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The NFL playoffs are in full swing. Despite the fantasy season being over, there are still plenty of ways to play fantasy in the postseason. You can play in any daily fantasy sports (DFS) contests this week or join a fantasy playoff challenge where you draft a team for the playoffs.
Super Wild Card Weekend is always one of the best weekends of the NFL season, and this year should be no different. Matthew Stafford will return to Detroit for the first time since he was traded. Tyreek Hill will return to Arrowhead to face the Kansas City Chiefs for the first time, and Mike McCarthy will coach against his former team.
That all makes for an exciting first round of the postseason. But if you play in any fantasy contests over the weekend, RotoBaller has you covered. This article will go through several quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers, and tight ends and whether they are good starts or not this weekend.
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Running Backs – Fantasy Football Wild Card Round
RB Rachaad White, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
What a regular season it was for running back Rachaad White, who finished as the RB4 in PPR formats. Now, he'll look to carry that fantasy value into the playoffs against the Philadelphia Eagles. On paper, the Eagles have a great defense with many big-name players. They were also once a top-three run defense this year. But things have changed, especially toward the end of the season.
For most of the year, the Eagles allowed the fewest fantasy points to running backs. However, to end the year, they struggled big time against opposing running backs. Over the past eight games, Philadelphia has given up over 100 rush yards in five of those contests, including 128 yards to James Conner in Week 16. This unit has also allowed a rush touchdown in six straight games.
This Eagles defense is trending in the wrong direction, making White a strong play in all formats.
RB Kyren Williams, Los Angeles Rams
Los Angeles Rams running back Kyren Williams was a league winner in fantasy leagues this year. Williams finished as the RB7 in PPR this season while averaging over 21 fantasy points per game. However, in the first round of the playoffs, the young running back will have a tough matchup against the Detroit Lions.
The Lions have allowed the fewest fantasy points to running backs this season, and opposing backs are only averaging 60 rush yards per game on 3.47 yards per carry. This Detroit front seven has also only allowed one team (the Baltimore Ravens) to exceed the 100-yard rush mark this year. It's going to be a battle for Williams on Sunday, especially considering he has rushed for over 85 yards in eight of the last nine games he has played in.
He should see enough volume on Sunday. But expectations might have to be tempered for Williams on the ground against this Lions run defense.
RB David Montgomery, Detroit Lions
Since returning from injury in Week 10 against the Los Angeles Chargers, Detroit Lions running back David Montgomery has not seen a high snap share. In those last nine regular season games, Montgomery only played over 50% of the Lions' offensive snaps just twice.
However, Montgomery has still been consistent with his production. He found the end zone in seven of those games while finishing with at least 10 PPR fantasy points in nine of those final contests. That makes the 26-year-old have a safe floor this weekend, even against a tough Rams run defense. Los Angeles has given up just six rush touchdowns all year while also giving up the second-fewest fantasy points to running backs in 2023.
Montgomery has been great at getting into the end zone this season. But he not might be the strongest play, especially with Jahmyr Gibbs continuing to play more.
Wide Receivers – Fantasy Football Wild Card Round
WR Rashee Rice, Kansas City Chiefs
Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice had a great first season in the NFL. He finished with 79 catches for 938 yards and seven touchdowns. More importantly, he was a fantasy star over the final two months, averaging 18.5 PPR fantasy points since Week 12.
Rice will make his postseason debut and could be in for a nice day against the Miami Dolphins. This Dolphins defense continues to be banged up, especially in the secondary with Xavien Howard not expected to play on Saturday and safety Jevon Holland being a game-time decision. Despite the extremely cold temperature that will be present in this game, the rookie should be utilized a ton in the short field.
The Dolphins have allowed over 190 receiving yards to opposing wide receivers in three straight games. With that secondary banged up, that should help Rice this weekend.
WR Nico Collins, Houston Texans
Houston Texans wide receiver Nico Collins will enter the postseason after posting career numbers in the team's season finale win. Last week, Collins caught nine passes for a career-high 195 yards and one touchdown. However, the 24-year-old will have a tough matchup ahead of him against the Cleveland Browns.
The Browns have allowed the fourth-fewest fantasy points to wideouts this season. But Collins did catch a touchdown when these two teams faced off in Week 16. In limited snaps, the young wide receiver totaled four catches for 18 yards and one touchdown with Case Keenum under center.
With C.J. Stroud back now, Collins could still be a solid play this weekend, despite the matchup. Also, Browns cornerback Denzel Ward was injured in practice this week and is listed as questionable for Saturday. If he can't go, that boosts the Texans wide receiver in all contests.
WR Mike Evans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
It was another fantastic year for Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans. The veteran posted another 1,000-yard season in 2023 and finished as the WR5 in PPR formats. He'll now draw a favorable matchup in the first round of the playoffs against the Philadelphia Eagles.
Philadelphia's secondary has allowed the most fantasy points to wide receivers and has given up a touchdown to wideouts in 16 of 17 games this year. Evans posted a solid five-catch for 60-yard and one touchdown performance back when the Buccaneers faced the Eagles in Week 3. That seems like a safe fantasy floor for the 30-year-old veteran on Monday. He's a strong play against this unit.
Quarterback And Tight End – Fantasy Football Wild Card Round
QB Tua Tagovailoa, Miami Dolphins
Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa has struggled in recent weeks through the air. After a strong start to the year, Tagovailoa has not seen the same production over the past seven games, especially in fantasy. He has just one QB1 finish since Week 12 and five quarterback finishes outside the top 20.
On top of the rough play, Tagovailoa will have to travel to Kansas City to take on the Chiefs in extremely cold temperatures. According to the National Weather Service, the temperature is supposed to be just five degrees at kickoff with wind chills at -10 degrees. The Dolphins have lost 10 straight games when game temperatures are under 40 degrees.
Tagovailoa is 0-4 in such games over his career. In those contests, the Dolphins quarterback is completing just 55.5% of his passes with a passer rating of 71.8. He will also face a Chiefs defense that has not allowed a quarterback to throw for over 270 yards in 12 straight games.
Tagovailoa is not a strong start this weekend in the cold. There are other options I'd prefer to play quarterback like Joe Flacco, Jared Goff, and Matthew Stafford.
TE Dallas Goedert, Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles tight end Dallas Goedert didn't see much action last week after head coach Nick Sirianni benched most of the starters in the second quarter. However, in Week 16 and Week 17, Goedert finished as a top-10 fantasy tight end in back-to-back weeks. In those contests, he combined for 12 catches for 118 yards and one touchdown. A top-three fantasy finish could be on the horizon in the first round of the playoffs against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The Buccaneers have struggled to contain the pass this year, which has included defending tight ends. They have given up the second-most fantasy points to tight ends in 2023 at 12.6 half-PPR fantasy points, a number that has been greater in recent weeks. Tampa Bay has allowed at least nine catches and 95 yards to tight ends in three of the past five games.
Opposing tight ends are also averaging 6.2 catches for 64.1 receiving yards per game against this Tampa Bay defense this season. Goedert could be in for a nice day and should have a safe fantasy floor on Monday. He caught five passes for 41 yards against this secondary back in Week 3.
He's a top-four tight end option this week, and his value at $6,100 on FanDuel is a bargain.
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