X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Import Your Leagues
Weekly Rankings
Compare Any Players
Projections
Articles & Tools
Weekly Planner
24x7 News and Alerts

Heroes and Zeroes - Wild Card Fantasy Football Picks

Pierre Camus outlines his favorite picks at each position and players to fade for Wild Card Weekend of the 2017 NFL season for fantasy football lineup prep.

Let's get straight to the point: you don't care that the NFL regular season is over because you're a fantasy football junkie and you need your fix. Who am I to deny you more fantasy goodness? There are several variations of playoff leagues, including best available, one-and-done, and salary cap style. Regardless of how you play, here are a variety of picks that could suit your needs.

If you're here for DFS advice, you've also come to the right place. While I won't get too detailed into prices and game types, I will recommend some viable tournament plays that could help you cash out, in a week where the choices are slim.

Now, let's get to my fantasy "heroes" and "zeroes" at each position for NFL Wild Card Weekend. For a full set of rankings, look no further than our very own RotoBaller consensus weekly rankings.

Be sure to check all of our fantasy football rankings for 2025:

 

Wild Card Weekend Lineup Heroes

QUARTERBACK

Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints - It's odd to say, but Drew Brees hasn't played like a top-five fantasy QB all season. We all know the numbers by now: 23 TD, his fewest-ever as a Saint, only one game over two TD, and only three 300+ yard games. However... that one three-TD game came against the Panthers in Week 3. Of course, he only tossed one TD against them later in the year, but he also didn't turn the ball over in either game. Let's face it, unless you think Alex Smith will put up better numbers, Brees is the default QB1 for Wild Card weekend. He's got the most weapons, but also faces a Panthers defense that got worse toward the end of the season. Carolina allowed 282 pass yards per game after their Week 11 bye, including 326 and 311 in their final two games. Brees has by far the highest floor of any quarterback going in the Wild Card round. He's also somehow only the third-most expensive QB out of eight playing in DK. Don't get cute at this position and stick with the sure thing.

RUNNING BACKS

Kareem Hunt, Kansas City Chiefs - Let's start with the obvious play. For the somewhat reasonable price of $8100, you can own Hunt on DraftKings this week. He's no Todd Gurley, but there isn't any other RB that should see more touches than Hunt and you can save about 2K by opting for Hunt instead. After going MIA for a while, Hunt finished strong with 362 rushing yards and four total touchdowns in Weeks 14-16. Tennessee has the fourth-ranked rush defense in the league, so this might seem like a counterintuitive play, but they allowed the most receiving yards to running backs of all teams. Hunt is the do-it-all back for KC, so even if he struggles on the ground, he'll make his way in the passing game.

Marcus Murphy, Buffalo Bills - LeSean McCoy is still a big question mark for this weekend, but if you watched him leave the game in agonizing pain with tears on the sideline, you know it's not likely he'll play. When his coach simply says there's "a chance" he will play, he isn't playing. Murphy hasn't played much at all in his NFL tenure, other than as a return man. He served well in limited time last week, rushing seven times for 41 yards. It remains to be seen what he can do in an RB1 capacity, but it's worth the risk to find out. Mike Tolbert presents a decent floor because he will catch some passes and get any potential goal-line work, but Murphy is the one to roll out in tournaments. He doesn't stand out physically, nor does he have a great matchup, but this is all about opportunity.

WIDE RECEIVERS

Demarcus Robinson, Kansas City Chiefs - My original pick was Albert Wilson here, but he's questionable with a knee injury. If he doesn't play, try Robinson if you're doing a Stars and Scrubs lineup. This is strictly a punt play, but keep in mind that he could step in as WR2 for KC in a game that they are expected to win. P.S. - I don't really love any other receivers this week that aren't totally obvious, so in pretty much every other scenario, you're better off just going with Michael Thomas and either Julio Jones or Tyreek Hill and calling it a day.

TIGHT END

Delanie Walker, Tennessee Titans - Travis Kelce will be the chalk play this week, but Walker can be had for significantly cheaper and may produce nearly as well. It's not as if the Chiefs are weak against tight ends--they actually allowed the ninth-fewest fantasy points to the position in 2017--but Walker should be the primary target for his young quarterback when things start crumbling around him. Walker was Marcus Mariota's favorite target by far this season, leading the team with 116 targets. The next closest was Erick Decker with 86. The veteran isn't the most exciting pick to make, but in cash games he is the one to go with.

