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USA Today Sports Media Group
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Harley Schultz

Fantasy Football DFS Domination: Wild Card Weekend

This is truly a Super Wild Card Weekend. All three sites have posted full weekend slates. In addition, both DraftKings and FanDuel are offering Saturday-only slates, and all three sites are offering Sunday-only slates.

Of course, to confuse us all, FanDuel’s prices fluctuate between the slates. To cover this, in the recommended lineups section, I will use the actual slate-specific pricing, while the rest of this breakdown will be based on the full-slate pricing.

The Saturday-only Slate: recommended DFS lineups

DK Lineup: QB Joe Flacco ($6.1k), RB Isiah Pacheco ($6.4k), RB Devin Singletary ($5.7k), WR Nico Collins ($7.0k), WR Amari Cooper ($6.8k), WR Justin Watson ($3.4k), TE David Njoku ($5.6k), FLEX Travis Kelce ($6.1k), DST Kansas City Chiefs ($2.9k)

FD Lineup: QB Joe Flacco ($7.8k), RB Kareem Hunt ($5.6k), RB Devin Singletary ($6.4k), WR Nico Collins ($8.3k), WR Amari Cooper ($7.5k), WR Justin Watson ($5.2k), TE David Njoku ($7.0k), FLEX Isiah Pacheco ($8.0k), DST Kansas City Chiefs ($4.0k)

*Fanball is not listing a Saturday-only slate, but they will have a Sunday-only one. They also offer a full weekend slate. If you want to play there on Saturday, they have a Saturday-only 5×5 contest, which allows you to select five players from five pricing tiers ($1-$5) as long as your total salary is under $15.

The Sunday-only Slate: recommended DFS lineups

DK Lineup: QB Matthew Stafford ($6.5k), RB Aaron Jones ($6.3k), RB Najee Harris ($5.4k), WR CeeDee Lamb ($9.0k), WR Cooper Kupp ($7.5k), WR Demarcus Robinson ($3.6k), TE Dalton Kincaid ($4.6k), FLEX Jameson Williams ($3.5k), DST Buffalo Bills ($3.5k)

FD Lineup: QB Matthew Stafford ($7.4k), RB James Cook ($7.1k), RB Najee Harris ($6.5k), WR Amon-Ra St. Brown ($9.0k), WR Cooper Kupp ($7.5k), WR Brandin Cooks ($6.5k), TE Tyler Higbee ($5.2k) or Davis Allen ($4.8k), FLEX Khalil Shakir ($5.8k) or Dalton Kincaid ($6.0k), DST Buffalo Bills ($5.0k)

*Note play whichever TE starts for the Rams. If you use Higbee, play Shakir. If you use Allen, play Kincaid.

FB Lineup: QB Dak Prescott ($7.2k), RB Najee Harris ($5.1k), RB Aaron Jones ($6.0k), WR CeeDee Lamb ($8.4k), WR Cooper Kupp ($7.1k), WR Jayden Reed ($5.3k), TE Dalton Kincaid ($4.8k), FLEX Brandin Cooks ($4.6k), SUPERFLEX Matthew Stafford ($6.5k)

The Full Wild Card Weekend Slate: recommended DFS lineups

DK Lineup: QB Joe Flacco ($6.1k), RB Devin Singletary ($5.7k), RB Isiah Pacheco ($6.4k), WR Amari Cooper ($6.8k), WR Brandin Cooks ($4.9k), WR Demarcus Robinson ($3.6k), TE David Njoku ($5.6k), FLEX Mike Evans ($6.9k), DST Buffalo Bills ($3.5k)

FD Lineup: QB Matthew Stafford ($7.4k), RB Isiah Pacheco ($8.0k), RB Devin Singletary ($6.3k), WR Cooper Kupp ($7.5k), WR Brandin Cooks ($6.5k), WR Demarcus Robinson ($6.3k), TE Dalton Kincaid ($6.0k), FLEX Aaron Jones ($7.0k), DST Buffalo Bills ($5.0k)

