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Fantasy football start em, sit em lineups advice for the Commanders vs. Buccaneers on Sunday, January 12 for Wild Card Weekend (2025). NFL matchups analysis and starts/sits.
With the NFL regular season wrapping up last week, we are set for the Wild Card round of the NFL Playoffs! Below you can read our matchups analysis article for the Commanders vs. Buccaneers game to help make any fantasy lineup decisions for whatever contest, league, or tournament you are participating in.
We close out Sunday's Wild Card slate with a matchup that could result in serious fireworks. Look for a shootout between two explosive offenses with this one coming down to the wire.
Read our fantasy football breakdowns for this game -- the recommended starts, sits, and matchups we love heading into the Wild Card Weekend. Below, you'll see the fantasy football outlooks for key players like Jayden Daniels, Baker Mayfield, Bucky Irving, Terry McLaurin, Mike Evans, and more.
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Washington Commanders at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Time: Sunday 8:00 PM ET
Spread: Bucs -3.0
Projected Point Total: 50.5
Matchups We Love
Jayden Daniels was one of the best value picks in fantasy football drafts this summer, and he'll continue to be a strong quarterback option against the Buccaneers this week.
Has any other rookie QB come up more clutch than Jayden Daniels has this season? 👀 pic.twitter.com/71nitQWAYs
— Sunday Night Football on NBC (@SNFonNBC) January 10, 2025
Tampa Bay has given up the fifth-most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks this season and allowed seven different quarterbacks to score over 23 fantasy points. Daniels also scored 28.2 fantasy points against this defense back in Week 1.
RB Bucky Irving
Bucky Irving has certainly taken over this Buccaneers backfield, as he has totaled at least 17 touches in each of his last six full games. During those six contests, Irving is averaging 5.86 yards per carry and 104.5 rush yards per game. Now, he gets a fantastic matchup against a Commanders defense that has allowed 4.9 yards per carry on the ground in the regular season. So, the rookie is a strong start this weekend.
After a down week in Week 17 for Terry McLaurin, he bounced back last week by catching eight passes for 62 yards and a touchdown. Given that McLaurin has scored more than 20 PPR fantasy points in four of the past six games, he will be a strong fantasy option against the Buccaneers. Tampa Bay has given up the sixth-most fantasy points to opposing wideouts this season.
Matchups We Hate
Brian Robinson Jr. started off the year strong by scoring over 13 PPR fantasy points in seven of his first 10 games. However, Robinson hasn't reached that 13-point mark in four straight games.
Unfortunately, the 25-year-old running back might fail to reach that mark for a fifth consecutive week. The Buccaneers have allowed just 140 rush yards over the past four weeks and have given up just one 50-plus yard rusher since Week 10.
WR Mike Evans
There's a good chance that Mike Evans will go up against Marshon Lattimore on Sunday night -- assuming the cornerback plays. Lattimore didn't play in last week's finale due to a nagging hamstring injury, but the team remains optimistic.
If he plays, the Buccaneers wideout will be in for a long night. The Commanders' corner has had Evans' number in his career, which included a two-catch for 34-yard output earlier this year.
Other Matchups
Baker Mayfield has been on another level in fantasy recently, scoring at least 21 fantasy points in five straight games.
Baker Mayfield was cooking up career highs this season. 🔥 pic.twitter.com/agpbGDHPcw
— Sunday Night Football on NBC (@SNFonNBC) January 10, 2025
Although the Commanders have not allowed a quarterback to score over 17 fantasy points since Week 12, Mayfield will still be a solid quarterback option this weekend. He has thrown multiple passing touchdowns in 12 of 17 games this season, which included four touchdowns back in Week 1 against this secondary.
RB Rachaad White
Last week was the first time in Rachaad White's career that he did not receive a touch in a game. As a result, he should not be an option in most contests this weekend. White has seen just nine carries over the past three games and played a season-low 27% of the team's offensive snaps a week ago.
Olamide Zaccheaus has seen more work in the passing game in recent weeks, so he can be a potential DFS play this weekend against the Buccaneers.
Zaccheaus has scored over 23 PPR fantasy points in two of the past three games while totaling over 50 receiving yards in three straight weeks. That makes him a sneaky option, considering the Buccaneers have allowed the sixth-most fantasy points to wideouts this season.
Jalen McMillan is on an absolute heater in fantasy right now. He has totaled over 16.5 PPR fantasy points in five straight games and has caught seven touchdown passes since Week 14. Therefore, the rookie is worth a look in all formats this weekend. With Mike Evans also likely shadowed by Marshon Lattimore in this game, McMillan should remain a nice fantasy option.
Jalen McMillan and Ja’Marr Chase were the only players to catch 7+ TDs in a 5-game span this season 👀 pic.twitter.com/lRttBtD1vi
— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) January 9, 2025
TE Cade Otton
If Cade Otton plays this week, it's going to be hard to trust him in most contests. He hasn't played in three straight games due to a knee injury and wasn't really a strong fantasy option before that injury. Otton has scored under 10 PPR fantasy points in four of his past five games. On top of that, the Commanders have allowed the 10th-fewest fantasy points to opposing tight ends this season.
Update: Cade Otton practiced in full on Thursday.
TE Zach Ertz
Zach Ertz will remain a solid tight end option in the NFL playoffs. Ertz has caught six touchdown passes over the last seven weeks and has caught at least five passes in four of the past seven games.
So, he'll be a value play against a Buccaneers defense that has given up the eighth-most fantasy points to opposing tight ends this year. Tampa Bay also allowed at least 10 PPR fantasy points to three tight ends since Week 14.
Notable Fantasy-Relevant Injuries
- Cade Otton (knee)
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