RADIO
RotoBallers, welcome to Wild Card Round of the daily fantasy football season. In this column, you will find my recommended DraftKings DFS Lineup Picks to target for the Wild Card Round of the NFL season.
The goal is to identify players to start on DraftKings this week based on various factors including the opponent, the player's opportunity, analysis of the game's matchups, and the DraftKings price.
Let's find some DFS lineup sleepers, and win on DraftKings. Good luck in Wild Card Round!
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DraftKings Quarterbacks - Wild Card Round DFS Picks
Jared Goff - LAR vs ATL (DK - $6,700)
Goff is one of the top options on the slate this weekend, and with how well the Rams offense has been playing, it's tough to fade him in either format. If you are going to be rolling out multiple lineups, then you will want some exposure to him. He has multiple touchdowns in five straight games, and is up against the Falcons who have the 19th DVOA against the pass. Goff is looking to be one of the safer options at quarterback, who also has plenty of upside. We have seen the Rams put up points in a hurry, so you should feel very confident with rostering him.
Blake Bortles - JAX vs BUF (DK - $6,000)
Bortles is in a sneaky good spot this weekend, which may give him some upside in GPPs. He has multiple touchdowns in four of his last five weeks, and is now up against the Bills who have the 12th DVOA against the pass. We know the Jaguars will lean on their running game in this game, since the Bills have the 30th DVOA against the run. Since they are so bad against the run, they will likely stack the box, opening up man coverage on the outside, or single deep safety looks, giving his passing upside. More of a GPP option this weekend, as he has shown multiple touchdown upside.
DraftKings Running Backs - Wild Card Round DFS Picks
Todd Gurley - LAR vs ATL (DK - $9,700)
Gurley is clearly the top running back on the slate this week, and after what he did the last few weeks of the season, it's hard to fade him. He is totaling over 100 combined yards in nearly every game since the mid point of the season. He has plenty of PPR value out of the backfield, and is their main running back in all situations. The role he has in the Rams offense is massive, and with the Rams having an implied team total of 27.5 points, you have to assume he will be involved in two of those scores. He is expensive, but you really need to find a way to get up to his price.
Christian McCaffrey - CAR @ NO (DK - $6,400)
The Panthers are projected to be down in this game, which means they will likely be passing the ball to catch up. This puts McCaffrey in a spot to succeed, as he sees plenty of targets in the passing game. He has five or more targets in 14 of his 16 games this season. He does run the ball a bit, but he really isn't that effective at it, and is used more in the passing game. He is a bit cheaper then some of the top running backs, but the game script should be in his favor, opening up a nice ceiling for him.
DraftKings Wide Receivers -Wild Card Round DFS Picks
Julio Jones - ATL @ LAR (DK - $8,000)
Jones is the top receiver on the slate this weekend, and he seems a bit under priced. Not sure if they adjusted pricing for it only being a four game slate, but he is $500 less than what he was just three weeks ago. Anytime you can get Julio at a decreased price you really shouldn't pass him up. We know the type of ceiling he has, multiple touchdowns, and can get over 200 yards. This is a bit of a tougher match up for him, as the Rams have the 3rd DVOA against the pass, and the 12th DVOA against WR1. With that said, they game script should have the Rams up by at least one score, putting the Falcons in a spot where they need to pass, which means a lot of Julio.
Rishard Matthews - TEN @ KC (DK - $4,900)
Matthews had seen five or more targets in all but three game this season, as he is their number one receiver. The Titans offense can be very hit or miss, so Matthews makes more of a GPP option compared to cash games. The Chiefs have the 20th DVOA against the pass, and the 32nd DVOA against WR1. Matthews is in a great spot, just a matter if he can seize this opportunity and turn it into big points.
DraftKings Tight End - Wild Card Round DFS Pick
Travis Kelce - KC vs TEN (DK - $7,100)
Kelce is the most expensive tight end on the slate by over $2K, so if you want him, you have to find some savings elsewhere. Tight end is a spot where many people like to pay down, but with his consistency, he is worth paying up for on a short slate. He is up against the Titans, who have the 24th DVOA against tight ends. Really great spot for him, and over the course of the season, he only has four games under 10 DraftKings points.
DraftKings Defense - Wild Card Round DFS Pick
Los Angeles Rams vs Atlanta Falcons (DK - $2,700)
The Rams offense is cheapest of the teams who are home favorites, making them an appealing option. From a simple roster construction stand point, the Rams fit nicely into both cash and GPP builds. They have four interceptions over their last four weeks, and have 10 sacks over that same span. The Atlanta offense ins't the same it was last year, and have shown they can struggle at points, making them a nice team to attack.