FB Lineup: QB Joe Flacco ($6.0k), RB Tony Pollard ($5.9k), RB Devin Singletary ($5.2k), WR Amari Cooper ($6.3k), WR Cooper Kupp ($7.1k), WR Nico Collins ($6.6k), TE David Njoku ($5.6k), FLEX Mike Evans ($6.5k), SUPERFLEX Baker Mayfield ($6.0k)

Player DraftKings FanDuel
Josh Allen $8,000 $9,300
Jalen Hurts $7,700 $9,000
Dak Prescott $7.600 $8,600
Patrick Mahomes $7,100 $8,000
Tua Tagovailoa $7,000 $7,000
C.J. Stroud $6,800 $7,600
Matthew Stafford $6.500 $7,400
Jordan Love $6,300 $7,600
Jared Goff $6,200 $7,700
Joe Flacco $6,100 $7,800
Baker Mayfield $5.800 $7,200
Mason Rudolph  $5,300 $6,300
Marcus Mariota $5.000 $6,100

Quarterback

Weekly strategy – Almost every QB is in play this week. The best matchups go to Baker MayfieldJoe Flacco, and Matthew StaffordJosh Allen and Dak Prescott also have great matchups, but their prices reflect it. Jalen Hurts (finger) has an absurdly juicy matchup, but his team is dealing with WR injuries on top of his own dislocated finger. Mason Rudolph won’t even be playing himself, so don’t get cute.

Pay to Play

Dak Prescott, Cowboys vs. GB
($7,600 DK, $8,600 FD
Since their Week 7 bye, Prescott has 20 total TDs over six home games. Green Bay has struggled against the pass all season, despite facing a lengthened stretch of backups, bottom-feeding starters, and underperforming stars. Weather will not be a factor here, so Prescott is a lock for 350-3.  

Stay Away

Tua Tagovailoa, Dolphins @ KC ($7,000 DK, $7,000 FD) The Dolphins offense is elite, but since Week 9, Tua has been borderline awful. He has only 11 TDs over those nine games. Six of those games featured one or fewer TDs for him. This included a 193-1 performance at Arrowhead. The weather forecast for this contest is frigid. I’m not even sure that the Tyreek Hill revenge game narrative can prop up Tua here.

Value Play

Matthew Stafford, Rams @ DET ($6,500 DK, $7,400 FD) Over their last four games, Detroit has allowed a league-worst 1,375 passing yards. That is 181 more passing yards than the next worst team. Meanwhile, Stafford has 15 of his 24 TDs in his last six games. This game will be a shootout, so both Stafford and Jared Goff will post 300-3.

Player DraftKings FanDuel
Kyren Williams $7,300 $9,000
Rachaad White $6,900 $7,700
De’Von Achane $6,800 $7,400
Raheem Mostert $6,700 $8,200
James Cook $6,600 $7,100
Jahmyr Gibbs $6,500 $7,400
Isiah Pacheco $6,400 $8,000
Aaron Jones $6,300 $7,000
David Montgomery $6,200 $7,600
Tony Pollard $6,100 $7,800
D’Andre Swift $6,000 $6,900
Devin Singletary $5,700 $6,300
Jerome Ford $5,500 $6,800
Najee Harris $5,400 $6,500
Jaylen Warren $5,100 $5,600
Kenneth Gainwell $4,900 $4,900
Chase Edmonds $4,800 $5,300
Clyde Edwards-Helaire $4,800 $5,400
Kareem Hunt $4,700 $5,600
Rico Dowdle $4,600 $5,000
Dameon Pierce $4,500 $4,800
AJ Dillon $4,400 $5,300
Leonard Fournette $4,400 $4,800
Latavius Murray $4,300 $4,200
Jeff Wilson Jr. $4,200 $5,000
Jerick McKinnon $4,000 $4,800

Running Back

Weekly strategy – Only Isiah Pacheco has a positive matchup. Kyren WilliamsRachaad White, and De’Von Achane are all riding fiery streaks, but with so many stud WRs this week, throw your money elsewhere. Devin Singletary, Najee Harris, and Jerome Ford provide the needed salary relief to go massive at WR. Rico Dowdle and Kareem Hunt are the two safe punt plays.

Pay to Play

Isiah Pacheco, Chiefs vs. MIA ($6,400 DK, $8,000 FDMiami has allowed the third-most 1.5 opponent rushing scores per game on the road. With foul weather looming, both teams will lean on their ground games. Pacheco has scored in each of his last four games. This will make it five in a row.