Josh Hill, New Orleans Saints - If you're going to pass on the top three tight ends, you might as well go straight to the value plays. Hill is a mere $2500, but he's actually the TE1 on his team, which can't be said for the likes of Logan Thomas, Eric Saubert, and the 20 other tight ends with the same salary. Hill is totally and completely TD-dependent, but try to name a tight end after the top three that isn't...

 

Wild Card Weekend Lineup Zeroes

QUARTERBACKS

Blake Bortles, Jacksonville Jaguars - You thought I was going to go with the QB on the other side of this matchup, didn't you? While I don't recommend starting Tyrod Taylor against the best defense in the league by any stretch of the imagination, I also can foresee a scenario in which Taylor outscores Bortles. In this case, it's all about game script. If the Bills are without leading rusher LeSean McCoy, they'll have little choice but to air it out more than they want. This is especially true if the Jags jump ahead early. Jacksonville is listed as an 8.5 point favorite so far, but if Shady is ruled out altogether, that could increase further. Simply put, a double-digit Jaguar lead means less passing for Bortles and more for Taylor. For a team that leads with its superior defense and running game, it's unlikely they'll give Bortles free reign to throw unless absolutely necessary. Avoiding turnovers has been key to their success, mainly because they ran the ball more than any other team in the league (525 rush attempts, 1st in NFL) and threw the ball the least (51.1% pass percentage, 32nd in NFL). Now, on top of all that, add in the fact that the Bills finished 29th in rush defense, yet have a pair of decent cornerbacks to support a pass defense that allowed a 14:18 TD:INT ratio to opposing QBs, and it's easy to see why Bortles should be the very last QB you choose this week.

RUNNING BACKS

Tevin Coleman, Atlanta Falcons - Despite a tough road matchup in L.A., we know the Rams defense has been susceptible to the run. Coleman may get close to 10 carries in a close contest, but that's about his ceiling, which promises to deliver no more than 50 yards on the ground. There were only three occasions where Coleman and Freeman shared duties this season in which Coleman went over 50 rush yards. Coleman will see some targets, but the Rams were just 18th in receiving yardage allowed to running backs. He's a volume-dependent player that should be bypassed in favor of Devonta Freeman, particularly around the red zone, where Freeman carried it 10 more times (33-23) and was targeted twice as much (8-4) this season, despite missing two games.

WIDE RECEIVERS

Corey Davis, Tennessee Titans - The player pool might be thin this week, but why Corey Davis is getting any love at all, even as a sleeper, is beyond me. By all accounts, it's been a disappointing rookie campaign for the fifth overall pick. Not a single touchdown and only two games with more than four receptions or 50 yards over the course of 11 games. The Chiefs' secondary may not be strong, but it'll take more than that to suddenly turn Davis into a viable fantasy player.

Keelan Cole, Jacksonville Jaguars - First of all, if you hate the QB you can't love his receivers. It's also time to remind everyone that Cole has not been a fantasy asset all season. The one week where he exploded for 186 yards and a touchdown, nobody was playing him! He had a nice follow-up with 108 yards against the 49ers, but quickly came back down to Earth. In Week 17, with some fantasy championships on the line, he caught four passes for 33 yards. Marqise Lee and Allen Hurns are both back in action, so Cole will be the third or fourth target at best on a team that is not going to be airing it out. Leave him off your roster, unless it's a dynasty league bench for next season.

TIGHT END

Gerald Everett, Los Angeles Rams - I'm not sure if Everett hit the rookie wall, because he never got up and running in the first place, but he looked downright lost in Week 17. He was running incorrect routes, dropping easy passes, and failed to make a difference despite seeing his highest target total of the year with six. Everett is talented, but far from seasoned and should be avoided in a playoff atmosphere, regardless of his cheap price tag.

 

More Wild Card Weekend Lineup Prep




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Import Your Leagues
Weekly Rankings
Compare Any Players
Projections
Articles & Tools
Weekly Planner
24x7 News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Keith Mitchell

