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Quarterback Targets for DFS and Playoff Leagues: Divisional Round

If your regular season fantasy teams didn't perform as planned, no need to worry, you don't have to wait until next year for redemption. There are plenty of playoff leagues and daily fantasy leagues available which allow you to keep your competitive spirit sharp while at the same time possibly winning some money and/or bragging rights.

This article will aim to highlight playoff league targets and DFS plays for quarterbacks in the Divisional Round of the playoffs, players that you should consider targeting for your various fantasy football leagues and lineups.

I will list DraftKings and FanDuel prices for those looking for value DFS plays beyond the obvious QBs. The quarterbacks will be split up into three tiers - from most desirable, to most desperate.

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Top Plays for the Divisional Round - Quarterbacks Targets and DFS

Tom Brady, New England Patriots - vs. TEN ($7,000 DK, $8,800 FD)

After a bye week that was marred by a stunning ESPN expose which suggested there is a fracture between Brady, head coach Bill Belichick, and owner Robert Kraft, the Patriots are surely itching to get back to just playing football. Drama aside, don't expect the  Patriots to have much trouble against a Titans team that barely snuck into the playoffs and shocked the Chiefs in the Wild Card round. Brady is the most expensive option on both DraftKings and FanDuel but his price isn't all that prohibitive. Unlike the other similarly-priced top quarterbacks on the slate, Brady has a plus matchup against a leaky Tennessee pass defense that ranked 24th in DVOA in the regular season. Brady is the top QB option on the slate by a wide margin and can be used in cash or GPPs. He should be the first quarterback selected in weekly redraft sites like Draft.

Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints - @ MIN ($6,300 DK, $8,100 FD)

Brees draws a tough matchup against a Vikings pass defense that ranked fourth in DVOA over the regular season. That being said, the future Hall of Famer came up big against a tough Panthers pass defense in the Wild Card round, passing for 376 yards and two touchdowns to down their division rivals. The 39-year-old signal caller was leaned on more extensively after the Panthers were able to slow the New Orleans ground attack. That could happen again against Minnesota and Brees is talented enough to be dangerous against any pass defense. Brees is worth a look this week, especially as a GPP option,

 

Mid-Tier - Divisional Round Quarterbacks and DFS Targets

Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers - vs. JAX ($6,200 DK, $8,000 FD)

I was really close to placing Roethlisberger in the bottom tier and he will be a bottom tier option if star wide receiver Antonio Brown doesn't play. For now, reports on Brown have been optimistic but we won't know more until the team starts releasing practice reports on Wednesday. The Jaguars have employed a fearsome pass defense this season, ranking first in DVOA. I'm not too interested in Big Ben in cash games but he has some appeal as a low-owned tournament play, but only if Brown plays.

Case Keenum, Minnesota Vikings - vs. NO ($6,100 DK, $7,600 FD)

Keenum's success in 2017 was one of the better stories of the season. The former journeyman quarterback leaned heavily on the talents of Stefon Diggs, Adam Thielen, Kyle Rudolph, Latavius Murray, and Jerick McKinnon to post a career-best 3,547 yards and 22 touchdowns while only tossing seven interceptions. Coming off a first-round bye, Keenum will have his work cut out for him as the Vikings welcome a New Orleans pass defense that finished the season ranked fifth in DVOA. Keenum isn't a safe play but he's on the radar as a decent option based on the limited options on the slate and on how excellent his offense has been this season. Vegas likes the Vikings' chances as they have them as four-point favorites in a game with a decent 45-point over/under.

Marcus Mariota, Tennessee Titans - @ NE ($5,900 DK, $7,500 FD)

Mariota came to play against the Chiefs in the first round of the playoffs, throwing for 205 yards, two touchdowns and adding 46 rushing yards. His final line was buoyed by an improbable play which saw him throw a six-yard touchdown to himself on a pass that was batted by the defense. That play alone gave him 10 fantasy points on both DK and FD. While that won't happen again, the Titans will likely have to abandon their run-first offensive attack to keep up with a Patriots offense that has the highest implied team total of the entire weekend. The New England defense got progressively better as the season went on but they still finished as just the 21st ranked unit in DVOA.

Blake Bortles, Jacksonville Jaguars - @ PIT ($5,000 DK, $7,100 FD)

It was an ugly day for the Jacksonville offense in the Wild Card round, which managed just 10 points against the Bills. Bortles struggled, completing just 12-of-23 passes for 87 yards. In a stat line that's almost as surprising as Mariota throwing a touchdown to himself, Bortles eclipsed his passing yards with 88 rushing yards on 10 attempts to lead the Jaguars in rushing. While that won't happen again, Bortles' recent rushing production is not a fluke. The Jacksonville signal-caller has been a weapon on the ground this season, rushing for 322 yards in the regular season. The upside he offers as a rusher along with his low prices keeps him as a mid-tier QB option this week, even against a solid Pittsburgh pass defense.

 

Bottom Tier - Divisional Round Quarterbacks and DFS Targets

Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons - @ PHI ($5,700 DK, $7,700 FD)

Ryan's 2017 struggles continued in the first round of the playoffs. Even though Atlanta finished with 26 points, Ryan threw for only 218 yards and one touchdown against the Rams. Ryan has performed as a QB2 in fantasy all season and I don't see that changing when he takes on the Eagles in the Divisional Round. Philadelphia has been tough against the pass this season, ranking seventh in DVOA and allowing the 11th-fewest fantasy points per game to opposing quarterbacks. I'll be avoiding Ryan in all formats as he has yet to pass for more than two touchdowns in a single game this season and only reached multiple touchdowns five times all year.

