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Juan Carlos Blanco's top NFL DFS lineup picks for FanDuel, DraftKings and the Conference Championship Round - 49ers vs Rams showdown slate. His daily fantasy football advice.
After a Divisional Round Weekend that will admittedly be hard to top, the NFL's conference championship games are set. The NFC game will feature a pair of division rivals that are fresh off knocking two of the most iconic quarterbacks of the modern era -- Aaron Rodgers and Tom Brady -- out of the postseason. San Francisco swept the regular-season series from Los Angeles, so this conference title contest will represent the rare third meeting within a season/postseason.
In this article, I will be providing you with daily fantasy football picks on FanDuel and DraftKings for the 49ers-Rams showdown slate on January 30th at 6:30 PM. These lineups can vary from higher-priced players and elite options to lower-priced players and value picks on both DraftKings and FanDuel.
If you have any questions, you can follow me on Twitter @jcblanco22 and fire away, or sign up for a premium RotoBaller NFL package and chat with Rotoballer NFL DFS analysts at any time you'd like in our Premium Slack Chat Rooms. Without further ado, here's a breakdown of some top options at each salary tier for the 49ers-Rams single-game NFC Championship Game slate!
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NFL DFS Captain Plays
Cooper Kupp ($18,300 DK, $16,000 FD)
Kupp will naturally carry an astronomical rostering rate, including at the Captain/MVP spot. However, given his track record, it's hard to argue against his candidacy, especially for those rolling out multiple lineups that will allow for differentiation. While the fifth-year wideout's talent and game-breaking ability is undeniable, it does bear mentioning he'll be locked into a tough matchup, although it's one he's still found a way to thrive in this season, albeit with plenty of volume. Kupp saw a total of 20 targets against the 49ers across two regular-season meetings, parlaying those opportunities into an 18-240-1 line.
Nevertheless, San Francisco comes into this third encounter with the Rams allowing the third-lowest yards per completion (9.2) and seventh-fewest passing yards per game (209.3) on the road, including their first two postseason contests against the Cowboys and Packers. Kupp may therefore need to see a healthy amount of targets again in order to really offer a worthwhile return on his current salaries; yet, given his average of 11.5 targets per home contest this past season and average of 13.7 yards per grab there, he certainly has a better-than-average chance of accomplishing it.
Matthew Stafford ($16,200 DK, $16,500 FD)
Having just provided some metrics supporting the notion the 49ers aren't exactly a welcoming pass defense, it's also worth mentioning San Francisco allowed a 69.0 percent completion rate on the road during the regular season, the league's fourth-highest figure. Stafford did have his share of struggles versus his division rival -- he posted a 4:4 TD:INT and completed a just-OK 64.4 percent of his passes over his two regular-season meetings with San Fran -- but on a one-game slate and with his upside, he still very much merits consideration for this spot.
The Niners also allowed 9% explosive pass play rate on the season, ranking them in the bottom half of the league in that category. Quarterbacks also posted a respectable 25:9 TD:INT against San Francisco during the regular season, and Stafford has posted an elite 74.5 percent completion rate and 4:0 TD:INT in his first two postseason games. He also generated a 68.3 percent completion rate and 21:6 TD:INT at home during the regular campaign, while the 49ers allowed passer ratings of 98 or higher in four of the six passing windows in 2021.
Other Captains: Deebo Samuel
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NFL DFS Flex Plays
Jimmy Garoppolo ($9,000 DK, $12,500 FD)
Garoppolo is still dealing with the lingering effects of his thumb and shoulder issues irrespective of his absence from the official injury report, with perhaps the clearest evidence of such the fact his pass attempts have been limited over his first two postseason contests. Garoppolo has put the ball up just 44 times over that pair of games, yet it's always advisable to give quarterbacks serious consideration on single-game slates. Garoppolo also completed 74.5 percent of his passes against the Rams in the two regular-season contests this season, and he was more productive on the road with 2,264 yards and a 69.3 percent completion rate in eight road games.