Misses Cut at Wyndham Championship
Ben Griffin

Finishes Tied For 10 at TOUR Championship
Patrick Cantlay

Finishes Tied For Second at TOUR Championship
Gary Woodland

Could Hang Around at Procore Championship
Ranger Suárez

Ranger Suarez Strikes Out 12, Earns 12th Win on Tuesday
Karl Vilips

Ready for Napa Valley This Weekend
Taylor Montgomery

Heating Up at the Right Time
Jackson Koivun

May Be a Little Rusty at Procore Championship
Doug Ghim

Looking to Rise Up at Napa Valley
Christian Watson

Agrees to One-Year Contract Extension
Patrick Fishburn

a True Wild Card at Procore Championship
Josh Giddey

Re-Signs With Bulls for Four Years
Eric Cole

Attempts to Start Fresh in Napa Valley
Shakir Mukhamadullin

Joins Informal Skate
William Eklund

Skates With Sharks
Owen Power

Back at 100 Percent
Tyler Seguin

Cleared for Action
Mathew Barzal

Good to Go for Season Opener
Will Smith

Returns to Dodgers Lineup on Tuesday
Dustin Wolf

Signs Seven-Year Extension
Kyle Stowers

Dealing With Strained Side
Kyle Tucker

Placed on Injured List With Calf Strain
Jauan Jennings

Considered Day-to-Day, has a Chance to Play in Week 2
Russell Henley

to Get Final Ryder Cup Prep in at Procore Championship
Sam Burns

Hoping to Keep Quality Form Going This Week in Napa Ahead of Ryder Cup
Jalen Carter

Receives One-Game Suspension, Will be Eligible for Week 2
Maverick McNealy

Will Show U.S. Team What They're Missing This Week at Procore
Scottie Scheffler

Making Unusual Start at Procore Championship for Ryder Cup Prep
Bo Bichette

Goes on Injured List With Knee Sprain
George Kittle

Placed on Injured Reserve
Max Homa

A Good Week at a Favored Silverado Resort is Desperately Needed for Max Homa
Tyreek Hill

Accused of Domestic Violence
Davis Riley

Has a Ton of Question Marks Ahead of Procore Championship
Emiliano Grillo

Returns to a Familiar Silverado Resort for Procore Championship
Brian Campbell

Strange Season Continues At Procore Championship
Jauan Jennings

Avoids Serious Shoulder Injury
Garrett Crochet

Shuts Out the Athletics
Royce Lewis

Launches Two Homers Monday Night
NBA

Mason Jones Takes His Talents to Australia
NBA

Talen Horton-Tucker Joins Reigning EuroLeague Champions
New York Knicks

Malcolm Brogdon on Knicks' Radar
Andrew Wiggins

Attracting Interest From Lakers
Miami Heat

Heat Interested in Reunion With Precious Achiuwa
Tyler Glasnow

Fans 11 in Seven No-Hit Innings Monday
Slade Cecconi

Takes No-Hitter Into Eighth Inning Monday
Max Muncy

Batting Cleanup in Return to Dodgers
New York Knicks

Ben Simmons Reportedly Declined Knicks' Contract Offer
Younghoe Koo

Falcons Auditioning Kickers, Could Replace Younghoe Koo
Denver Broncos

Sean Payton Says Broncos Need to be Better With Run-Pass Balance
Tank Bigsby

Eagles Acquiring Tank Bigsby From Jaguars on Monday
George Kittle

Likely Out 3-5 Weeks, Could Land on Injured Reserve
Chase Burns

to be Activated on Friday
Brock Purdy

Dealing With Multiple Injuries, Could Miss Week 2
Tyler Glasnow

Cleared to Start on Monday
Logan O'Hoppe

Placed on Concussion Injured List
Christian Yelich

Returning on Monday
Elias Pettersson

Feeling "Good" Ahead of Season
NHL

Alex Formenton Rejoins Swiss Team
NHL

Grigori Denisenko Heads Back Home
CAR

Kevin Labanc Joins Hurricanes for Tryout
Ross Colton

Healthy for Start of Season
Daniel Palencia

Cubs Place Daniel Palencia on Injured List With Shoulder Strain
Pete Crow-Armstrong

