerlab tool, where you can filter the stats that matter the most and help build a winning entry on FanDuel and DraftKings.

CASH CONTEST OPTIONS

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 12 - Running Backs

Melvin Gordon III vs. Arizona Cardinals
Stadium – StubHub Center
FanDuel = $8,900
DraftKings = $8,600

Entering Week 11 as winners of five straight, the Chargers suffered a disappointing loss at the hands of the Broncos. Gordon wasn’t exactly efficient, but his 18 carries helped him finish with 69 rushing yards. However, he was heavily involved in the passing attack, catching all six of his targets for an additional 87 yards. Even though he failed to reach the end zone for the first time since Week 1, Gordon finished with at least 120 total yards for the fifth straight game.

Gordon’s struggles on the ground were a bit surprising, especially with how poorly the Broncos have defended against the run. He’ll get a chance to redeem himself Sunday against a Cardinals defense that has allowed the fourth-most rushing yards per game (141.5) to go along with 13 touchdowns on the ground. Gordon is certainly expensive, but don’t hesitate to pay up for him in cash contests based on his floor.

James Conner vs. Denver Broncos
Stadium – Broncos Stadium at Mile High
FanDuel = $7,900
DraftKings = $7,800

Conner struggled to get things going on the ground early against the Jaguars on Sunday and then the Steelers were forced to throw a lot late down 16-0. They stormed back for the win, but Conner only had nine carries for 25 yards. He also hauled in six of nine targets, but only for 24 yards. This game also marked the first time since Week 4 that Conner failed to record a touchdown.

The Jaguars haven’t been as tough on opposing running backs as they have quarterbacks, but they still have a good defense, overall. Conner has an excellent opportunity to get things back on track against the Broncos, who are allowing the sixth-most rushing yards per game (127.9). The Steelers might also be able to jump out to a big lead against this far inferior opponent, which could lead to a game flow that favors Conner in the second half.

David Johnson vs. Los Angeles Chargers
Stadium – StubHub Center
FanDuel = $7,900
DraftKings = $7,300

It took a change at offensive coordinator, but Johnson is back to being an extremely productive running back again. He only caught one of three targets for 17 yards in Week 11 against the Raiders, but he also set season highs in rushing attempts (25) and rushing yards (137). After receiving at least 20 carries just one time across the first eight weeks, he’s topped that mark in both of his last two contests.

The Cardinals still aren’t scoring a ton of points, which does limit Johnson’s upside, to an extent. It’s clear, though, that they plan for him to be heavily involved moving forward. The Chargers have only given up six rushing touchdowns this season, but they have allowed 4.6 yards-per-carry. Gordon and Conner have the potential for better overall lines since they play for better offenses that put them in more positions to score touchdowns, but Johnson’s role still makes him a safe option in DFS.

GPP TOURNAMENT OPTIONS

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 12 - Running Backs

Nick Chubb vs. Cincinnati Bengals
Stadium – Paul Brown Stadium
FanDuel = $7,500
DraftKings = $6,300

Early indications are that the Browns made the right choice trading Carlos Hyde to the Jaguars to open up more playing time for Chubb. Since that trade, Chubb has received at least 18 carries and recorded at least 65 rushing yards in four straight games. He exploded for 176 rushing yards and a touchdown in Week 10 against the Falcons and already has four total touchdowns since taking on an expanded role.

Chubb comes into this game out of a bye week, so he should be fresh for what is an excellent matchup against the Bengals. The Bengals have arguably the worst rushing defense in the league, allowing 153.6 yards per contest and 13 scores on the ground. Chubb’s price is climbing, but he still presents an excellent opportunity for production in this contest. If you play season-long fantasy, as well, note that this is one of two remaining games against the Bengals for Chubb.

Marlon Mack vs. Miami Dolphins
Stadium – Lucas Oil Stadium
FanDuel = $7,000
DraftKings = $5,500

Mack rebounded from a quiet performance in Week 10 against the Jaguars to rush for 61 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries versus the Titans in Week 11. The Colts struggled to run the ball with Mack out earlier this season, but he’s come on to solidify their rushing attack by averaging 78.5 yards per game. Not only is he chewing up yards on the ground, but he also has five total touchdowns across his last four games.

Mack hasn’t received a ton of carries the last two weeks, but he was on the field for at least 60 percent of the Colts offensive snaps in both contests. He’s clearly their lead back, which sets him up nicely for Sunday in a matchup against a Dolphins team that has allowed the third-most rushing yards per game (142). They’ve also struggled to put points on the board, so Mack might get a few extra carries in the second half if the Colts can jump out to an early lead.

Matt Breida vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Stadium – Raymond James Stadium
FanDuel = $6,400
DraftKings = $5,700

Breida was excellent against the Giants in Week 10, rushing 17 times for 101 yards and a touchdown. He also hauled in three of four targets for 31 yards and an additional score. It was just his second game of the season with at least 100 rushing yards and his four targets tied his previous season-high that he set back in Week 2. With Raheem Mostert (forearm) out for the rest of the season, Breida was also on the field for 60 percent of the 49ers offensive snaps, which was his second-highest percentage so far.

If anyone could have used a bye week, it’s Breida. He’s dealt with various injuries all season, but he should be well rested for what is a stellar matchup to target. The Bucs defense has been bad in just about every facet of the game, including being tied for the most rushing touchdowns allowed (14). They’ve also allowed 511 yards and four touchdowns through the air to opposing running backs. At this cheap price, it’s hard to pass up on Breida in tournament play.

Gus Edwards vs. Oakland Raiders
Stadium – M&T Bank Stadium
FanDuel = $5,300
DraftKings = $4,400

The Ravens were forced to make a quarterback change last week with Joe Flacco (hip) unable to take the field. Lamar Jackson received his first career start against the Bengals, and while he didn’t do much through the air, he had 27 carries for 117 yards. The Ravens also changed things up a running back, giving Edwards carries as the game went on due to the struggles of Alex Collins. After rushing the ball just 15 times all season, Edwards exploded for 115 yards and a touchdown on 17 carries.

The threat of Jackson running the ball certainly makes things tough on opposing defenses. He and Edwards seemed to play off of each other well, so if Jackson does start again Sunday, Edwards could once again receive more carries Collins. There is certainly plenty of risk here since Edwards is largely an unproven commodity, but he’s priced so cheap on both sites that he won’t need to match his total from last week in order to still provide value.

PLAYERS TO AVOID

NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 12 - Running Backs

Alex Collins vs. Oakland Raiders
Stadium – M&T Bank Stadium
FanDuel = $6,200
DraftKings = $4,500

Collins was able to score an early touchdown against the Bengals but struggled again with only 18 yards on seven carries. That marked the fourth time in the last five games that he had 3.9 yards-per-carry or fewer, which was one of the reasons while the Ravens gave Edwards a chance to prove himself. With the uncertainty surrounding who will be their lead back moving forward, it doesn’t make a lot of sense to take a chance on Collins this week, especially at his price on FanDuel.

LeSean McCoy vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
Stadium – New Era Field
FanDuel = $6,000
DraftKings = $4,200

It’s been a rough season for the Bills, but at least they were able to enjoy their bye week after drubbing the Jets 41-10. McCoy had his best performance of the year in that contest, turning 26 carries into 113 yards and two touchdowns. Don’t get too excited, though, because he had a total of 24 rushing yards across his previous three games. Even though he clearly still has something left in the tank, the Bills terrible overall offense leaves him with very little upside.