The Rams were a stingy bunch against the pass on a yards-per-completion and yards-per-game basis at home this season, but much like the Niners, they were guilty of allowing plenty of high-percentage throws. Los Angeles gave up a 68.2 percent completion rate at home this season, along with the ninth-most passing yards to QBs overall (4,435). Garoppolo will have to be particularly mindful of ball security considering the Rams' 19 interceptions and 50 sacks this season, but in a game in which Kyle Shanahan may have to take a more aggressive play-calling approach due to the opposition, Garoppolo could find himself to a solid return based on volume.
Elijah Mitchell ($8,200 DK, $12,000 FD)
Mitchell could be one of the beneficiaries of the Rams' tendency to frequently concede short passes, one that was also evident by the fact Los Angeles yielded an 85-631-3 receiving line to running backs during the regular season. Mitchell has seen six targets over his first two playoff contests, and given L.A.'s ability to limit wideout production, the rookie could see a fair amount of action through the air as an outlet option, especially when also assuming the Rams' ferocious pass rush could force some quick dump-offs.
On the ground, Mitchell is facing a defense that allowed a relatively modest 108.4 rushing yards per home game at 4.1 yards per carry. Los Angeles gave up 21.7 DK/18.8 FD points per contest to the RBs as well, and he'll run behind an offensive line that facilitated 4.3 RB yards per carry, including in the Niners' first two postseason games. Mitchell gained 176 yards on 48 carries in two regular-season games versus L.A. as well, furthering his case at what would be considered reasonable mid-level salaries.
Cam Akers ($7,000, $11,000 FD)
The combination of a desire for atonement and far more rested legs that those who will be trying to bring him down on defense could make Akers an excellent lower-mid-salary play Sunday. The second-year back famously fumbled twice against the Buccaneers in the divisional-round win, the second nearly costing Los Angeles the victory. Akers was unsurprisingly bottled up by Tampa Bay's elite run defense in the narrow win (24-48), but he continued to be involved in the passing game (three targets) and could find the path to success on the ground a bit more attainable Sunday.
The 49ers allowed 108.6 rushing yards per contest on the road this regular season at 4.1 yards per carry. San Francisco also surrendered 13 rushing touchdowns to RBs during the regular season and yielded an 88-551-2 line through the air to the position as well. Akers is a capable pass-catching back that already has posted a 7-70 line on eight targets over his first three games, including a three-catch effort in his first action of the season in Week 18 against the Niners. With Akers the more explosive option between him and Sony Michel and already having proven capable of shouldering a true lead-back workload, he could well deliver some strong returns on his modest salaries.
Other Flex Plays: Odell Beckham Jr., Brandon Aiyuk
NFL DFS Value Plays
George Kittle ($7,400 DK, $10,000 FD)
Kittle was held to 10 yards on five receptions by the Rams in the Week 18 clash, although he did have a more productive 5-50-1 line on seven targets in the first meeting with Los Angeles. The talented tight end was also held in check by the Cowboys (1-18 on 3 targets) in the wild-card win, but he bounced back to an extent with a 63-yard tally on four receptions on six targets versus the Packers last Saturday night. The Rams also conceded a healthy 90-878-4 line to tight ends during the regular season, along with eight touchdowns in the short middle and short right passing windows; in turn, Kittle logged 54 of his 94 targets in those areas of the field and posted a 43-502-2 line with those opportunities.
Matt Gay ($3,600 DK, $9,500 FD)
Gay was perfect on his six kicks against the 49ers during the regular season and is 5-for-6 on FGs and 7-for-7 on PATs over his first two postseason contests. He tied for second with 144 points during the campaign as well, and the 49ers ranked in the bottom half of the league with 2.0 field-goal attempts per road game surrendered during the regular season. Opponents have only converted third downs at a 42.0 percent rate against the Niners as well including the postseason, upping the chances of Gay having a busy day on field goals.
Other Value Plays: Robbie Gould, Rams DST (DK only)
Now go win some money! Thanks for reading, everyone, and best of luck in your contests!
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