Returning on Monday
Sean Murphy

Done for the Year With Hip Labral Tear
Alec Bohm

Lands on Injured List With Cyst in his Shoulder
Trea Turner

Going on Injured List, Phillies Hope to Have him Back for Playoffs
Brock Bowers

Considered Day-to-Day With Knee Injury
Jonathan Taylor

is "Good" After Taking a Hit to his Neck in Week 1
Caio Borralho

Suffers His First UFC Loss
Kyle Stowers

Suffers Setback on Rehab Assignment?
Nassourdine Imavov

Extends Win Streak
Mauricio Ruffy

Gets Submitted
Benoît Saint Denis

Benoit Saint Denis Taps Out Mauricio Ruffy
Michael King

Expected to Return on Tuesday
Russell Wilson

Remains the Giants Starter
Paul Craig

Retires After UFC Paris Loss
Denny Hamlin

Earns his First Cup Victory at Gateway
Kyle Larson

Damage Ruins Kyle Larson's Chance At a Top Finish at Gateway
Christopher Bell

Scores his Third Top-10 Finish at Gateway
Joey Logano

Maintains his Perfect Top-Five Streak at Gateway
Ryan Blaney

Struggles and Recovers for a Top-Five Finish at Gateway
Modestas Bukauskas

Scores First-Round Knockout
Bolaji Oki

Suffers Second-Round TKO Loss
Xavier Worthy

Week-to-Week with Dislocated Shoulder
Mason Jones

Scores Comeback Win
Rhys McKee

Suffers Third-Round TKO Loss
Axel Sola

Successful In His UFC Debut
Robert Ruchała

Robert Ruchala Unsuccessful In His UFC Debut
William Gomis

Bounces Back In The Win Column
Derrick Henry

Scores Twice but has Costly Fumble on Sunday
Lamar Jackson

Shines With Three Total Touchdowns in Loss to Bills
Keon Coleman

Leads the Team With 11 Targets on Sunday
Josh Allen

Totals Four Touchdowns in Win Over Ravens
Chase Elliott

Gets Lucky but Still Has Best Run at Gateway
NASCAR

Bubba Wallace Wins Stage 2, but Was Let Down by Strategy
Tyler Reddick

Despite Bad Luck, Tyler Reddick Does What he Needed to Do
Chase Briscoe

Recovers from Incident with Daniel Suarez to Finish Second
William Byron

Late Caution Foils William Byron's Shot at Gateway Victory
Jaxon Smith-Njigba

Dominates Targets in Seattle, Records 124 Receiving Yards in Week 1
Puka Nacua

Leads Rams in Targets, Catches, and Receiving Yards in Week 1
Jayson Tatum

"Moving Around Way Better"
Ryan Blaney

Should Contend at Gateway
Denny Hamlin

Fastest in Qualifying, the Favorite to Win at Gateway
Christopher Bell

Looking for Redemption at Gateway
Joey Logano

Has Been Elite at Gateway
Austin Cindric

Should Be On Your Radar at Gateway
AJ Allmendinger

Could Be a Sleeper Again at Gateway
Tyler Reddick

Southern 500 Near-Miss Makes Tyler Reddick a Stronger Option for Gateway
NASCAR

Bubba Wallace a Likely Gateway Contender
Alex Bowman

a Long Shot to Advance in Playoffs
Austin Dillon

Richard Childress Racing Looks Slower at Gateway, Which Will Hurt Austin Dillon
Shane Van Gisbergen

Starts 18th in Gateway Debut
Jeremy Swayman

Ready to Get Back on Track
Connor McDavid

Aiming for More Goals
NJ

Luke Glendening Signs Tryout Deal With Devils
Dylan Harper

Hoping to be Ready for the Opener Versus Dallas
EDM

Derek Ryan Retires From Hockey
Connor Zary

Agrees to Three-Year Deal With Flames
Carey Price

Canadiens Trade Carey Price to Sharks
Rasmus Hojgaard

Finishes Tied For Second at Omega European Masters
Tyrrell Hatton

Finishes Tied for 32nd at LIV Indianapolis
Matt Fitzpatrick

Finishes Fifth at Omega European Masters
Caio Borralho

Set For A Title Eliminator Bout
Nassourdine Imavov

Looks To Earn A Title Shot
Mauricio Ruffy

Looks To Extend His Win Streak
Benoît Saint Denis

Benoit Saint Denis Set For UFC Paris Co-Main Event
Modestas Bukauskas

Looks To Extend His Win Streak
Paul Craig

In Dire Need Of Victory
Mason Jones

Set for Main-Card Bout
Bolaji Oki

Looks To Win Back-To-Back Fights
Rhys McKee

Set To Open Up UFC Paris Main Card
Alperen Sengün

Alperen Sengun Close to Triple-Double Versus Serbia
Nikola Jokić

Nikola Jokic Fills Box Score Against Turkey
Nikola Jović

Nikola Jovic Shakes Off Minor Injury
E.J. Liddell

Inks Two-Way Deal With Nets
NBA

Ben Simmons Reportedly Considering Retirement
P.J. Washington

Agrees to Four-Year, $90 Million Extension

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP