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Austyn Varney highlights the top FanDuel NFL DFS lineup picks for Sunday, January 12, 2020 (Divisional Round Sunday), and a couple of sleepers to consider while building daily rosters.
Welcome to Wild Card Weekend. FanDuel has broken Saturday and Sunday into two very different slates, so we've followed suit and will be writing up site-specific articles for FanDuel DFS contests. Make sure to check out tonight's other piece as well.
We open things up with just two games, kicking off with the Texans @ Chiefs and finishing off with Seahawks @ Packers. There are limited options at each position and a few injuries we need to pay attention to. We also need to consider if we think the Packers are the real deal or if the Seahawks are going to control the game. FanDuel has some huge tournaments this Sunday, and we'll need to be different in some spots. Let's dive in!
In this article, I will be providing you with daily fantasy football picks on FanDuel for Sunday, January 12, 2020 (NFL Divisional Round). These lineups can vary from higher-priced players and elite options to lower-priced players and value picks on FanDuel. You can follow me on Twitter @VarneyDFS and fire away any questions. Good luck RotoBallers!
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FanDuel Quarterbacks - Divisional-Round Sunday
Patrick Mahomes - QB, KC vs. HOU ($9,000)
Mahomes is easily my favorite quarterback on this slate and the other three talents should draw a good amount of ownership away from him. There were only six teams in football that gave up two touchdowns per game and the Houston Texans were one of them. Mahomes hasn’t had the season we expected, but the flashes were there and this offense is healthier than it been all season. With Lamar Jackson having already played last night, Mahomes is the clear-cut top option at QB in all formats.
Aaron Rodgers - QB, GB vs. SEA ($8,300)
If you want to get a bit different, Aaron Rodgers should have a big day against this Seattle Seahawks secondary. Shaw Griffin has been the only elite corner for the Seahawks this season, but he doesn’t move from the left side. I expect the Packers to move Davante Adams away from Shaq Griffin and to attack the Seahawks where they struggle most. Rodgers is nowhere near the quarterback he once was, but neither is this Seahawks Defense and the Packers are at home and favored comfortably. Rodgers should throw for 250 yards and three touchdowns wouldn’t be crazy.
FanDuel Running Backs - Divisional-Round Sunday
Damien Williams - RB, KC vs. HOU ($7,300)
I think a lot of people will be on Aaron Jones and it’s going to draw people off of Daniel Williams. The Kansas City running Back has taken over the reins of late and it was encouraging to see him get seven targets in his last game against the Chargers. The Texans rank 25th in football against the runs and give up the third-most receiving yards to opposing running backs. Williams is going to see lower ownership than Aaron Jones and I prefer him in both formats.
Marshawn Lynch - RB, SEA @ GB ($6,100)
Coach Pete Carroll has already announced that Marshawn Lynch is good to go to receive a bigger workload this week. Lynch ran some Philadelphia Eagles over last week for a touchdown and I have a hard time seeing him not do the same against Green Bay. While the Packers Defense may be better, they still rank outside the top-10 against the run and Marshawn Lynch showed he still has the power to run through an offensive line. We’re also working with slightly different rules that allow linemen to push their backs and Lynch is the kind of guy that will not stop pumping. His price is still low on FanDuel and he’s my favorite point-per-dollar option at the position.
Duke Johnson - RB, HOU @ KC ($8,400)
I’m expecting the Texans to be playing from behind in this game and likely not just three or seven points. Houston is going to be asked to throw a lot here and Duke Johnson has immense upside when on the field. He’s the pass-catching back for the Texans and also tends to see draws on 2nd and 3rd down. Paying down for Duke allows you to pay up elsewhere. We have to be different somewhere on this slate or you have no shot at a win. Crazier things have happened then Duke Johnson catching a TD pass for cheap.
FanDuel Wide Receivers - Divisional-Round Sunday
Davante Adams - WR, GB vs. SEA ($8,500)
If we’re thinking the Packers have any sort of game plan, they’ll be moving Davante Adams away from Shaq Griffin. The rest of the Seahawks secondary is weak and Adams has been over 13 targets in three straight weeks. It’s fair to expect another 13-15 targets here and I find it hard believing the Seahawks will keep him out of the end zone. Davante Adams is the best cash game wide receiver on the slate if you can afford him.
Tyreek Hill - WR, KC vs. HOU ($7,900)
Hill is obviously boom-or-bust, but the upside is slate-breaking and we all know Mahomes will be targeting Hill more than he has recently. He’s had four straight disappointing games and it seems right about that time for Tyreek to have a monstrous game. The match-up with Houston is elite and I’m a fan in all formats.
D.K. Metcalf - WR, SEA @ GB ($7,000)
Typically, I would like Tyler Lockett here. Metcalf had the better game last week and the masses will move to him. However, the Packers play Kevin King on whoever the biggest receiver is and he’s not a very good cornerback. In fact, he’s given up the 9th most yards per catch in the league. I like Metcalf to have another big game and Wilson will be targeting the big body in the red-zone.
Allen Lazard - WR, GB vs. SEA ($5,400)
I suspect Allen Lazard is going to see a lot of Shaq Griffin coverage, which has me completely off of him in cash games. In tournaments, however, Lazard has big-play ability and the price on FanDuel is undeniable. He’s seen eight and nine targets over the last two weeks and could certainly find the end-zone. His price on FanDuel is extremely cheap and the upside is there.
FanDuel Tight Ends - Divisional-Round Saunday
Travis Kelce - TE, KC vs. HOU ($7,500)
Kelce is the easy choice at tight end here if you have the funds. He’s the best tight end in football and the match-up with Houston is a great one. If you’re playing Mahomes at QB, make sure to lock Kelce in as he should see a lot of work in the red-zone. The Texans don't cover the TE position well and there isn't any other tight end you can rely on for 8+ targets. If you have the funds, don’t overthink this one.
Jimmy Graham - TE, GB vs. SEA ($5,000)
Jimmy Graham is a guy I like a lot in tournaments here. The middle of the field is where you attack the Seahawks and Aaron Rodgers has thrown to Graham a ton in the end zone this year. Graham is way too cheap and he’ll give you a different roster construction than everyone who is playing Kelce. Graham could easily score tonight and is a great GPP option.
