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The best Super Bowl fantasy football matchups, predictions from Joey Pollizze. Strong start/sit matchups that he loves for fantasy football playoff lineups and DFS plays.
Welcome to the final fantasy matchmaker of the year. This has been an ongoing series since Week 1 of the regular season, and here we are 23 weeks later. The final game of the season will be between the San Francisco 49ers and the Kansas City Chiefs for a chance to hoist the Lombardi Trophy.
This article will be a little different than in weeks prior with only two teams remaining. If you plan to play in any daily fantasy sports (DFS) contests, you have come to the right place. I will go through each position (quarterback, running back, wide receiver, and tight end) to figure out which players have the best matchup in Super Bowl LVIII.
So, let's dive in and see who you should target in DFS contests this weekend.
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Super Bowl: Quarterback Matchup We Love
Patrick Mahomes- Kansas City Chiefs
Opponent: vs. SF
Opponent Rank vs. QB: 14th
Both Patrick Mahomes and Brock Purdy don't have the best matchup in the Super Bowl this weekend. The Chiefs and 49ers have elite defenses and have done a good job preventing big fantasy days to quarterbacks this year. However, I'll go with Mahomes, who has more Super Bowl experience against a 49ers secondary that has had troubles in the secondary at times.
The 49ers have given up multiple passing touchdowns in four of the past seven games. They also let Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff throw for 273 yards and one touchdown in the NFC Championship game. That is not bad by any means. The Chiefs' secondary has been more locked down in recent weeks, which pivots me away from Purdy.
Kansas City's secondary has not allowed a quarterback to throw for more than one passing touchdown in eight straight weeks. On top of that, six of those eight quarterbacks failed to throw for more than 200 yards.
Both defenses are elite, though, so things will not be easy for Mahomes and Purdy. The former has been here before and has thrown for 738 yards and five touchdowns across three Super Bowl appearances. The two-time MVP winner should be in store for a slightly better fantasy day.
Super Bowl: Running Back Matchup We Love
Isiah Pacheco - Kansas City Chiefs
Opponent: vs. SF
Opponent Rank vs. RB: 11th
Just based on matchups alone, Kansas City Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco has the better one. He might also be the better value over San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey. It's hard not to pick McCaffrey in any fantasy lineup in the Super Bowl after rushing for at least 90 yards and two touchdowns in both playoff games.
Pacheco has also been on a tear himself while having the better matchup on Sunday and being valued at a better price. The Chiefs running back has scored a touchdown in seven straight games, dating back to Week 12 of the regular season. During those last seven contests, he has averaged 17.9 carries per game with a snap share of over 74%. The 24-year-old has also totaled over 82 scrimmage yards in every playoff game this year.
Pacheco has had some nice games in recent weeks and now goes up against a 49ers defense that has struggled against the run in the playoffs. In the two postseason games, San Francisco has allowed over 120 rush yards and over 5.1 yards per carry to running backs in both contests. That included Aaron Jones rushing for 108 yards in the Divisional Round.
Super Bowl: Wide Receiver Matchup We Love
Deebo Samuel - San Francisco 49ers
Opponent: vs. KC
Opponent Rank vs. WR: 12th
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel is coming off a strong performance in the NFC Championship game, where he caught eight passes for 89 yards. The 49ers have emphasized getting the ball to Samuel in the playoffs, and that could continue in the Super Bowl.
Since Samuel moves around the field and plays in the slot, chances are he could avoid Chiefs star cornerback L'Jarius Sneed. That should help his production against this Kansas City secondary. Just two weeks ago in the AFC Championship, Baltimore Ravens slot wide receiver Zay Flowers had a dominant performance, catching five passes for 115 yards and one touchdown. Sneed did see some reps against Flowers in that game, but it wasn't a ton.
The Chiefs have been solid against opposing wide receivers this season. However, they have also allowed at least 10 catches and 115 receiving yards to wideouts in three of the past four games. Samuel should have the mismatch in the slot.
Super Bowl: Wide Receiver Matchup to Avoid
Brandon Aiyuk - San Francisco 49ers
Opponent: vs. KC
Opponent Rank vs. WR: 12th
With Samuel likely avoiding Sneed in the slot, that means wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk will probably draw the lockdown corner in the contest. The Chiefs' corner has done a fantastic job all year shutting down the opposing team's top wide receiver, which should continue against Aiyuk on Sunday.
Aiyuk has been quiet in the playoffs this year, only catching a combined six passes for 100 yards and one touchdown. If he gets the Sneed shadow in the Super Bowl, that is not great news for his production. That's because the Chiefs' corner has done some elite things when facing the top playmakers in the NFL this season.
Super Bowl: Tight End Matchup We Love
Travis Kelce- Kansas City Chiefs
Opponent: vs. SF
Opponent Rank vs. TE: 15th
Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce enters Super Bowl 58 with back-to-back outstanding performances. In the Divisional Round against the Buffalo Bills, he caught five passes for 75 yards and two touchdowns. Then, in the AFC Championship against the Ravens, he caught 11 passes for 116 yards and one touchdown. Now, Kelce gets a 49ers defense that has given up plenty of catches and yards to this position group over the past couple of weeks.
In the NFC Championship, Detroit's tight ends caught 10 passes for 105 yards against this 49ers' unit. San Francisco has also given up at least six catches to tight ends in three straight games, including seven catches for 27 yards and one touchdown against the Packers in the Divisional Round.
Mahomes has been looking Kelce's way a lot in the three playoff games this season. That certainly shouldn't stop in the Super Bowl -- where the veteran tight end has always played well. He has caught at least six passes in all three of his Super Bowl appearances while racking up 257 yards and two touchdowns.
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