We are back to only four teams being on a bye in Week 11. However, if you’re playing the main Sunday afternoon slate in DFS, the running back position is missing several key names with the Packers, Seahawks and Giants on byes and the Browns, Steelers, Rams and Chargers playing in prime time.
Read MoreNFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 7 – Running Backs
Week 7 brings yet another main Sunday slate in DFS with no Christian McCaffrey since the Panthers will be on a bye. We still have some excellent options to choose from, though, including some cheaper players with upside.
Read MoreNFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 13 – Running Backs
*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
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
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
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 10 – Running Backs
*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*
Reader-only discount! Use code EBIRD15 at checkout to save 15%.
Only a few of the top running backs won’t be available for the main Sunday slate in DFS for Week 10, leaving plenty of great options to choose from across the price scale. Let’s dig into the position to see where you can gain the edge for your entry. 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
Todd Gurley vs. Seattle Seahawks
Stadium – Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
FanDuel = $10,800
DraftKings = $9,400
The Rams were caught in a shootout with the Saints in Week 9, which finally led to a subpar game from Gurley. He averaged 5.2 yards-per-carry, but he only finished with 68 yards on 13 attempts. The Saints held him in check in the passing game, as well, with Gurley finishing with six catches on seven targets for 11 yards. Even though Gurley managed to record a rushing touchdown, he had just one touchdown for the second straight week.
If you paid up to get Gurley in your entry last week, you were left disappointed, but don’t let that cloud your judgment moving forward. This is a much better matchup against a far inferior Seahawks offense, which should lead to more rushing attempts for Gurley. The Seahawks are also allowing an average of 4.8 yards-per-carry, which is tied for the fourth-most in the league. When these two teams met earlier this season, Gurley finished with 113 total yards and three touchdowns.
Kareem Hunt vs. Arizona Cardinals
Stadium – Arrowhead Stadium
FanDuel = $9,000
DraftKings = $8,500
The Chiefs had another great offensive performance against the Browns in Week 9 and Hunt was right in the thick of the action. He had 17 carries for 90 yards, and although he only received two targets, he caught one of them for a 50-yard touchdown. Add in his two rushing touchdowns and it was his third multi-touchdown game of the season. A feat even more impressive than that is that he has at least one touchdown in eight straight contests.
With the ease at which the Chiefs move the ball, Hunt is going to get plenty of opportunities for touchdowns. This is another stellar matchup for him against the Cardinals, who have allowed the second-most rushing yards per game (143.1). Their 12 rushing touchdowns allowed is also tied for the second-most, so don’t hesitate to pay up for Hunt.
Melvin Gordon vs. Oakland Raiders
Stadium – Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
FanDuel = $8,900
DraftKings = $9,000
A bye week came at just the right time for the Chargers. Gordon missed Week 7 with a hamstring injury, but a bye in Week 8 helped him to miss only that one game. He certainly didn’t look hampered at all against the Seahawks on Sunday, turning 16 carries into 113 yards and a touchdown. That marked the third time in his last four games that Gordon finished with at least 6.9 yards-per-carry.
Week 10 brings a matchup against the Raiders, who looked like a trainwreck against the 49ers last week. In their first meeting this season, Gordon had 120 total yards and a touchdown against the Raiders. With the Raiders allowing the most rushing yards per game (144.5), expect Gordon to have another strong performance in their rematch.
GPP TOURNAMENT OPTIONS
Tevin Coleman vs. Cleveland Browns
Stadium – FirstEnergy Stadium
FanDuel = $7,300
DraftKings = $5,400
Coleman’s performance against the Redskins in Week 9 was impressive. They’ve had one of the better run defenses in the league this year, but Coleman still finished with 88 rushing yards on just 13 carries. He did plenty of damage in the passing game, as well, hauling in five of seven targets for 68 yards and two touchdowns. Those are the only two receiving touchdowns the Redskins have allowed to running backs all season.
