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The top daily fantasy football lineup picks for DraftKings on Wildcard Weekend. Ben Rolfe's NFL DFS analysis and sleepers for building optimal DFS rosters.
Wildcard Weekend is finally here! These next two weekends are always a lot of fun with games on both Saturday and Sunday. However, the downside is some very minimal slates for DFS players. This week is worse than ever with a lot of good defenses on the field, while the offensive juggernauts are on a bye week. Therefore, there could be some tough choices this week and you mind find yourself focusing on a couple of games and the risk that comes with that.
That has left us looking more for defenses to pick against this week than looking at explosive offenses. Some prime examples are the Falcons and Bengals who have struggled to stop teams at all this year and have looked pretty ugly on defense. Below are my DraftKings DFS Lineup Picks for Wild Card Weekend.
These DraftKings lineup recommendations are based on matchups, performances so far, overall upside/talent levels, opportunity, and other factors such as Vegas odds, home field advantage, and more. There are quite a few great value plays available, so read on to find out which players are the best for Wildcard Weekend. Good luck with your DraftKings DFS lineups!
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DraftKings DFS Quarterbacks - Wild Card Weekend Picks
Andrew Luck - IND @ HOU (DK $6,400)
Quarterback is a tough position this week with a lot of good defensive teams playing in Wildcard Weekend. While the Texans defence is very good against the run, they have struggled against the pass. This season they ranks 28th in terms of passing yards surrendered and 18th in terms of passing touchdowns allowed. This game should also be the highest scoring of the four this weekend and it has a points total five points higher than the others to reflect that. Finally, we have also seen Luck have success in Houston recently, with a 27.58 fantasy point performance just a few weeks back. The Texans have done O.K. against opposing quarterbacks this season in terms of fantasy points allowed. However, they have played some pretty low end quarterbacks this season.
DraftKings DFS Running Backs - Wild Card Weekend Picks
Ezekiel Elliott - DAL vs. SEA (DK $9,000)
Of all the teams playing this weekend the Seahawks are the worst against opposing #1 running backs. They have allowed an average of 20.3 fantasy points to those #1 backs. Elliott had 127 rushing yards and a touchdown on 16 attempts when these two teams last met back in Week 3 in Seattle. In addition, he had eight targets in that game and should feature in the passing game once again this week.
Chris Carson - SEA @ DAL (DK $6,800)
Carson has been really impressive this season and no more so than the last few weeks. Over the last four weeks Carson has averaged 22.5 carries per game and has had over 100 rushing yards in each of those games. In addition, Carson has five touchdowns over those last four weeks, and has shown real fight in those games. The Cowboys have been pretty good against the run this season, but I expect the Seahawks to lean quite heavily on the run in this game.
Jordan Howard - CHI vs. PHI (DK $4,600)
Philly has had its issues against the run this season, allowing 21.5 fantasy points per game to opposing #1 running backs on the road, and 29.4 to the position as a whole. Howard has been heavily involved in the offence in the last five weeks. In that period he is averaging 17.6 carries per game and 79.8 rush yards per game. He also has four touchdowns in the last three games, and I expect him to be heavily involved once again this week.
DraftKings DFS Wide Receivers - Wild Card Weekend Picks
T.Y. Hilton - IND @ HOU (DK $7,800)
Hilton is once again questionable this week but that has been a regular thing this season. The Texans have been unable to cover Hilton at all this season. In two games he has 18 targets, 13 receptions and 314 receiving yards. That gives him an average yards per reception of 24.15 across those two games. The Texans have been allowing an average of 14 fantasy points per game to opposing #1 receivers. However, I think Hilton can blow through that this week.
Alshon Jeffery - PHI @ CHI (DK $6,900)
Jeffery has been reinvented since Nick Foles took over leading this offense. In the last three weeks Jeffery has averaged six targets, 5.33 receptions and 100.33 receiving yards. Jeffery has only scored one touchdown in those last three weeks but the Bears have been allowing 16.5 fantasy points to opposing #1 receivers at home. This game is unlikely to have too much explosive action through the air but Foles should be able to find Jeffery enough.
Chester Rogers - IND @ HOU (DK $3,300)
Rogers is one of the only receivers the Colts have entering this week fully healthy. In the last two weeks Rogers has seen 11 targets, with 10 receptions, 86 receiving yards and a touchdown. With the Texans being strong against the run this season, I expect the Colts to throw plenty and that should lead to Rogers having a shot for a nice day, and potentially adding a touchdown.
DraftKings DFS Tight Ends - Wild Card Weekend Picks
Ed Dickson - SEA @ DAL (DK $2,500)
The tight ends in the Colts and Texans game are interesting, but Eric Ebron is expensive and pinning any hopes on the mess the Texans have is not something I am willing to do. Therefore, I am looking to the game in Dallas, who are allowing an average of 13.3 fantasy points to opposing tight ends. Dickson is a major gamble but in Week 16 against the Chiefs he had three receptions for 19 yards and a touchdown.
DraftKings DFS Defenses - Wild Card Weekend Picks
Baltimore Ravens vs. Los Angeles Chargers (DK $3,000)
I really like the Chargers offense but I think the Ravens will keep this game close. In the last game in Los Angeles, they sacked Rivers four times, picked him off twice and forced two fumbles. The Ravens have forced a turnover in each of the last six games and I expect that streak to continue this week. There is due to be rain on Saturday, which could make the field sloppy, tough for offenses and good for defenses.
