FanDuel NFL DFS Divisional Round Playoff Lineup Picks and Plays
The Divisional Round of the NFL Playoffs is here, and there are big NFL DFS contests ripe for the picking at FanDuel. Each week of the NFL playoffs up to the Super Bowl, we’ll bring you our top daily fantasy NFL picks for each position and recommend them as Cash and/or GPP plays.
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As with any DFS sport, the advice below is relevant for fantasy purposes. A player or team might be better or worse from a fantasy perspective than in real life due to matchup, price, gameflow, and more factors. This is important when constructing a roster on any of the daily fantasy sites.
By this time in the season, weather plays a key factor in NFL games. Make sure to check the forecast for each weekend.
Best Divisional Round NFL DFS Quarterbacks on FanDuel
Tom Brady vs. TEN ($9.0k FanDuel) – Cash/GPP
He’s the “GOAT” when it comes to postseason play. This weekend, Tom Brady’s matchup is far, far superior to that of any other QB on the board. Tennessee is frankly not a playoff-caliber team, and the Chiefs dissected that defense last Saturday before giving the game away in trademark fashion. Brady should carve up a unit that ranks 24th in passing DVOA this year and gave up the third-most FPPG to opposing QBs over the last month of the season. The only threat is supremely positive gameflow for the Patriots at home or multiple rushing TDs. However, the Titans rank seventh against the run, and New England usually has no issues running up the score in playoff games.
Matt Ryan @ PHI ($7.7k FanDuel) – GPP
If you need a mid-tier option or simply want to be contrarian, Matt Ryan appears to have the second-best matchup on this slate. The Eagles’ elite front seven covered up a lot of mistakes earlier this season, but if they don’t get consistent pressure on Ryan, that maligned secondary could be in trouble against Julio Jones and company. Philly allowed the fourth-most passing YPG (287) and second-most pass attempts (43) per game over the last month of the season. Last week, Ryan looked very sharp while burning the Rams for 218 yards and a TD on just 30 attempts.
Case Keenum vs. NO ($7.6k FanDuel) – GPP
Cam Newton he is not, but Case Keenum could have similar success against the Saints’ defense this Sunday. His savvy coaching staff will likely put him in similar positions to succeed. The young Saints defense was excellent all season but sprung leaks last Sunday. They coughed up a career playoff-high 349 passing yards and two TDs to Newton. Keenum is 6-1 with a 100.1 passer rating and 68.92 completion rate at home this season. Thanks to the Vikings’ supremely talented pass defense (read: fading Drew Brees), Minnesota should win time of possession and afford Keenum more opportunities to make plays.
Others to consider: Drew Brees, Ben Roethlisberger
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Best Divisional Round NFL DFS Running Backs on FanDuel
Le’Veon Bell vs. JAX ($9.4k FanDuel) – Cash/GPP
The Jaguars’ elite defense makes it difficult for offenses to put points on the board. But they’re liable to give up plenty of yards, which is Le’Veon Bell’s specialty. He led the NFL in rushes (321) and eclipsed 100 YFS in six consecutive games before getting some rest down the stretch of a blowout win over Houston in Week 17. Jacksonville ranks first in passing DVOA and 26th in rushing DVOA. Pittsburgh (-7.5) is still a solid favorite. They’ll likely control the clock at home by featuring Bell.
Dion Lewis vs. TEN ($7.6k FanDuel) – Cash/GPP
While Rex Burkhead (knee) could return to action in the Divisional Round, the Patriots will likely limit his reps if he’s active and continue to feature Dion Lewis. The latter might not profile as a workhorse at 5-foot-8 and 195 pounds, but Lewis handled 61 touches over the Pats’ last two games this season. He found the end zone twice in each contest, as defenses have a lot to worry about with Rob Gronkowski lurking in the red zone. His floor remains high enough to use in Cash games with the Patriots (-13.5) clearly expecting positive gameflow.
Derrick Henry @ NE ($6.7k FanDuel) – GPP
Even with the Titans (+13.5) checking in as massive underdogs, Derrick Henry is worth a look in all formats when you need salary relief on this short slate. The second-year back out of Alabama is carrying the load with DeMarco Murray (knee) unable to play at full speed. Henry parlayed 25 touches into 191 YFS and a TD in last week’s comeback win. The Patriots rank 30th in rushing DVOA, and their veteran coaching staff will often yield consistent gains on the ground in an effort to limit big passing plays. In the interim, they’ll hope for a mistake from an inexperienced QB in Marcus Mariota.