Coleman is still sharing the backfield duties with Ito Smith, but Coleman has been on the field for exactly 57 percent of the Falcons offensive plays in each of their last three games. Smith wasn’t on the field more than 46 percent of the time in any of those contests. The Browns have allowed the fourth-most rushing yards per game (138.9) and the most rushing touchdowns (14), leaving Coleman with excellent upside.
David Johnson vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Stadium – Arrowhead Stadium
FanDuel = $6,900
DraftKings = $6,800
If you play in season-long fantasy football, Johnson is right up there with some of the biggest disappointments in the league. The Cardinals finally moved on from offensive coordinator Mike McCoy before Week 8, which really can only help Johnson at this point. His first game with Byron Leftwich as offensive coordinator wasn’t exactly off the charts, but he finished with 100 total yards against the 49ers, marking just the second time this season he has recorded at least 100 total yards in a game.
The Cardinals had a bye last week, which should be helpful as they adopt Leftwich’s new offense. He’s already stated his desire to get Johnson more involved, at least bringing him back onto the radar in DFS. This is certainly a favorable matchup for Johnson to exploit with the Chiefs allowing a league-high 5.2 yards-per-carry. There is risk involved here, but Johnson could be someone to consider for your entry.
Duke Johnson Jr. vs. Atlanta Falcons
Stadium – FirstEnergy Stadium
FanDuel = $5,600
DraftKings = $4,700
One of the more perplexing things we’ve seen this season is the Browns usage of Johnson. After finishing with 74 catches on 93 targets last year, Johnson only had 20 receptions on 29 targets through their first eight games. The Browns decided to clean house by firing their head coach and offensive coordinator last week, which immediately provided positive results for Johnson. With the Browns trying to keep up with the Chiefs, Johnson caught all nine of his targets for 78 yards and two touchdowns.
It was about time the Browns got Johnson more involved. They aren’t exactly deep at wide receiver, so it would seem to remain in their best interest to keep throwing passes Johnson’s way. If he can get similar usage in Week 10, he could once again have a big stat line considering the Falcons have allowed a league-high 68 receptions to opposing running backs. At this cheap price. Johnson could be well worth the risk in tournament play.
Jalen Richard vs. Los Angeles Chargers
Stadium – Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
FanDuel = $5,400
DraftKings = $4,800
Few losses this season have been as embarrassing as the one the Raiders suffered at the hands of the 49ers in Week 9. With Nick Mullens making his first career start, they managed to blow out the Raiders, 34-3. Richard only had two carries in that contest, but running the ball is not his forte. He did catch all four of his targets for 45 yards, marking his fourth-straight game with at least four targets.
After the Raiders dealt Amari Cooper to the Cowboys and lost Marshawn Lynch to injury, their offense doesn’t have a ton of talented playmakers left. Their defense has played poorly as well, which should leave with some early deficits to try and make up. In those situations, Richard should be heavily involved in catching passes out of the backfield. Don’t be surprised if the Chargers race out to an early lead, setting things up nicely for Richard to provide value.
PLAYERS TO AVOID
Leonard Fournette vs. Indianapolis Colts
Stadium – Lucas Oil Stadium
FanDuel = $7,000
DraftKings = $6,300
Fournette injured his hamstring in the first game of the season against the Giants, which forced him to miss the subsequent two games. He tried to return in Week 4, but couldn’t make it through that contest and hasn’t played since. After having a bye in Week 9, everything is pointing towards Fournette taking the field against the Colts. Although he can be a major asset when healthy, it might be best to make sure he can make it through an entire game before you start playing him in DFS again.
Adrian Peterson vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Stadium – Raymond James Stadium
FanDuel = $6,800
DraftKings = $5,700
Peterson’s success with the Redskins has been surprising. After looking ineffective with the Saints and Cardinals last year, Peterson has already rushed for at least 96 yards in a game five times this season. However, his prognosis going forward looks extremely bleak with the Redskins offensive line decimated by injuries. Not only have they lost guards Brandon Schreff (pectoral) and Shawn Lauvao (knee) for the season, but tackle Trent Williams (thumb) is also a couple of weeks away from returning. With a bunch of backups blocking for him, Peterson isn’t very appealing at this price.
NFL Daily Fantasy Football Recommendations for Week 9 – Running Backs
*Mike Barner — @rotomikebarner*
Reader-only discount! Use code EBIRD15 at checkout to save 15%.
One of the highlights of Week 9 in the NFL will be Todd Gurley facing a New Orleans Saints defense that has allowed the fewest rushing yards per game (74.1) in the league. If there was ever a week not to pay up to get him into your entry, this might be it. Let’s dig into the running back position to see where you can gain the edge for your entry. 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
Melvin Gordon vs. Seattle Seahawks
Stadium – CenturyLink Field
FanDuel = $8,600
DraftKings = $8,200
Gordon had his first 1000-yard rushing campaign last year, but his 3.9 yards-per-carry weren’t exactly great. He’s made a significant improvement in that area this season with 5.1 yards-per-carry through six games. The Chargers have relied on him more in the passing game, as well, resulting in Gordon catching 30 of 42 targets for 279 yards and three touchdowns.
Gordon sat out Week 7 with a hamstring injury, but he’s received the benefit of added rest after the Chargers were on a bye in Week 8. All signs are pointing to him playing Sunday, bringing back one of the top options in DFS. The Seahawks have been excellent defending against the pass, but their 4.5 yards-per-carry allowed is the 10th-highest mark in the league. If you want to shy away from using Gurley against the Saints, Gordon is a safe bet to consider in cash contests.
Kareem Hunt vs. Cleveland Browns
Stadium – FirstEnergy Stadium
FanDuel = $8,500
DraftKings = $7,700
Hunt was limited to 50 rushing yards in Week 8 by the Broncos after recording at least 80 rushing yards in four straight games. He still had plenty of attempts with 16, but his 3.1 yards-per-carry was his third-lowest mark of the season. However, he also chipped in five catches on six targets for 36 yards and a touchdown.
With the Chiefs high-powered offense, Hunt has recorded at least one touchdown in every game since failing to find the end zone in Week 1. It wouldn’t be surprising to see him score again Sunday with the Browns tied for the most rushing touchdowns allowed (12). They’ve also allowed the fifth-most rushing yards per game (138.9), setting up Hunt with a very high floor.
Christian McCaffrey vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Stadium – Bank of America Stadium
FanDuel = $7,900
DraftKings = $7,800
The Panthers exploded for a season-high 36 points against the Ravens last week, which resulted in a very productive game from McCaffrey. His 56 total yards left a lot to be desired, but he scored two total touchdowns, one of which was his first rushing touchdown of the year. In fact, McCaffrey only had one receiving touchdown, as well, through his first six games.
Don’t be overly concerned with McCaffrey’s lack of yardage in Week 8, especially his paltry 11 receiving yards. He still had 14 carries and six targets, the kind of volume that is going to help him be productive more often than not. The Panthers are met with another favorable opportunity to score plenty of points in Week 9 against a Bucs team that has allowed 20 touchdowns through the air and eight on the ground. With McCaffrey as one of the focal points of their offense, this is a matchup to exploit.
GPP TOURNAMENT OPTIONS
Tarik Cohen vs. Buffalo Bills
Stadium – New Era Field
FanDuel = $7,200
DraftKings = $6,200
It took a while for the Bears offense to get going, but they’ve been excellent of late. They are coming off of a 24-10 win over the Jets in Week 8, a game in which Cohen had a 70-yard receiving touchdown. It was his only catch of the game on three targets, although he did have five carries for an additional 40 yards. Cohen has benefited greatly from the improved play of the Bears offense, scoring a touchdown in four straight games.
Another encouraging stat for Cohen that came out of Week 8 is that he was on the field for 58 percent of the Bears offense plays, the exact same amount as Jordan Howard. It marked the first time this season that Howard didn’t have a higher percentage than Cohen. Howard could get plenty of carries if the Bears get up big against a bad Bills team, but Cohen’s big-play ability makes him someone worth targeting in tournament play.
Nick Chubb vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Stadium – FirstEnergy Stadium
FanDuel = $6,600
DraftKings = $4,500
In his second week as the Browns featured back, Chubb finished with 65 yards on 18 carries. He also caught his first two passes of the season, although only for a total of 10 yards. The Browns were down big to the Steelers, which might be why Chubb was only on the field for 48 percent of the Browns offensive plays after being on the field for 66 percent of their plays in Week 7.
While it was concerning that somehow Dontrell Hilliard played 23 percent of the Browns snaps last week, all that goes out the window for Week 9 with the Browns having fired their head coach and offensive coordinator Monday. Duke Johnson has largely been underutilized this year, so it will be interesting to see if they get him more touches Sunday. Even with the uncertainty surrounding their offensive scheme moving forward, Chubb is going to get the majority of their carries. The Browns might be able to move the ball well against the Chiefs leaky defense, leaving Chubb with touchdown upside, as well.
Lamar Miller vs. Denver Broncos
Stadium – Broncos Stadium at Mile High
FanDuel = $6,500
DraftKings = $5,200
There was certainly concern surrounding Miller heading into Week 7 against the Jaguars with him rushing for 49 yards or fewer in three straight games. He even had on horrid performance against the Giants where he gained 10 yards on 10 carries. However, he broke out of his slump against the Jaguars, accumulating 100 yards and a touchdown on 22 carries. If that wasn’t impressive enough, he followed that up with 133 yards and another touchdown Week 8 against the Dolphins.
With Alfred Blue as his only real competition for carries, Miller is the most talented player in the Texans backfield. He’s set up with another great matchup Sunday with the Broncos allowing the sixth-most rushing yards per game (135.8). The game flow could lean in Miller’s favor, as well, with the Broncos having dealt away wide receiver Demaryius Thomas at the trade deadline. They’ve already scored 23 points or fewer in six of eight games, so his loss likely won’t improve their odds of being more productive. If the Texans get up big, we could see a heavy dose of Miller in the second half.
Isaiah Crowell vs. Miami Dolphins
Stadium – Hard Rock Stadium
FanDuel = $5,700
DraftKings = $4,200
On the surface, Crowell’s stats look pretty good. He’s averaging a career-high 5.1 yards-per-carry and has already found his way into the end zone six total times. The problem is that most of his damage done on the ground came in two games. Although he had 102 rushing yards in Week 1 and 219 rushing yards in Week 5, he’s had 40 rushing yards or fewer in each of his other six contests. Week 8 was another struggle against the Bears, gaining 25 yards on 13 carries.
It should be noted that his two big performances came against the Lions and Broncos, two of the worst rushing defenses in the league. He’ll face another bad one in the Dolphins in Week 9, who have allowed the third-most rushing yards per game (143.1). The Dolphins also don’t have a great offense, which is good news for Crowell since a close contest would likely result in a better game script for Crowell. He’s certainly risky, but he might be worth taking a chance on at this cheap price.
PLAYERS TO AVOID
Mark Ingram vs. Los Angeles Rams
Stadium – Mercedes-Benz Superdome
FanDuel = $7,400
DraftKings = $5,000
The return of Ingram in Week 5 struck fear in the hearts of everyone who rosters Alvin Kamara in season-long fantasy after Ingram rushed for 53 yards and two touchdowns on six carries. While Ingram does somewhat eat into Kamara’s upside, Ingram’s value in DFS is largely touchdown dependent. He hasn’t found his way into the end zone in either of the last two games and has to face a Rams defense in Week 9 that has only allowed five rushing touchdowns this season. His price isn’t all that unreasonable on DraftKings, but he’s definitely someone to avoid on FanDuel.
