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Welcome back, RotoBallers! We have the final game of the Wild Card Round of the NFL playoffs on tap tonight with the enigmatic Eagles taking on the upstart Bucs in Tampa Bay. Vegas has this being a competitive game as the Eagles are currently just 2.5-point favorites on the road, which isn't all that surprising given the fact that the Eagles went 1-5 down the stretch and had some head-scratching losses. The game holds a 43.5-point implied total, which doesn't scream "shootout" but also doesn't suggest we'll see a grind-it-out, low-scoring matchup. Incredibly, there is some weather to consider in tonight's game as it will be raining (with minimal wind) throughout.
I will be providing you with daily fantasy football picks on FanDuel and DraftKings for the Eagles vs. Buccaneers showdown slate on January 15. These NFL DFS lineup picks can vary from higher-priced players and elite options to lower-priced players and value picks on both DraftKings and FanDuel. Don't forget to sign up for a premium RotoBaller NFL package and chat with me and other NFL DFS analysts at any time you'd like!
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MVP/Captain - NFL DFS Lineup Picks
Jalen Hurts - QB, $17,400 (DK), $17,000 (FD)
Key Stats
- 2023 Stats: 3,858 passing yards, 23/15 TD/INT ratio, 15 rushing touchdowns, 22.9 DK points per game
Jalen Hurts is the highest-upside quarterback in the league thanks to his rushing ability. A quarterback putting up 15 rushing touchdowns in one season is insane, and it's one of the reasons I find myself looking past the Eagles' recent struggles and the fact that superstar wideout A.J. Brown won't be available as a pass-catcher tonight. It will be raining in Tampa (*gasp*), so while the Eagles may shift the game plan to be even more run-heavy, that includes their dynamic quarterback. The Bucs allowed the second-most rushing touchdowns to QBs this season (6) along with the second-most passing yards, so it's not like they're some elite defense that Hurts can't put up a big number against. He managed 21.88 DK points against them back in Week 3, but I'm expecting an even bigger game out of him tonight.
Chris Godwin - WR, $11,700 (DK), $11,000 (FD)
Key Stats
- 2023 Stats: 1,024 receiving yards with three total touchdowns
2023 was not the best year for Chris Godwin. He put up 83 catches for 1,024 yards and averaged 12.7 DK points per game, but he couldn't find the end zone if it hit him in the face. He had just three total touchdowns to Mike Evans' 13, which has drastically deflated his salary coming into tonight's action. He has been very consistent lately, putting up at least 10.3 DK points while averaging 16.3 DK points per game over his last five contests. The rain has a chance to put a damper on the passing attacks for both squads, but the Eagles jumping out to an early lead and forcing the Bucs to pass is a clear game-script possibility for tonight's game. Getting to Godwin at Captain allows you to get more palatable lineups, so he's someone I'm mixing in with Hurts.
Other Captains/MVPs: D'Andre Swift, Rachaad White, Dallas Goedert, Baker Mayfield
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Flex Plays - NFL DFS Lineup Picks
D'Andre Swift - RB, $7,200 (DK), $12,500 (FD)
Key Stats
- 2023 Stats: 1,049 rushing yards, 4.6 yards per carry, six total touchdowns
I like getting to D'Andre Swift at the Captain/MVP slots as well, but he works great as a flex play tonight. His "ceiling" games are few and far between due to the nature of having the best rushing QB in the league on your team, but tonight's situation could set him up for a big day. Target-hog A.J. Brown won't be playing, and a rainy forecast could cause both teams to lean on the run games. Swift is the clear lead back in this offense, and while the Bucs rank extremely well against RBs, they're due for some touchdown regression as they allowed just five rushing touchdowns to the position all season.
Baker Mayfield - QB, $9,800 (DK), $14,000 (FD)
Key Stats
- 4,044 passing yards, 28/10 TD/INT ratio, 64% completion rate
We should have all learned our lesson to not count Baker Mayfield out by now. The much-maligned veteran QB has seemingly resurrected his career in Tampa Bay, throwing for over 4,000 yards while leading the team to a divisional title and home playoff game. He has played through multiple injuries this season and is dealing with ankle and rib issues coming into tonight's game, but he has been able to play through it all and continue putting up great numbers. His Week 18 dud may scare away the masses, but I'm getting heavy exposure to Mayfield against a struggling defense that allowed the second-most fantasy points per game to QBs this season.
Other Flex Options: Rachaad White, Dallas Goedert, Mike Evans, DeVonta Smith
Value Plays - NFL DFS Lineup Picks
Trey Palmer - WR, $2,800 (DK) DraftKings Only
Key Stats
- 2023 Stats: 68 targets, 39 receptions, 385 receiving yards, three total touchdowns
While Trey Palmer's 2023 stats don't jump off the page, it's his recent form that has me intrigued by him at a very low salary. The sixth-round rookie out of Nebraska came on strong at the end of the year, averaging 3.1 catches on 5.7 targets and 9.5 DK points per game over his last three games. He has continued to be the clear third option at receiver, which could be a fruitful spot to be in with all the attention being paid to covering Evans and Godwin. As a reminder, the Eagles allowed the most fantasy points per game to receivers this season.
Philadelphia Eagles - D/ST, $3,400 (DK), $9,000 (FD)
I'm recommending getting to Mayfield and Godwin tonight, but that doesn't mean we can't take some shots on the value defenses in the same lineups. With the limited number of roster spots, we have to find ways to get different on Showdown slates to avoid duplicated lineups. The Eagles defense has been awful lately, but the poor weather conditions and regression to the mean should both come into play tonight. Mayfield has never been a 28/10 TD/INT ratio guy, and I'm betting he commits at least one turnover in this pivotal showdown.
Other Value Options: Jake Elliott, Rakim Jarrett, Buccaneers D/ST, Olamide Zaccheaus
Enjoy the rest of your weekend and good luck everyone!
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