Others to consider: Mark Ingram, Latavius Murray, Devonta Freeman
Best Divisional Round NFL DFS Wide Receivers on FanDuel
Antonio Brown vs. JAX ($9.0k FanDuel) – Cash/GPP
Were this some mere mortal coming off a partially torn calf after four weeks of relative inactivity, he would only be worth tournament consideration. But we’re talking about Antonio Brown, arguably the most unstoppable WR we’ve seen in a decade. Facing the top-rated secondary in the league, he still went off for 10 receptions and 157 yards back in Week 5. Thus, the matchup isn’t so concerning that you should feel uncomfortable taking AB at a relative discount.
Julio Jones @ PHI ($8.8k FanDuel) – GPP
Julio Jones (ankle, ribs) is far from healthy. And he’s much more risky than Brown simply because he doesn’t get consistent looks in the red zone. Yet he caught 9-of-10 targets for 94 yards and a somewhat lucky TD in a win over the Rams last week (Matt Ryan slipped and sailed the ball). He’s definitely worth a look as an upside play against an Eagles secondary that we mentioned struggled down the stretch. Top CBs Ronald Darby and Jalen Mills are solid but aren’t capable of containing Julio without significant help.
Adam Thielen vs. NO ($7.6k FanDuel) – Cash/GPP
Perhaps the Vikings simply wanted to keep Adam Thielen fresh with the NFC North wrapped up. That could explain his lack of production in wins over the Packers and Bears in Week 16 and 17. Yet they’ll need the breakout star to ball out this Sunday against a tough Saints secondary. Thielen’s succeeded in similarly tough matchups all year. He pasted the Rams, Lions, and Panthers before slowing down late in the year. In the end, coverage from excellent rookie CB Marshon Lattimore doesn’t force a fade on the Vikings’ top wideout.
Dede Westbrook @ PIT ($6.1k FanDuel) – GPP
The Jaguars’ passing game struggled mightily in the lowest-scoring Wildcard game in NFL history last week. Still, Dede Westbrook was clearly atop the pecking order in their WR rotation. He played on 60 percent of offensive snaps and caught 5-of-8 targets for 61 yards last week. Comparatively, the other three WRs for Jacksonville (Marqise Lee, Allen Hurns, Keelan Cole) all saw one measly target. Clearly, the return of Lee and Hurns from ankle injuries won’t tremendously affect Westbrook’s workload as he prepares to face an inconsistent Steelers pass defense.
Others to consider: Stefon Diggs, Alshon Jeffery, JuJu Smith-Schuster, Danny Amendola
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Best Divisional Round NFL DFS Tight Ends on FanDuel
Rob Gronkowski vs. TEN ($8.5k FanDuel) – GPP
If you can somehow find enough salary relief at other positions to afford him, Rob Gronwkoski clearly draws the best matchup of any TE this weekend. The Titans coughed up the fifth-most receiving YPG (72.67) and sixth-most FPPG to opposing TEs over the last month of the season. And they rank 24th in TE DVOA. Not your average TE by any means, Gronk is a nearly unstoppable red-zone weapon. He should get plenty of opportunities down there if the Patriots dominate as expected.
Kyle Rudolph vs. NO ($5.9k FanDuel) – GPP
There aren’t any truly safe plays at TE this week, although Delanie Walker ($6.2k) has a solid floor with the Titans likely playing catch-up throughout their second half. But if there are no safe values, you should be willing to take a chance on Kyle Rudolph. He looks to bounce back from a sprained ankle that limited him in Week 16 and 17. The big target could burn the Saints the same way Greg Olsen did in compiling 107 yards and a TD last week. Rudolph functioned as an elite weapon with five TDs over four games prior to suffering that sprain.
Others to consider: Zach Ertz, Delanie Walker, Trey Burton
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Best Divisional Round NFL DFS D/ST on FanDuel
Falcons @ PHI ($4.4k FanDuel) – Cash/GPP
Apparently suffering from a Super Bowl hangover most of the year, the Falcons seemed to wake up when the first postseason games kicked off last weekend. They stymied a Rams offense that led the league in scoring this year. Now, they face another team that beat up on weaker competition and is much, much less dangerous with immobile QB Nick Foles under center instead of Carson Wentz. Foles was horrible in his last two appearances against weak Raiders and Cowboys defenses. This week, he’ll face a team with one of the best pass rushes in the NFL.
