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Mike Fanelli gives his fantasy football bold predictions for the conference championship round of the 2024-25 NFL season. Should you start or sit Josh Allen, Jayden Daniels, Saquon Barkley?
The NFL playoffs are in full swing, and I’m back with another edition of fantasy football bold predictions. This week’s list of bold predictions will include Josh Allen, Jayden Daniels, Saquon Barkley, Dyami Brown, and Travis Kelce.
Every week, I will provide some fun and bold fantasy football predictions. While these bold predictions aren’t the most likely outcomes, they are things I believe could happen this week.
Let’s look at my five bold predictions for the conference championship round of the NFL playoffs.
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Josh Allen…
And Patrick Mahomes combine for six total touchdowns
The AFC Championship Game between the Buffalo Bills and Kansas City Chiefs will feature the top two quarterbacks in the NFL. Allen had 28 passing touchdowns during the regular season, ranking seventh in the league. Unfortunately, it was the fourth consecutive year he has had a drip in passing touchdowns.
However, the superstar had 12 rushing touchdowns, the ninth most in the NFL and second among quarterbacks. He has had 12 or more rushing scores in back-to-back seasons. Last week, Allen had two rushing touchdowns in the win over the Baltimore Ravens, his fourth game with two or more rushing scores this year.
JOSH ALLEN'S 2ND RUSHING TD OF THE HALF 😤
📺: #BALvsBUF on CBS
📱: Stream on @NFLPlus and Paramount+ pic.twitter.com/xj0mxpMSl7— NFL (@NFL) January 20, 2025
Meanwhile, Mahomes had 26 passing touchdowns during the regular season, his lowest total as a starting quarterback, ranking ninth in the league. Unfortunately, he isn’t the rushing threat that Allen is, totaling only two rushing touchdowns this year. However, these two superstars always bring their A-game when facing each other.
Allen had a rushing and passing touchdown in the Week 11 win over the Chiefs. Meanwhile, Mahomes had three passing touchdowns in that game. More importantly, these two teams faced off in the playoffs last year, with Allen having a passing touchdown and two rushing scores. Meanwhile, Mahomes had two passing touchdowns in the victory.
Jayden Daniels…
Has over 300 passing and rushing yards against the Philadelphia Eagles
The former LSU star is all but a lock to win the NFL’s Offensive Rookie of the Year Award after an outstanding 2024 season. Daniels averaged 209.9 passing yards per game during the regular season, ranking 23rd in the league. However, he has played well despite a subpar receiving corps.
More importantly, the rookie superstar is a dangerous weapon in the run game. Despite the Washington Commanders having a solid one-two punch in the backfield in Brian Robinson Jr. and Austin Ekeler, Daniels averaged 52.4 rushing yards per game during the regular season, the second most among quarterbacks behind Lamar Jackson (53.8).
However, the former LSU star has taken his game to another level during the playoffs. Daniels had 268 passing yards and 36 rushing yards in the Wild Card Weekend win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. More importantly, he had 299 passing yards and 51 rushing yards in the Divisional Round win over the Detroit Lions.
Meanwhile, the Philadelphia Eagles had issues containing Daniels in their last regular-season matchup. They surrendered 258 passing and 81 rushing yards to the superstar, including five passing touchdowns. While he likely won’t be that good in the playoff rematch, expect a big performance from the rookie.
Saquon Barkley…
Finishes with over 150 rushing yards, two touchdowns, and a win
Barkley has been, far and away, the top running back in the NFL this season. The superstar has been outstanding in his first year with the Eagles, leading one of the league’s top offenses. While he won’t win the NFL MVP Award, Barkley is the only non-quarterback on the five-player finalist list.
The superstar running back led the league in rushing attempts (345), yards (2,005), and yards per game (125.3) despite missing the final contest of the regular season in a meaningless matchup against the New York Giants. Barkley missed out on breaking Eric Dickerson’s rushing record. Yet, he was unbelievable for Philadelphia and fantasy players.
Last week, Barkley obliterated the Los Angeles Rams run defense. The former Penn State star had 26 rushing attempts for 205 yards and two touchdowns in the win. Many expected a massive performance from Barkley. He had 26 rushing attempts for 255 yards and two touchdowns in the regular-season matchup against the Rams.
More importantly, the superstar faces the Commanders for the third time this year on Sunday. Barkley had no trouble ripping apart Washington’s defense in both regular-season matchups. He had 26 rushing attempts for 146 yards and two touchdowns in the first contest. Barkley totaled 29 rushing attempts for 150 yards and two touchdowns in the Week 16 loss.
SAQUON BARKLEY IS GONE. 68-YARD TD.
📺: #PHIvsWAS on FOX
📱: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/lhBWLZclYZ— NFL (@NFL) December 22, 2024
Dyami Brown…
Totals at least 70 receiving yards for the third consecutive game
The Commanders had one of the top offenses in the NFL this season despite a lack of weapons. Terry McLaurin had a career year with Jayden Daniels under center. Meanwhile, Zach Ertz was the team’s most consistent No. 2 weapon in the passing game.
While Washington has had several pass-catchers step up as the team’s No. 2 option, Brown has been the leader in the clubhouse lately. The former North Carolina star had more than 35 receiving yards only once over the first 15 weeks of the regular season. However, he had 56 or more in three of the past four outings.
Furthermore, Brown has been on fire during the playoffs. The fourth-year wide receiver caught all five of his targets for 89 receiving yards and a touchdown in the win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Last week, he was even better in the victory over the Detroit Lions, totaling six receptions on eight targets for 98 receiving yards.
Despite playing well lately, the betting market has low expectations for Brown. The over/under on his receiving yards prop is 45.5 on DraftKings. However, he is +270 to finish Sunday’s matchup with 70 or more receiving yards, a bet I would make. The last time Brown faced the Eagles, the veteran had 56 receiving yards on four receptions.
Travis Kelce…
Scores two touchdowns or has over 95 receiving yards
Unfortunately, Kelce has had back-to-back disappointing fantasy seasons, leaving a bad taste in the mouths of fantasy players. However, the future Hall of Famer has been outstanding during the playoffs in back-to-back years when the Chiefs have needed him the most.
Kelce was on fire in the Divisional Round win over the Houston Texans. The veteran tight end had seven receptions on eight targets for 117 receiving yards and a touchdown in the nine-point victory. He was also outstanding in his final regular-season game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Christmas Day.
The future Hall of Famer had eight receptions on 11 targets for 84 receiving yards and a touchdown, his second game during the regular season with at least 80 receiving yards and a touchdown. More importantly, Kelce has been unstoppable when facing the Bills in the playoffs.
While he had a quiet performance in the regular-season matchup, the superstar tight end has had 13 receptions on 15 targets for 171 receiving yards and three touchdowns in his past two postseason matchups against Buffalo. Kelce had at least 96 receiving yards or two touchdowns in both playoff outings.
Chiefs start the 2nd half strong. @tkelce has another TD to give KC the lead!
📺: #KCvsBUF on CBS
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/FR6a2VkD33 pic.twitter.com/Yv4IlHu0Zm— NFL (@NFL) January 22, 2024
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