Tevin Coleman vs. Washington Redskins
Stadium – FedEx Field
FanDuel = $6,600
DraftKings = $4,800
Coleman only has 21 carries for 85 yards over his last two games. Ito Smith has cut into his opportunities with Coleman only on the field for 57 percent of the Falcons offensive snaps in those two contests. The Falcons don’t throw the ball to Coleman a lot, either, with him receiving three targets or fewer in all but one game this year. The Redskins have allowed the second-fewest rushing yards per game (80.1) and have allowed just six rushing touchdowns, making Coleman too much of a risk based on his limited upside.
NFL Divisional Round DFS Strategy: Advice, Picks, Sleepers for Draftkings, Fanduel Playoff Tournaments
*Chris Tierney – cstcst*
NFL Divisional Round DFS Strategy: Advice, Picks, Sleepers for Draftkings, Fanduel Playoff Tournaments
If you’re playing DFS this weekend don’t get fancy. Who is going to win the game and how? Answer these questions for yourself prior to constructing anything from a lineup perspective. Making more than one lineup? Alter who will win and how a bit and construct again, all while keeping a similar core lineup.
As Demarcus Robinson and Josh Hill demonstrated last weekend, roughly one obscure player POPS in each playoff game. It will likely take having one of these guys on your squad to take down a large GPP. Rostering players such as these are a true dart throw and the risk often outweighs the reward. My dart throws this week are Vance McDonald and Corey Davis. Both guys can make the big play and both have decent matchups. The Jags have a great defensive backfield and are also adept at rushing the passer. Quick hitting plays to the TE and RB are two ways to attach a defense like the Jaguars. Vance McDonald made some big plays for the 49ers last season and has seen his role expand down the stretch after being injured for much of the season. Corey Davis’s role continues to expand in the Titans passing game. He had a serviceable game last weekend and faces another spotty secondary this week in a game where his offense will likely have to throw the football.
Put your favorite recommendations from the article below in our lineup optimizer and hit calculate. You can let it fill in the rest of the spots for you or choose your personal favorites from the NFL Player Lab.
Atlanta (-3.5, 41) at Philadelphia
On paper, this sure looks like a 26-13 or thereabouts Falcons win. They are a veteran-led group with an improving defense who is accustomed to the pressures of the playoffs. Paper doesn’t mean much come kickoff. This will be an interesting game and it will be roaring in Philly. There are some interesting options here but this game isn’t where the majority of my focus will be this weekend.
DFS Chalk: Matt Ryan, Julio Jones, Zack Ertz, Devonta Freeman
DFS Value: Nick Foles, Nelson Agholor, Tevin Coleman, Mohamed Sanu, Jay Ajayi
Tennessee at New England (-14, 48)
This game has the opportunity to shoot out. Will the real New England defense please stand up? Statistically, they’ve been one of the worst units in the NFL this season but they’ve bowed their backs when it mattered most, allowing them to take the Division and home-field advantage yet again. Tennessee’s pass defense has been a sieve which shines a light upon his Greatness and his favorite Tight End. I think New England wins here, but I think it will be more difficult than many expect. The Titans gained some confidence last weekend and I expect their offense to have some success. I think there are a bunch of players worth rostering in this game. Remember, Belichick likes to neutralize one aspect of his opponent’s offense. That has to be the Tennessee running-game right? #gametheory – Tennessee passing attack is interesting to me in GPP situations. The return of Hogan should lighten the targets to Cooks here.
