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NFL Divisional Round weekend is officially here in the NFL and we get some tough matchups on both Saturday and Sunday! Both DK and FD will have two-game slates and here at Rotoballer will have coverage for both slates as well as the full weekend slate!
These playoff slates will be challenging (as most small slates usually are) as there really aren't that many bad defenses to pick on anymore and we will have to dig a little deeper than usual to find the matchups that we really want to target.
In this article, I will be providing you with my NFL Divisional Round Sunday slate daily fantasy football lineup picks on FanDuel. These lineups can vary from higher-priced players and elite options to lower-priced players and value picks on FanDuel. Be sure to also check out our weekly DraftKings DFS lineup picks and lots of other great NFL DFS articles and NFL DFS tools to help you win big! Feel free to give me a follow on Twitter @jorgepucks.
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NFL Divisional Round Sunday Slate
3:05 PM ET: Cleveland Browns vs. Kansas City Chiefs (-9.5) ( 56 O/U)
6:40 PM ET: Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ New Orleans Saints (-3) ( 51.5 O/U)
FanDuel DFS Quarterbacks
Patrick Mahomes vs. CLE ($9,200)
Mahomes offers the most upside on this slate at the quarterback position and with all of the offensive weapons around him, it is hard to not roster him. Mahomes carries a high price tag of $9,200 and is the only quarterback on the slate to be priced above $8,000.
Mahomes has eclipsed 20+ FD points in 13 of 15 games played while also having multi-touchdown performances in 13 of 15 games as well. He has the best floor for cash games while also offering up the best ceiling as well. The Browns Defense is susceptible to the pass as they rank 27th in the league as they allow 277.9 passing yards per game and 2.1 passing touchdowns allowed per game.
Drew Brees vs. TB ($7,300)
There's a lot of high priced skill position players on this slate so looking for value at the quarterback position could be a way to go in tournaments. Drew Brees is the cheapest option at this position as he checks in at $7,300. Brees has had his ups and downs throughout the season but looks to be rounding into form over his last couple of games.
Brees has averaged 19 FD points over his last two games and has thrown eight passing touchdowns and only three interceptions over his last four games. Brees has been solid against Tampa Bay this season as he is averaging 18.54 FD points against them this season. In addition, he has thrown for six passing touchdowns, 382 yards, and no interceptions in those two matchups earlier this season.
FanDuel DFS Running Backs
Alvin Kamara @ TB ($9,000)
The price tag on Kamara didn't change from the Wild Card round to the Divisional round. He comes in at 9k again which is the second-highest price tag on the entire slate. Kamara had a strong outing against a tough Bears team as he rushed for 99 yards on 23 carries while also hauling in two receptions for 17 yards. Kamara has seen double-digit targets in seven straight games and back-to-back games with 20+ carries.
The matchup against the Bucs looks tough as they have the top-ranked rushing defense as they allow 80.9 yards per game to opposing teams on the ground. The Bucs have had a hard time defending the pass as they allow 271.6 passing yards per game and with how involved Kamara is in the passing game, we should not fear the matchup as he will get check down opportunities and designed catches out of the backfield. In his two games against Tampa this year, Kamara has found the end zone twice on the ground and once through the air so it seems that Tampa has yet to have an answer to stopping Kamara.
Kareem Hunt @ KC ($6,200)
The Browns have one of the best running back tandems in the league and with the Browns expected to eventually be playing from behind, the running game could take a back seat and the passing game will be needed. Kareem Hunt has been one of the best pass-catching backs in the league and is extremely dangerous when he gets in open space.
Hunt has hauled in five receiving touchdowns on the season and is averaging over three targets per game. The ground game has been effective against Kansas City and Hunt should continue to split carries but with how explosive the Chief's offense can be, the Browns will need to utilize the pass more which could result in Hunt getting more snaps. Also, factor in that Hunt used to be the feature back in Kansas City, this sets up to be a solid revenge game narrative where he would want to stick it to his former team.
FanDuel DFS Wide Receivers
Tyreek Hill vs. CLE ($8,800)
The Kansas City offense is as explosive as it gets and part of that is due to the explosiveness of Tyreek Hill. Hill is the highest-priced receiver on the slate and offers the largest ceiling at the receiver position. Hill has eclipsed 20+ FD points in five games this season and finished with 15 total receiving touchdowns which was second-most in the entire league.
Mahomes really has an eye for throwing to Hill. Over 21% of the team's target share went to the speedy wide receiver as he hauled in the second-most catches and saw the second-most targets on the Chiefs roster. The Browns will have their hands full with all of the offensive weapons that the Chiefs have and with their defense ranking in the bottom-third against the pass, Hill could have an explosive which would be needed to take down tournaments.
Michael Thomas vs. CHI ($7,200)
Thomas returned for Wild Card weekend and had a positive immediate impact on Drew Brees and this Saints passing attack. Thomas brought in five catches on seven targets for 73 yards and a touchdown reception. Thomas was due for a receiving touchdown and was finally able to find the end zone against a stingy Bears Defense.
In the two games played against the Bucs, Thomas has hauled in eight catches on 11 targets for 68 total yards. While those numbers aren't amazing, Thomas was eased into action in the second matchup against the Bucs as he was still shaking off some rust for missing almost two months worth of games. Thomas is the third-highest priced receiver on the slate and while he still hasn't had a monster game, he does offer a solid floor that could be needed in cash games.
Jarvis Landry vs. KC ($6,900)
One of the constants for this Browns offense has been Jarvis Landry. Landry has been heavily involved in the passing game as he has seen over five targets in each of the last six games while hauling in 50+ receiving yards in each of those six games played as well.
Landry offers touchdown upside as he has brought in four receiving touchdowns over the last six games played and has eclipsed double-digit FD points in five out of his last six games. If the Browns fall behind early, Landry could get peppered with targets as Mayfield will look his way as often as possible.
FanDuel DFS Tight Ends
Travis Kelce @ CLE ($8,500)
The best tight end in the league is on this slate which means he is viable in all formats. Kelce is the top receiving threat at this position as well as on this Chiefs offense and leads all Chiefs players in targets (145), catches (105), and receiving yards (1,416).
Kelce is averaging 17.4 FD points per game and has eclipsed this mark 10 times on the season. Kelce has hauled in a receiving touchdown in six out of the last eight games and has seen double-digit targets in seven out of the last eight games. The Browns have struggled to contain opposing tight ends as they have allowed 10 receiving touchdowns to the position which is tied for the fourth-most in the league.
Austin Hooper @ KC ($5,500)
Hooper has really emerged as a strong receiving target for this Browns offense as the regular season came to a close. Over his last four games played, Hooper has seen 37 receiving targets which leads all Browns offensive players.
Hooper offers a tremendous discount at the position as he is the fourth-highest priced tight end on the slate but looks to be in the second-best form behind Kelce. The game script for the Browns could favor Hooper and with the Chiefs allowing the fifth-most receiving yards to tight ends, he could have a good game which makes him viable in all formats, especially in tournament builds.
FanDuel DFS Defense/Special Teams
With the first game on the slate featuring the highest projected total, it might be best to focus on the defenses in the Tampa Bay and New Orleans game, specifically, the Saints Defense. In both games this season, the Saints defense combined for five interceptions and six sacks. In addition, they limited the Bucs offense to 26 points combined between the two games. If the Saints are once again able to generate pressure and force Brady to make tough throws, it could result in a few turnovers and a Bucs loss.
Well, that's it, everyone! Good luck, RotoBallers, in your contests and I hope this slate turns out to be a profitable one for you!
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