Stay Away

Kyren Williams, Rams @ DET
($7,300 DK, $9,000 FD
Williams continues to score TDs. He has played in 12 games and scored in nine of them. Unfortunately, only four of those 12 matchups were against top-15 run defenses; and two of those four defenses held him out of the end zone. Detroit has the top-ranked defense against the run. Since Week 11, only two RBs have reached double-digit PPR points against them. If you use Williams here, you are chasing a TD. Even then, you won’t hit 2.5x value.

Value Play

Devin Singletary, Texans vs. CLE ($5,700 DK, $6,300 FD) In Week 16, Singletary posted a dud against Cleveland. Of course, that game featured Case Keenum and Davis Mills at QB for the Texans. With C.J. Stroud back, this offense is back on track. Singletary has been the leader of this backfield since Week 7 and Dameon Pierce didn’t see any offensive snaps last week. With Singletary being the singular focus of this rushing attack, look for him to score once again.

Player DraftKings FanDuel
CeeDee Lamb $9,000 $10,000
Tyreek Hill $8,700 $9,400
A.J. Brown $8,100 $8,200
Amon-Ra St. Brown $8,000 $9,000
Cooper Kupp $7,500 $7,500
Stefon Diggs $7,400 $7,700
Puka Nacua $7,200 $8,000
Nico Collins $7,000 $8,300
Mike Evans $6,900 $8,400
Amari Cooper $6,800 $7,500
DeVonta Smith $6,700 $7,200
Rashee Rice $6,600 $7,800
Jaylen Waddle $6,500 $7,000
Chris Godwin $6,200 $6,900
Jayden Reed $5,700 $7,000
Romeo Doubs $5,400 $5,700
Gabe Davis $5,300 $6,000
George Pickens $5,200 $6,600
Noah Brown $5,100 $6,200
Diontae Johnson $5,000 $6,700
Brandin Cooks $4,900 $6,500
Dontayvion Wicks $4,800 $5,900
Christian Watson $4,500 $6,400
Elijah Moore $4,000 $6,000
Julio Jones $3,900 $5,100
Cedrick Wilson Jr. $3,800 $5,000
Josh Reynolds $3,800 $5,500
Cedric Tillman $3,700 $4,600
Demarcus Robinson $3,600 $6,300
Robert Woods $3,600 $5,300
David Bell $3,500 $5,100
Jameson Williams $3,500 $5,200
Quez Watkins $3,500 $4,400
Justin Watson $3,400 $5,200
Khalil Shakir $3,400 $5,800
Trey Palmer $3,400 $5,400
Bo Melton $3,300 $5,100
Richie James Jr. $3,300 $4,400
Trent Sherfield $3,300 $4,900
John Metchie III $3,200 $4,900
Kadarius Toney $3,200 $4,700
Kalif Raymond $3,200 $5,000
Tutu Atwell $3,200 $4,700
Braxton Berrios $3,100 $4,600
Mecole Hardman Jr. $3,100 $4,900
Michael Gallup $3,100 $4,600
Allen Robinson II $3,000 $4,600
Britain Covey $3,000 $4,100
Chase Claypool $3,000 $4,300
Deonte Harty $3,000 $4,500
Jalen Tolbert $3,000 $4,800
Justyn Ross $3,000 $4,300
Marquez Valdes-Scantling $3,000 $4,800
Olamide Zaccheaus $3,000 $4,500
Skyy Moore $3,000 $4,600
Xavier Hutchinson $3,000 $4,600

Wide Receiver

Weekly strategy – Tyreek Hill gets the revenge game narrative. He also has arguably the toughest defensive matchup (not that this has ever stopped Hill before). Still, with so many great matchups to choose from, he feels like a fade. You can use CeeDee Lamb, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Nico Collins, Mike Evans, Amari Cooper (heel), Cooper Kupp, and Puka Nacua at WR1/WR2. You must use one of them, and you should use two of them. Jayden Reed, Rashee Rice, Brandin Cooks, and George Pickens are your WR2 pivots. They could also be your WR3 play. Elijah Moore, Julio Jones, Cedrick Wilson Jr., Demarcus Robinson, Jameson Williams, Justin Watson, Khalil Shakir, and whoever starts for Houston are your discount WR3 plays.