DFS Chalk: Tom Brady, Rob Gronkowski, Dion Lewis, Delanie Walker, Derrick Henry
DFS Value: Corey Davis, Eric Decker, James White, Rex Burkhead, Chris Hogan, Danny Amendola, Rishard Matthews
Jacksonville at Pittsburgh (-7, 41)
Sunday should be the fun day for this weekends slate and kicks off with a very interesting matchup in Pittsburgh. If Ryan Shazier were healthy, I’d think this was a slam dunk Steelers victory. As we all now, he sadly is not (keep on getting well Ryan!), and the Steelers run defense has not looked the same. They’ll copy the Bills blueprint and load the box with eight men. Will Nathan Hackett trust Blake Bortles here? Will they allow him to attack this Steelers defense down the field with Lee, Hurns and Westbrook? That is likely their plan and without something like it, they’ll be cleaning out their lockers early next week. The Steelers offense has the tough chore of the Jaguars defense. The Jags will slow the Steelers down some here, but the Jags offense has to apply pressure to this Steelers team. An upset here wouldn’t shock me but I think this is perhaps the most interesting matchup of the playoffs thus far and will be telling about the Steelers Championship hopes.
DFS Chalk: Big Ben, LeVeon Bell, Leonard Fournette, Antonio Brown, Juju Smith-Schuster
DFS Value: Vance McDonald, Dede Westbrook, Mercedes Lewis, Marqise Lee
New Orleans at Minnesota (-4.5, 46.5)
Like our Carolina | New Orleans call last week, this is the one with the best opportunity to shoot out and could be a thrilling final game to the weekend. The Vikings are legit, but so are the Saints. Both of these teams are formidable on both sides of the ball and both teams have offensive players who can score from anywhere on the field. I prefer Minnesota here but as anyone who follows the NFL knows, the Saints offense is capable of moving 85 yards in two or three plays at any time.
DFS Chalk: Case Keenum, Adam Thielen, Stephon Diggs, Michael Thomas, Alvin Kamara
DFS Value: Latavius Murray, Jerick McKinnon, Kyle Rudolph, Ted Ginn, Brandon Coleman, Josh Hill
Top GPP Stacks:
1a: Case Keenum, Jerick Mckinnon, Stephon Diggs, Michael Thomas
2a: Tom Brady, James White, Rob Gronkowski, Corey Davis
NFL DFS: Best Lineup Stacks for Wild Card Playoff Weekend DraftKings, FanDuel Daily Fantasy Football
*Chris Tierney – cstcst*
NFL DFS: Best Lineup Stacks for Wild Card Playoff Weekend DraftKings, FanDuel Daily Fantasy Football
Welcome to Wild Card weekend! The stakes ramp up on Saturday as the 2018 edition of the NFL playoffs open in Kansas City on Saturday afternoon. There are some intriguing matchups this weekend which we’ll dive into each a little bit below. Put your favorite recommendations from the article below in our lineup optimizer and hit calculate. You can let it fill in the rest of the spots for you or choose your personal favorites from the NFL Player Lab.
Tennessee at Kansas City (-8.5, 44)
Vegas Implied Final Score:
Kansas City 26
Tennessee 18
Key Injuries:
- Demarco Murray has been ruled out meaning Derrick Henry will get the majority of touches out of the backfield for the Titans.
- Albert Wilson was nicked up during the win over Denver but all signs point to him playing this week.
DFS Chalk: Kareem Hunt, Tyreek Hill, Travis Kelce, Derrick Henry, Alex Smith, Chiefs Defense
DFS Value: Eric Decker, Delanie Walker, Albert Wilson, Corey Davis, Marcus Mariota
Kansas City has gotten well over the past four weeks after a four-game losing streak nearly derailed their season. The teams they beat during this winning streak? The Raiders, Chargers, Dolphins and Broncos. One winning record out of the bunch. The Titans also stumble into the playoffs having lost three of their final four. Two of those came in Western time zones in hard fought games against Arizona and San Francisco, and they also dropped a close contest at home to the Rams before clinching this spot last week at home against Jacksonville. This matchup looks evenly matched on paper and while chilly, the forecasted 28-degree weather is not awful for offensive players.
