FanDuel NFL DFS Conference Championship Playoff Lineup Picks and Plays
Conference Championship Sunday is here, which means the final big NFL DFS contests of the season are available on FanDuel. For this Sunday, we bring you our top daily fantasy NFL picks for each position and recommend them as Cash and/or GPP plays. You can also consider these plays on the Draft Fantasy App and on Draftboard DFS.
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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.
Philadelphia and New England’s outdoor stadiums host Sunday’s games, so be sure to check the forecasts.
Best Championship Sunday NFL DFS Quarterbacks on FanDuel
Tom Brady vs. JAC ($9.0k FanDuel) – Cash/GPP
The storyline of this Sunday is Tom Brady, arguably the greatest postseason player in NFL history, standing head and shoulders above the other three QBs. Yet Brady won’t be throwing against Blake Bortles, Case Keenum, or Nick Foles; he faces an elite Jaguars defense. Jacksonville ranks first in passing DVOA while allowing the fewest passing YPG (169.9) by far this season.
That being said, the Jags’ defense can be exploited underneath with RBs and over the middle with TEs, which is the strength of the Patriots’ offense. Jacksonville’s actually given up the third-most FPPG to opposing QBs over the last month and certainly made Ben Roethlisberger look good at times last week. Expect that savvy coaching staff to implement a game plan that makes it easier for Brady to complete passes to James White, Dion Lewis, and Rob Gronkowski. In the end, New England likely rolls into yet another Super Bowl.
Case Keenum @ PHI ($8.0k FanDuel) – GPP
While he made some really poor decisions that nearly (read: should have) cost the Vikings a shot at an NFC Championship last Sunday, Case Keenum also demonstrated good arm strength and great touch on a couple of beautiful passes. He has the talent to emerge as a championship-caliber QB, and you can bet the Vikings coaching staff will work with him on taking fewer chances in a game that’s very winnable.
Philadelphia gave up 24 passing TDs during the regular season and struggled down the stretch against the Seahawks, Rams, and Giants’ passing attacks, so Keenum should be able to produce in this matchup. Furthermore, he’s due for positive touchdown regression after throwing for 318 yards and only one score last week, on that lucky 61-yard game-winner to Stefon Diggs.
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Best Championship Sunday NFL DFS Running Backs on FanDuel
Leonard Fournette @ NE ($8.5k FanDuel) – Cash/GPP
There’s simply nothing else for the Jaguars to do offensively other than pound the rock with Leonard Fournette. Blake Bortles proved to be a capable game manager in wins over Buffalo and Pittsburgh, but the Jags would be foolish to turn him loose at Gillette Stadium against a Bill Belichick-coached defense.
After turning 29 touches into 119 yards and three touchdowns last week, Fournette should carry the mail once again. He’ll try to keep Tom Brady and company off the field. New England’s bend-but-don’t-break defense ranked 30th in rushing DVOA this season and lacks the size up front to fully contain a bruiser like Fournette.
James White vs. JAC ($4.8k FanDuel) – GPP
Patriots starting RB Dion Lewis ($7.7k) is the preferred option in Cash games. Yet he’s unlikely to find the end zone with James White back in the flow and Rex Burkhead (knee) potentially active after a multi-week absence. White, who could’ve been named Super Bowl MVP last February, re-asserted his value as a multi-purpose threat with a rushing TD, receiving TD, and 40 yards on eight touches last Sunday. As mentioned above, the best way to attack the Jaguars is by avoiding their elite CBs. That should lead to White catching more balls against their mediocre LB corps.
Others to consider: Jay Ajayi, Latavius Murray
Best Championship Sunday NFL DFS Wide Receivers on FanDuel
Stefon Diggs @ PHI ($6.7k FanDuel) – GPP
Similar to the situation with the Patriots’ RBs, Stefon Diggs seems like the preferred tournament play at a cheaper price tag, while Adam Thielen ($7.4k) has a higher floor and lower ceiling in this matchup. Despite their solid overall defense, Philadelphia’s been vulnerable at CB with Ronald Darby and Jalen Mills struggling toward the end of the season. In front of the whole world, Diggs has clearly come on strong with a TD in three consecutive appearances. He totaled 117 yards and a score last week, thanks to that miraculous final play. He would’ve caught another TD in the first half had he not been pulled down for a pass interference call.
Danny Amendola vs. JAC ($6.4k FanDuel) – Cash/GPP
Filling in for the injured Julian Edelman (knee), Danny Amendola played the role of possession receiver for the Patriots in a dominant win over the Titans last week. He caught 11-of-13 targets for 112 yards. He’s unlikely to match that production in a tougher matchup this week but is arguably a better bet for receptions than Brandin Cooks and Chris Hogan, who will battle Jacksonville’s elite CB duo of Jalen Ramsey and A.J. Bouye. Jacksonville ranked 11th in DVOA against slot receivers. That’s a significant difference considering they were first overall. And the Pats love to keep the chains moving in playoff games by targeting shifty WRs such as Amendola.
Others to consider: Adam Thielen, Chris Hogan, Marqise Lee, Jarius Wright
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Best Championship Sunday NFL DFS Tight Ends on FanDuel
Rob Gronkowski vs. JAC ($8.4k FanDuel) – GPP
The walking mismatch continued to flex his muscles with six catches for 81 yards and a TD in a blowout win last week, although that late score saved him from being labeled a dud at this lofty price tag. This round, you should probably use Rob Gronkowski only in tournaments. Yet with few truly expensive RBs and WRs available on this short slate, he probably has the most upside of any skill player. Jacksonville ranked 20th in TE DVOA and coughed up the seventh-most receiving YPG (69.33) to the position over the last month of the season.
Kyle Rudolph @ PHI ($6.1k FanDuel) – Cash/GPP
Essentially the only other option at TE with Zach Ertz facing a Vikings LB corps that’s elite in coverage, Kyle Rudolph can provide salary relief if you simply can’t afford Gronk. The Vikings’ TE caught 5-of-8 targets for 53 scoreless yards last week and draws a decent matchup against a Philly team that ranked 17th in TE DVOA this season. He’s become a good red-zone weapon, and Case Keenum is certainly willing to pump it in toward his oversized target.
Best Championship Sunday NFL DFS D/ST on FanDuel
Vikings @ PHI ($4.9k FanDuel) – Cash/GPP
Using the Falcons’ defense on the road against Nick Foles worked out fine last week. Meanwhile, the Vikings are exponentially more talented. They should also be motivated to play four quarters of football after nearly choking away a 17-0 lead to Drew Brees and New Orleans last week. Compared to Brees, Foles is clearly an easier target — inexperienced and with fewer weapons. As long as the Vikes can stop Jay Ajayi, they should remain in position to succeed.