Pay to Play

CeeDee Lamb, Cowboys vs. GB
($9,000 DK, $10,000 FD
It remains to be seen if Jaire Alexander will be a captain for this game. If Alexander can avoid his coach suspending him, he will track Lamb all over the field. Alexander is very good, but Lamb is even better. Since their Week 7 bye, Lamb is averaging greater than nine receptions and 124 total yards per game. He also has 13 TDs over that span. During that stretch, he has scored in all but one game. The Cowboys will score at will in this one and that means loads of points for Lamb. 

Stay Away

Stefon Diggs, Bills vs. PIT ($7,400 DK, $7,700 FDSince Joe Brady replaced Ken Dorsey as the Bills offensive coordinator, Diggs ranks 23rd in receptions and 46th in receiving yards among WRs. He also has only scored once during that stretch. Only two teams have allowed fewer WR touchdowns than Pittsburgh. With Gabe Davis (knee) out, Diggs may see a boost in targets. He also will see all the double teams.

Value Play

Jayden Reed, Packers @ DAL ($5,700 DK, $7,000 FDReed has scored in six of his last eight games. He also has battled various injuries over the last month but has missed only one full game. To stay in this one, Green Bay will need to throw the ball. Look for Jordan Love to force the ball to Reed as often as possible.

Player DraftKings FanDuel
Travis Kelce $6,100 $7,200
Sam LaPorta $6,000 $7,000
David Njoku $5,600 $7,000
Dallas Goedert $4,800 $6,100
Jake Ferguson $4,700 $6,200
Dalton Kincaid $4,600 $6,000
Dalton Schultz $4,400 $5,900
Pat Freiermuth $3,600 $4,900
Tyler Higbee $3,400 $5,200
Tucker Kraft $3,300 $5,300
Luke Musgrave $3,200 $5,100
Cade Otton $3,100 $5,000
Brock Wright $3,000 $4,700
Durham Smythe $3,000 $4,800
Dawson Knox $2,900 $5,000
James Mitchell $2,800 $4,600
Davis Allen $2,700 $4,800
Noah Gray $2,600 $4,600
Brevin Jordan $2,500 $4,400
Harrison Bryant $2,500 $4,400

Tight End

Weekly strategy There are several good options here this week. Travis Kelce and David Njoku are the big-money sure things. Dallas GoedertDalton Schultz, and Dalton Kincaid are the cheap pivots. Tucker KraftCade Otton, Durham Smythe, and Brock Wright are the punt choices.

Pay to Play

David Njoku, Browns @ HOU
($5,600 DK, $7,000 FD
This week, choosing between Travis Kelce and David Njoku will be the key TE decision. Both have great matchups, but one (Njoku) is red hot, and the other (Kelce) has been stuck in neutral. Ultimately, the weather concerns are the biggest dividing point between the two. Look for both to reach 3x value with Njoku outscoring Kelce by a smidgen. At a slightly cheaper price, that makes him the rational choice of the two. 

Stay Away

Jake Ferguson, Cowboys vs. GB ($4,700 DK, $6,200 FDThis isn’t an awful matchup, but it is the worst of the best. We know the Cowboys will score at will, so a TD is definitely in play. That said, both CeeDee Lamb and Brandin Cooks are the safer choices. Since Week 11, Lamb has nine scores, Cooks has five, and Ferguson only has one. Still, chalk up Ferguson for a solid floor of 6-65. Leave him for your Dallas Voltron stacks.

Value Play

Dallas Goedert, Eagles @ TB ($4,800 DK, $6,100 FDOver the last four weeks, no team has allowed more receptions to the TE position than Tampa Bay. They also have allowed the second-most receiving yards, and the third-most TDs to the position during that span. Goedert may see a boost in targets this week if A.J. Brown (knee) or DeVonta Smith (ankle) are limited or out. Of course, all of this hinges on Jalen Hurts (finger) being able to play through his dislocated finger. If Marcus Mariota plays a meaningful number of snaps, this whole offense is a lost cause.

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