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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 Bills @ Texans and finishing off with Titans @ Patriots. 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 Patriots are fine or if the Titans are going to shock the world. FanDuel has some huge tournaments this Saturday, 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 5, 2020 (NFC Wild Card 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 - Wild Card Sunday
Russell Wilson - QB, SEA @ PHI ($8,200)
Russ is my favorite QB on this slate. The Eagles Defense is the worst one on this slate and Wilson is going to be needed to produce with the Eagles having home-field advantage. The Seahawks would love to run all game, but that won't be an option with Chris Carson and Rashaad Penny out. The 'Hawks have added Lynch again, but it's obvious that more will be put on the shoulders of Russell Wilson. The Eagles rank in the bottom 10 against the pass this season and their secondary is injured. Russell Wilson is one of the more efficient quarterbacks in the league and he will be asked to have a big game on the road. Expect Wilson to use his legs a bit as well, where he derives a ton of upside. Wilson is cheaper than Brees and I prefer him in both cash games and tournaments.
Drew Brees - QB, NO vs. MIN ($8,700)
Brees will likely be the most popular QB on this slate and it's hard to disagree. The Saints are just so good at home and it's hard to see Brees throwing for less than three scores. The Saints are 7.5-point favorites and Brees has been over 300 yards in nearly every game this season in the Superdome. This won't be any different and if you're looking for safety, Drew Brees is your best bet.
FanDuel Running Backs - Wild Card Sunday
Dalvin Cook - RB, MIN @ NO ($8,200)
I'll go with Dalvin Cook as my favorite running back on this slate. The Vikings have been focused on getting Cook to be 100% in the first round all season and here we are. Expect what is usually a split backfield to be about 90% Dalvin Cook in this game. He's going to be given 20+ carries and Cousins will throw the ball to him at least five times. Dalvin Cook is the only way the Vikings can beat the Saints and they'll be focused on getting him the ball early and often.
Marshawn Lynch - RB, SEA @ PHI ($5,900)
It's very exciting to see Marshawn Lynch back on a football field and even more exciting to see him jump over the line for a touchdown. I expect the Seahawks to get the lead here early and they'll run the ball enough to get Lynch to value. If it gets to the goal line, it's a safe bet that we'll see Lynch on the field. Running back isn't great on this slate and Lynch is very cheap on FanDuel.
Alvin Kamara - RB, NO vs. MIN ($8,400)
Kamara is more expensive than Dalvin Cook, and he's a tournament play for me. The Saints just have so many weapons and they can kill the Vikings in many different ways. However, the Saints have given Kamara the goal line looks of late and you can bet the upside on Kamara is as high as anyone. The Vikings are a good defense, but the Saints offense is just different in the Superdome and Vegas expects them to put up nearly 30 points.
FanDuel Wide Receivers - Wild Card Sunday
Michael Thomas - WR, NO vs. MIN ($9,200)
Michael Thomas had his worst game of the season in week 17, but he didn't play much in the second half. We can expect Michael Thomas to get back to his usual ways here with 10-15 targets and 20+ fantasy points. The Vikings don't have a shutdown corner and the Saints do a good job of moving Thomas around. Without anyone else to pay up for at receiver, Michael Thomas is going to be extremely high-owned and rightfully so. This is a piece of chalk you can eat.
Tyler Lockett - WR, SEA @ PHI ($7,300)
Tyler Lockett isn't the huge target D.K. Metcalf is, but Russell Wilson trusts him and Lockett is going to see at least 10 carries in this game. We all know the upside Tyler Lockett carries and he always excels in games where the Seahawks have to throw a bit. Expect 10-12 targets and 100 yards out of Tyler Lockett against some porous defensive backs in Philly.
Adam Thielen - WR, MIN @ NO ($6,200)
Adam Thielen was off an on the injury report all season long and never got a chance to establish himself. I'm willing to be the Vikings intentions were to get Thielen ready to go for the playoffs, and he should be at full health here. The Saints will be paying more attention to Stefon Diggs and we know Adam Thielen can step in and have a monstrous day. It's hard to find anyone that will fly under the radar on a small slate, but Thielen should go under 20% owned and the value is definitely worth taking advantage of. I wouldn't be shocked if Thielen gets 10 targets.
FanDuel Tight Ends - Wild Card Sunday
Zach Ertz - TE, ($6,900)
Ertz has been cleared to play and he automatically becomes the top tight end play of the slate. There's a case to be made that he will be used as a decoy, and in that case, you'll want to fade him. We're going to assume Ertz is a full go. In that case, Wentz will target him 10+ times and the Seattle Seahawks Defense has been susceptible to tight ends
Jacob Hollister - TE, ($5,700)
Russell Wilson is going to throw to his tight end no matter who he is. We've run through what seems like countless names in Seattle and the TE position just constantly produces. Jacob Hollister has consistently been seeing 4+ targets a game and has a great shot at scoring a cheap touchdown on this two-game slate.
