It sets up to be a wonderful Wild Card Wednesday on the DraftKings Dream Stream, featuring six star-studded matchups set up by the first-ever 17-game Madden simulated season. The later three-game classic slate focuses on the NFC contests, starting at 6:00 p.m. ET when the Green Bay Packers welcome in the New Orleans Saints. At 8:00 p.m. ET, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers visit the Atlanta Falcons, who won the NFC South, and we close out the night with an old-school matchup between the Dallas Cowboys and the San Francisco 49ers, who beat the Rams on Tuesday’s late slate to claim their Wild Card spot.
As you build your lineups, be sure to consider the depth charts for each team. If you’re looking for gameplay details for these sims, along with the upcoming schedule, head over to the Madden Streams Information Page.
Quarterback
Stud
Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers vs. New Orleans Saints, $6,800 — Rodgers has averaged 19.8 DKFP per sim, the highest mark of any QB on this slate, but he’s priced as the third-most-expensive QB. He has been very consistent with over 20 DKFP in three of his past four sims and a total of 175 touchdown passes in 99 sims in Madden 21 while averaging over 250 passing yards per sim. He lit up the Saints for 26.06 and 29.5 DKFP in their two most recent matchups, and Green Bay has won four of their five previous meetings.
Other Option — Matt Ryan ($7,100)
Value
Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys vs. San Francisco 49ers, $6,400 — The Cowboys needed some late magic and a win in Week 18 over the Eagles to get into the postseason, and now they have a tough matchup against the 49ers. Despite the tough matchup, Prescott brings a high enough ceiling to still be the best cheap option. He had over 14 DKFP in seven of his eight most recent sims and has found the end zone either passing or rushing in each of those eight contests.
Other Option — Drew Brees ($6,600)
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Running Back
Stud
Ezekiel Elliott, Dallas Cowboys vs. San Francisco 49ers, $7,100 — It’s a stacked group of RBs on this slate with so many outstanding stud options. Elliott has been locked in lately, though, and has scored five touchdowns in his five most recent sims to bring his Madden 21 total to an impressive 99 scores in 96 sims. He had 138 yards and 38.3 DKFP in his most recent matchup against the Niners and has over 15 DKFP in eight of his past nine contests.
Other Options — Raheem Mostert ($8,100), Alvin Kamara ($7,200), Aaron Jones ($6,700)
Value
LeSean McCoy, Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Atlanta Falcons, $3,800 — If you don’t pay up for two stud RBs or you decide to go with a third RB in your flex spot, McCoy is a very cheap option under $4K who brings plenty of upside as the Bucs’ third-down back. McCoy is averaging 8.0 DKFP on 3.1 receptions for 21.6 yards per game. He is a reliable source of PPR production and comes with decent touchdown-dependent upside.
Wide Receiver
Stud
Julio Jones, Atlanta Falcons vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers, $7,000 — The Bucs have given up big plays to opposing WRs throughout Madden 21, and Jones has beaten them for 17.1 DKFP per sim in their previous six matchups, highlighted by a monster 37.3-DKFP performance with over 100 yards and two scores. Jones has been the second-best WR in all of Madden, producing 83.1 yards on 5.3 catches per sim and scoring 68 touchdowns in 97 sims. He is worth paying up for in what could turn into a primetime track meet in Atlanta.
Other Options — Mike Evans ($6,300), Davante Adams ($6,100)
Value
Emmanuel Sanders, New Orleans Saints at Green Bay Packers, $4,800 — Sanders has been rolling lately and should get plenty of work if the Packers use X-factor Superstar CB Jaire Alexander to shadow Michael Thomas ($6,700). Sanders has been red-hot lately with at least five catches in five straight sims, culminating in a 10-catch, 34.1-DKFP performance against the Falcons in the season finale. In previous sims against the Packers, he had 12.5, 9.8, 16.9 and 24.2 DKFP, making Sanders a great option with a high ceiling under $5K.
Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Green Bay Packers vs. New Orleans Saints, $4,000 — Valdes-Scantling is another great value WR to consider. He had 14.7 and 29.2 DKFP in his two most recent matchups with the Saints with a touchdown in each game. He has also had a pair of multi-touchdown games in his past four games with over 20 DKFP in each of those contests, showing off his high ceiling.
Other Options — Devin Funchess ($4,700), Deebo Samuel ($4,200), Tre’Quan Smith ($4,100), Russell Gage ($3,600)
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Tight End
Stud
Hayden Hurst, Atlanta Falcons vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers, $4,500 — Hurst has had his ups and downs, but he has shown he can go off for a huge game against the Bucs if the game flow tilts his way. He had 10 catches for 29.9 DKFP and six catches and 21.8 DKFP in two of their previous meetings, and he’s coming into this rematch off of back-to-back games with a touchdown and over 16 DKFP. He isn’t a sure thing, but there aren’t any elite reliable TEs on this slate.
Other Options — Rob Gronkowski ($4,400), Jared Cook ($4,300)
Value
Blake Jarwin, Dallas Cowboys vs. San Francisco 49ers, $3,600 — Jarwin is an extremely affordable option compared to the upside he brings, although he has also posted a few duds. He had success against the 49ers with 15.0 and 16.1 DKFP in their two previous meetings, and he has averaged 10.5 DKFP on 4.1 catches for 47.9 yards per appearance in Madden 21.
DST
Stud
Buccaneers DST at Atlanta Falcons, $2,900 — While the Bucs’ secondary has been inconsistent and beatable, their pass rush makes them a good fantasy option. In 102 sims, they have totaled 249 sacks to go with 49 takeaways and nine defensive touchdowns. They had three sacks and one of those touchdowns on their way to 12.0 DKFP in their most recent matchup with the Falcons and have averaged 5.2 DKFP in their previous Madden 21 meetings with their divisional rival.
Value
Cowboys DST vs. San Francisco 49ers, $2,700 — The Cowboys have one of the more favorable matchups on the slate against the 49ers, since Jimmy Garoppolo ($5,400) has been inconsistent and turnover-prone. Dallas had 5.0 and 4.0 DKFP in its two earlier meetings with San Francisco.
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