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The NFL's regular season and traditional fantasy football leagues have come to an end, but now is arguably the most exciting and enticing time to participate in single-game DFS tournaments. Kirk Cousins will make his fifth playoff start, while fourth-year quarterback Daniel Jones will make his postseason debut.
This Giants-Vikings contest features big names on both sides of the ball, but where DFS contests are won is getting the edge on the under-the-radar, undervalued players. Minnesota is just a three-point favorite on Sunday and the projected point total is the highest on the Wild Card schedule at 48.0. All in all, this could be the most exciting and enticing single-game contest this weekend.
I will be providing you with daily fantasy football picks on FanDuel and DraftKings for the Giants vs. Vikings NFL DFS showdown slate on January 15th. 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. If you have any questions sign up for a premium RotoBaller NFL package and chat with our NFL DFS analysts or find us on Twitter!
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MVP/Captain Plays
T.J. Hockenson - TE, $11,100 (DK), $12,500 (FD)
Key Stats
- 2022 Stats: 129 targets, 86 receptions, 914 receiving yards, six touchdowns
- 13.1 DK points per game
- New York ranks 22nd against tight end on DK
Hockenson has two games of over 38 DraftKings points, so he's a great captain pick who doesn't cost an arm and a leg and will give you differentiation in your lineup. In DFS contests, upside is all that matters, and he rivals any player, regardless of position in that category on this slate. In Week 16 against New York, Hockenson caught 13 passes for 109 yards and two touchdowns. It's not as simple as saying he'll replicate that performance, but his ceiling far exceeds his price tag in this spot.
Daniel Jones- QB, $14,100 (DK), $14,500 (FD)
Key Stats
- 2022 Stats: 3,205 passing yards, five interceptions, 708 rushing yards, 22 total touchdowns
- Vikings rank 31st in passing yards allowed, 28th in fantasy points to quarterbacks allowed
- No. 7 in total fantasy points among QBs during regular season.
Regardless of how you feel about Jones as a franchise quarterback, he was a top fantasy QB in 2022, and his ceiling rivaled any of the top dual-threat signal callers in the NFL. Jones surpassed 24 fantasy points in four of his 16 starts this season, and although his floor is low, DFS is all about chasing ceiling outcomes. Jones' price tag is a bargain at the quarterback position, and he's proven capable of big-time fantasy performances, despite the lack of high-end pass-catchers. Jones finished fifth in rushing yards this season, only behind Justin Fields, Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson, and Jalen Hurts. It might sound surprising, but he's now in that group with high-ceiling rushing QBs. Minnesota has by far the worst defense of all teams who made the postseason. Many people will fade Jones based on his name recognition, but here's where savvy DFSers take advantage.
Other Captains/MVPs: Kirk Cousins, Saquon Barkley, Justin Jefferson
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DFS Flex Plays
Justin Jefferson - WR, $11,800 (DK), $16,500 (FD)
Key Stats
- 2022 Stats: 182 targets, 128 receptions, 1,809 receiving yards, eight touchdowns
- Surpassed 100 yards in 10-of-18 games
Needless to say, Jefferson is an elite fantasy option and is a great pick to build a team around in DFS contests. I'm rolling with him in the flex spot instead of the captain or MVP slot to avoid chalk or paying up big time. He's expensive, but his upside of 35-plus fantasy points makes it difficult to fade him. In the Week 16 game against the New York Giants, Jefferson caught 12 passes for 133 yards and a touchdown. In the Wild Card rematch, he should find similar success. New York is just a neutral matchup for wideouts, so Jefferson is probably the chalk worth taking in the opening round of the NFL playoffs in full-slate and single-game contests
Kirk Cousins - QB, $9,600 (DK), $15,000 (FD)
Key Stats
- 2022 Stats: 4,547 yards passing, 29 touchdowns, 14 interceptions
- Giants allowed 14th-fewest fantasy points to QBs in regular season
Cousins has been known to have a high ceiling and low floor throughout his NFL career, and 2022 has been no different. The veteran quarterback has six games over 22.5 DraftKings points, but he's failed to reach 13.1 DraftKings points in five games this season. Since DFS is the focus here, a boom-or-bust fantasy quarterback is a perfectly fine option. Cousins faces a New York Giants defense that has been solid against quarterbacks, but he passed for 299 yards and three touchdowns in the first game against them. Ultimately, Cousins is just the fourth-most expensive player on DraftKings in this contest, so he's worth a dice roll at captain/MVP or flex.
Other Flex Options: Dalvin Cook, Saquon Barkley, T.J. Hockenson
DFS Value Plays
KJ Osborn - WR, $8,000 (DK), $8,000 (FD)
Key Stats
- 2022 Stats: 90 targets, 60 receptions, 650 receiving yards, five touchdowns
- N0. 8 wide receiver in total fantasy points from Weeks 14-18
In 2022, Osborn has been one of the best No. 3 wide receivers in the NFL. He has saved his best performances for late in the season, posting at least 14.8 DraftKings points in four of his last five contests. His best performance came in Week 15 against the Indianapolis Colts, securing 10 passes for 157 yards and one touchdown. All that said, he is the perfect bargain-bin option with a high ceiling for the matchup against the New York Giants in what could be a shootout (48.0 projected point total). At his price, he's a perfect addition to a Kirk Cousins-Justin Jefferson or Cousins-T.J. Hockenson stack.
Richie James WR, $5,200 (DK), $7,500 (FD)
Key Stats
- 2022 Stats: 70 targets, 57 receptions, 569 receiving yards, four touchdowns.
- Vikings allowed 2nd-most DK points to wide receivers, second-most passing yards (regular season)
- No. 11 wide receiver in total fantasy points from Weeks 11 to 17
James has quietly been a strong flex play in fantasy football and became a must-start in deep traditional fantasy leagues. The matchup is strong here, and all of my selections are geared toward a shootout with a ton of passing volume. James is the final piece of the puzzle to some of the viable expensive stacks on this contest.
Other Value Plays: Isaiah Hodgins, Adam Thielen, Graham Gano
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