Atlanta at Los Angeles (-6.5, 48.5)
Vegas Implied Final Score:
Los Angeles 27.5
Atlanta 22
Key Injuries:
- There are no injuries of significance to monitor in this game.
DFS Chalk: Todd Gurley, Robert Woods, Rams Defense, Julio Jones, Mohamed Sanu
DFS Value: Sammy Watkins, DeVonta Freeman, Tevin Coleman, Austin Hooper
The biggest DFS decision of the week is whether to fade Todd Gurley, who finished the Regular Season as the top RB in Fantasy Football. He is very expensive across all formats this weekend and has certainly earned his price tag. He will feature on Saturday and his success or lack thereof will likely dictate GPP formats before Sunday games even kick off. Early projected ownership reports have a majority not paying the massive price tag. Personally, I’ve yet to decide which way I’ll end up going but this is likely the central decision to Wildcard DFS. Gurley would need to hit the 25-30 point mark to return GPP value, which while doable, is hardly something to bank on. The Rams defensive weakness is against the run game and I expect the Falcons to attempt to control the ball and play keep away from the Rams in this one. The Rams are legit and are a very dangerous offense capable of taking what the defense gives them.
Carolina at New Orleans (-7, 48.5)
Las Vegas Implied Score:
New Orleans 27.25
Carolina 21.25
Key Injuries:
- The Saints tight end situation is a bit murky, and while a complete potential flier, it might be worth paying attention to.
DFS Chalk: Drew Brees, Alvin Kamara, Greg Olsen, Michael Thomas
DFS Value: Cam Newton, Christian McCaffery, Ted Ginn, Mark Ingram
In our opinion, this sets up as the most interesting game on the weekend slate. These two teams met the first weekend in December with New Orleans prevailing by 10 points. In that game, the Saints ran for 148 yards and Brees threw for 269 yards with Kamara accounting for over 120 yards from scrimmage and two touchdowns on 14 touches. In that game, the Panthers defense was visibly frustrated with their inability to wrap up Kamara. The Panthers will have one focus this week and that will be limiting and tackling the Saints lightning bolt offensive weapon. That could open the rest of the field for Brees and his wideouts, which sure seems like a good GPP route. Of course, the Panthers are a talented team very capable of winning and moving on here. Cam is scrambling once again, which makes him an elite option. While the Panthers are lacking at the WR position, Christian McCaffery and a healthy Greg Olsen make up for it. This game is a coin flip and brings plenty of fantasy options with perhaps the best chance of ‘shooting out’.
Buffalo at Jacksonville (-9, 39.5)
Las Vegas Implied Score:
Jacksonville 23.80
Buffalo 16.30
DFS Chalk: LeSean McCoy (if healthy), Leonard Fournette, Jags defense
DFS Value: Kellan Cole, Blake Bortles, Dede Westbrook
LeSean McCoy is likely to give it a go on his bum ankle, and without his presence, the Bills are a tremendous longshot to even threaten the Jaguars in this spot. Many are down on the Jags after a rough finish that saw them drop two in a row to end the season. The Jags are an interesting team heading into the postseason and they do two things well that win Championships. They have the best talent on defense in the AFC and can run the football. The game script here should allow Fournette and the Jags defense to shine all while awarding a home fan base that hasn’t seen a home playoff game in a decade. On paper, the Jags sure look like a team that no one wants to host in the Divisional Round.
OVERALL:
Top DFS Chalk Selections: Leonard Fournette, RB, Jacksonville, Todd Gurley, RB, LA Rams, Travis Kelce, TE, Kansas City
Top GPP / Value Selections: Christian McCaffery, RB, Carolina, Devonta Freeman, RB, Atlanta, Austin Hooper, TE, Atlanta, Eric Decker, WR, Tennessee
Top GPP Contrarian Stack: Cam Newton, Christian McCaffery, Greg Olsen