After initially opening up a 3-game slate for both Saturday and Sunday, we also have a full weekend slate on DraftKings! All six games will be featured on this slate, giving us the two-day sweat for all the playoff action. Perfection. Here’s what jumps out in my first look at the 6-game main slate on DraftKings.
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DraftKings is hosting two fantasy football Millionaire contests for Wild Card Weekend, one for Saturday’s slate and one for Sunday’s slate.
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Quarterback
Expensive
Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens at Tennessee Titans ($7,800) — Jackson didn’t play all that well in the 30-24 regular season loss to the Titans, held in check for 17.54 DKFP. After that, he missed a game with COVID-19, then was on fire down the stretch. Lamar averaged 28.5 DKFP during the five-game winning streak to close the season, and we just saw Tennessee get torched by Deshaun Watson and a banged up Houston offense.
Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills vs. Indianapolis Colts ($7,500) — Allen has one of the better matchups on the board, as almost a touchdown home favorite on DraftKings Sportsbook against a defense that ranked 26th in DKFP allowed to QB. Allen scored 40 and 35 DKFP in the last two games that he played in entirety, and will be looking to avenge last season’s playoff collapse. The Bills should also be amped to welcome some fans into the stadium. Allen is likely the safest QB play on the slate.
Cheap
Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Cleveland Browns ($6,100) — We don’t need all that much salary on this slate, so Big Ben is actually pretty manageable when it comes to value. We know the issues the WRs have been having all season, but most of them have been able to play solid games against Cleveland. The Browns are obviously having a tough week with the head coach getting COVID-19, and some other names potentially getting ruled out. This sets up a nice spot at home for Pittsburgh to get back to the team we saw early in the season.
Other Options: Drew Brees ($5,700)
Running Back
Expensive
Derrick Henry, Tennessee Titans vs. Baltimore Ravens ($9,200) — Henry’s a pretty tough fade this time of year, when he typically puts up monster games. Henry has scored 39 or more DKFP in three of his last six games. We get a close point spread here on DraftKings Sportsbook, and while an underdog, the Titans are at home against a middle of the pack Baltimore run defense. Last year in the postseason Henry ran for 195 yards on 30 carries in Baltimore, and added a touchdown pass.
Jonathan Taylor, Indianapolis Colts at Buffalo Bills ($7,900) — Taylor ripped off 253 rushing yards in the season finale, and while he doesn’t get to face the Jaguars again, the Bills do rank just 23rd in DKFP allowed to RB. The Colts are nearly a touchdown underdog here on DraftKings Sportsbook, but the Bills have been favorites most of the season and still allowing rushing production. If Indy stays in this game, it’ll have to control the ground game with Taylor. Since Week 13, Taylor averaged 27.3 DKFP in the final five games of the season.
Cheap
J.K. Dobbins, Baltimore Ravens at Tennessee Titans ($6,600) — James Connor ($5,000) is probably the best pure value on the slate. He’s underpriced because of injuries and recent limitations, but look back to the first matchup with the Browns — 20-101-1 line for 20.2 DKFP. But Dobbins is the stronger play overall if you have the salary, and he is really heating up down the stretch. Tennessee ranks just 28th in DKFP allowed to RB, and we’ve seen a lot of points on the board when the Titans play top competition. Dobbins ripped off a 13-160-2 line last week for 31 DKFP, his sixth week in a row with 13 or more. He scored 18.5 DKFP in the regular season matchup.
David Montgomery ($6,900) is also worth mention here. He’ll likely be a contrarian play with all the other strong plays on the board, especially facing a defense that allowed the fewest DKFP to RB as a double-digit dog. But we saw Monty catch all nine of his targets last week in a blowout loss, giving him hope in this spot.
Other Options: James Conner ($5,000), Nyheim Hines ($4,700), Latavius Murray ($4,500 — if Alvin Kamara is out)
Wide Receiver
Expensive
Stefon Diggs, Buffalo Bills vs. Indianapolis Colts ($7,700) — Whether you pay up for Jackson or Allen, Diggs is on the radar as your top WR play. Diggs led the NFL with 1,535 receiving yards, and while eight touchdowns might be a bit less than you’d want, he made up for it with 127 receptions. This offense revolves around heavily targeting Diggs, and the Colts rank just 21st in DKFP allowed to WR.
A.J. Brown, Tennessee Titans vs. Baltimore Ravens ($7,100) — Brown is coming off a monster game in Houston to close out the season, but the matchup gets more difficult this week. I’ll probably look elsewhere because I’ll spend up on Diggs, but that should leave Brown under-owned. He went for 4-62-1 (16.2 DKFP) in the regular season matchup against the Ravens and makes for a nice pivot off the popular Henry play. If Mike Evans (knee) winds up ruled out, Chris Godwin ($7,000) and Antonio Brown ($6,100) become attractive plays.
Cheap
Marquise Brown, Baltimore Ravens at Tennessee Titans ($5,400) — Brown had an awful start to the season, but he looked much more like the Hollywood we expected down the stretch. Brown was somehow shutout on three targets in the regular season matchup against the Titans, but Tennessee allowed the second-most DKFP to WR this season. Since that game, Brown has been on a tear along with Lamar, averaging 15.9 DKFP, and scoring six touchdowns in six games. It’s unlikely the Titans can pull a rabbit out of a hat twice here.
Other Options: Chase Claypool ($5,200), T.Y. Hilton ($5,100)
Tight End
Expensive
Mark Andrews, Baltimore Ravens at Tennessee Titans ($5,200) — TE is thin as usual, but at least there aren’t any plays that break the bank here. Andrews can reasonably fit into most builds that you aren’t stacking too many studs, and has a good matchup here. Andrews was also a big part of the hot finish for Baltimore and had one of his three 20-DKFP games against the Titans, who rank below average against TE.
Cheap
Jared Cook, New Orleans Saints vs. Chicago Bears ($4,600) — If you need to go down to the $3,000’s you easily can with the options below, but this slate might not be one that we have to completely punt at TE. Cook finished up the season strong, has a solid target share in the Saints’ offense, and has a matchup to capitalize on here. The Bears allowed the third-most DKFP to the TE position, and Cook scored 16.1 DKFP in this matchup on a 5-51-1 line in Week 8.
Other Options: Jimmy Graham ($3,300), Jonnu Smith ($3,200), Cole Kmet ($3,000)
DST
Expensive
Pittsburgh Steelers ($3,600) vs. Cleveland Browns — It’s been a rough week for the Browns. On the road, in a divisional matchup for the third time this season against an elite defense doesn’t seem like a friendly spot, either. Pittsburgh averaged 9.3 DKFP during the regular season, and scored 18 DKFP in its only meaningful matchup against the Browns.
Cheap
Seattle Seahawks ($2,700) vs. Los Angeles Rams — The Rams will either be starting a QB with a bad thumb or a backup. Seattle’s at home with the lowest total on the board. Easy spot to save salary.
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