It’s Super Wild Card Weekend in the NFL as the playoffs kick off. Six games are on tap, with only the Chiefs and Packers on first-round byes. That means we have 12 teams to choose from when filling out our DFS contests that begin on Saturday.
Below are my top four value plays for traditional daily lineups with a $50K salary cap.
As always, hit me up with any questions on Twitter @AndyMc81 using #AskAndy.
J.D. McKissic, RB, Washington
Draft Kings salary: $4,900
I’ve been an advocate of J.D. McKissic since mid-October, and once again the running back is looking like a strong DFS value play.
Over the past five weeks, McKissic has averaged 8.4 targets per game. That’s higher than season-long averages for the likes of DK Metcalf, Robert Woods and JuJu Smith-Schuster, and only just behind Tyreek Hill, Terry McLaurin and Robby Anderson. During that stretch, McKissic eclipsed 17.0 FPTs in PPR formats on three occasions.
While the Washington veteran gets change-of-pace handoff duties, he’s utilized much more as a pass-catcher, and that’s why I gave the WR comparables.
Tampa Bay is the second-best fantasy defence versus the run, but are just 25th against receivers. Alex Smith would be well advised to dump the ball off to McKissic early and often to avoid that tough Buccaneers front seven.
Rob Gronkowski, TE, Buccaneers
Draft Kings salary: $4,000
No tight end on the wild-card slate offers a higher ceiling at a better salary than Rob Gronkowski. There are a lot of mouths to feed on the Bucs offence, but Gronk’s proven he still has a nose for the end zone. After shaking off his retirement rust, the former pro-wrestling champ scored all seven of his touchdowns between Week 6 and 16.
What’s more, Washington is 12th worst when it comes to defending tight ends, and Gronkowski’s been an 11.0-plus fantasy point producer on the road in 2020. I’d also expect that the Tom Brady/Gronk familiarity and chemistry from their Patriots days to get turned up several notches as well.
Nyheim Hines, RB, Colts
Draft Kings salary: $4,700
Rookie Jonathan Taylor took charge of the Colts backfield with an explosion of 837 yards from scrimmage and eight TDs over his last six outings. That’s pushed Nyheim Hines out of mind for many fantasy managers, but don’t discount what No. 21 can still contribute.
During Taylor’s six-game emergence, Hines has hit double digit FPTs all but once. Averaging 4.5 receptions and 6.3 carries during that time, he’s still been a consistent part of the Indianapolis offence. Taylor is nursing a shoulder injury, and even though he’s still expected to start, maybe that even increases Hines’ workload. I love him as a lower-ownership, contrarian option for a flex spot.
Emmanuel Sanders, WR, Saints
Draft Kings salary: $5,000
Emmanuel Sanders is the perfect WR3 roster choice for this weekend’s NFL playoff matchups. People may shy away because of the Bears’ defensive reputation and/or Michael Thomas’s return from IR. But I’m bullish on the situation despite it all.
Thomas will obviously draw top defender attention, and I feel that will open up opportunities for Sanders. Second or third wideouts have actually performed pretty well against the Bears recently. Marquez Valdes-Scantling had a touchdown and the most receiving yards of any Packer last Sunday; Laviska Shenault Jr. led Jacksonville in receptions in Week 16; and Chad Hansen was the best pass-catcher for Houston in Week 14.
Sanders and Drew Brees have developed a nice rapport. The 33-year-old’s reliable hands out of the slot will undoubtedly prove valuable as Brees tries to get the ball out quickly.
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