Nick Foles, Philadelphia Eagles - vs. ATL ($5,200 DK, $7,200 FD)

Foles came back to earth after a surprising Week 15 performance which saw him throw four touchdowns against the Giants. While he didn't play much in Week 17, he still threw just one touchdown and two interceptions over the final two games of the season. He could surprise against the Falcons in the playoffs but I'm not betting on that happening. For what it's worth, Vegas has no confidence in Foles, either, installing the Falcons as 2.5-point road favorites against an Eagles team that lost just three games all year. Foles is okay for a tournament lineup or two but I will be limiting my exposure to him this weekend.

 

More Wild Card Weekend Lineup Prep




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Shines on Both Ends Saturday
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Logs 35-Point Double-Double
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Plays Late Hero Saturday
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Could Miss Another Game Sunday
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Considered Probable for Sunday's Elimination Game
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Active on Saturday Night
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Placed on 15-Day Injured List With Knee Bursitis
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Blackhawks Bring in Roman Kantserov for Next Season
Mason McTavish

Set to Rejoin Ducks Lineup Sunday
Lukas Dostal

to Remain in Ducks Crease Sunday
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Back for Wild Saturday
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Starting Game 3 Against Avalanche
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Not Ready to Return Saturday
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Won't Play Saturday
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Jaylen Warren

a Safe Dynasty Depth Piece with Insurance Upside
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a Risky Dynasty Hold Who Still Exceeds His Trade Value
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a Dynasty Hold That Could Require Patience
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Dynasty Stock Takes a Hit After Teammate's Extension
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Kyler Murray

Suddenly a Rising Dynasty Target in Minnesota
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Leads by Example in Game 2 Win
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Rebounds After Loss Yet Again for Montreal
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Undervalued in Dynasty Leagues Despite a Path to Upside
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Stephon Castle

Overcomes Shooting Struggles Friday
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Should by Now Be Rostered by Every Kittle Dynasty Manager
Anthony Edwards

Carries Heavy Usage in Defeat
Chig Okonkwo

a Clear Breakout Candidate in Washington
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Gets Pulled in Game 3 Loss on Friday
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Joins Historic Playoff Company
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Continues Postseason Surge with 23-Point Game
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Still a Low-Cost, Short-Term Dynasty Target
Kelly Oubre Jr.

Keeps Scoring Role Alive
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' Buy Window Could Soon Be Wide Open
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Notches Sixth Goal of the Postseason
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Mitch Marner Hat Trick Helps Vegas Take Series Lead
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Jacoby Brissett

in Communication With Cardinals Despite Skipping Workouts
Daniel Jones

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Tyler Glasnow

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Iffy for Game 3 on Saturday
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Likely to Remain Out Saturday
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Considered Questionable for Saturday
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Alexander Volkov

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Waldo Cortes-Acosta Looks To Extend His Win Streak
Nick Lodolo

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Walker Lyons Could be Go-To Target for Bear Bachmeier
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Ty Benefield a Potential Game-Changer for LSU Defense
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Taylor Wein in Position for Big Season on Oklahoma's Defensive Line
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Rasheem Biles an Instant Impact Player for Texas
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Roman Anthony

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Sam Leavitt Expected to Be Full-Go for Fall Camp
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Joe Ryan

Listed as Scheduled Starter for Saturday Against Cleveland
Tyler Glasnow

Not Expected to Land on the Injured List
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Suspended Six Games
Tyler Glasnow

Exits Early on Wednesday With Back Pain
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Rueben Owens II has "Star Potential" in Fourth Campaign
Brandon Woodruff

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Carlos Correa

to Have Season-Ending Ankle Surgery
Jacob Misiorowski

Listed as Friday's Probable Starter
Logan Webb

Dealing With Knee Discomfort
Carlos Correa

Expected to Miss Significant Time With Ankle Injury
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Withdraws From Truist Championship
Xander Schauffele

Carries Elite Form Into Quail Hollow
Hideki Matsuyama

Looks to Bounce Back at Truist Championship
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Secures Third Win of 2026 Season
Patrick Cantlay

Continues Playing Well Heading to Truist Championship
Ludvig Aberg

Returns to Action For Truist Championship
Justin Thomas

Searching for Consistency at Quail Hollow
Jordan Spieth

Looks to Break Through at Quail Hollow
Adam Scott

Brings Strong Form to Quail Hollow
Robert MacIntyre

a Steady Option at Truist Championship
Jason Day

Looks to Overcome Approach Struggles at Quail Hollow
Akshay Bhatia

Looks for Complete Game at Truist Championship
Justin Rose

to Continue Mid-Season Club Change at Truist Championship
Si Woo Kim

is Back to Peak Form Ahead of Truist Championship
Sam Burns

to Bounce Back at Truist Championship
Cameron Young

Looks to Carry Dominance to Quail Hollow
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Returns to Familiar Stomping Grounds This Week at Quail Hollow
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Looking to Bounce Back at Quail Hollow
Tommy Fleetwood

Looking For Better Iron Play at Quail Hollow
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LaNorris Sellers a Strong Rebound Candidate in 2026
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Cam Coleman Poised for Monster Year at Texas?
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Will Hammond Pushing to Be Ready for Week 1
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Looking to Keep Up Ball-Striking Output at Quail Hollow
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Notre Dame Leads College Football in Returning Snaps
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Two Ole Miss Football Players Arrested, Charged with DUI
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Looks Solid on the Surface Heading to Charlotte
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Denny Hamlin

Misses Out on Winning at Texas
Alex Bowman

Finishes Third for the Second Week in a Row at Texas
Tyler Reddick

Earns Seventh Top-Five Finish of the Season at Texas
Chris Buescher

Scores his First Career Texas Finish in the Top Five
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Nico Iamaleava Emerging as Leader, Playmaker for UCLA
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