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Who should I start for Wild Card Weekend? Fantasy football outlooks for Sam Darnold, Matthew Stafford, T.J. Hockenson. Our expert fantasy football start 'em, sit 'em picks.
The Wild Card Round of the NFL playoffs wraps up tonight with a matchup between the Minnesota Vikings and Los Angeles Rams.
While most of the playoff games have been blowouts thus far, tonight’s contest should be a competitive matchup.
However, are Sam Darnold, Matthew Stafford, and T.J. Hockenson solid starting options for fantasy players? Let’s dive into it.
Be sure to check all of our fantasy football rankings for 2025:- 2025 fantasy football rankings
- Running back (RB) fantasy football rankings
- Wide receiver (WR) fantasy football rankings
- Tight end (TE) fantasy football rankings
- Quarterback (QB) fantasy football rankings
- FLEX fantasy football rankings
- Defense (D/ST) fantasy football rankings
- Kicker (K) fantasy football rankings
- Dynasty fantasy football rankings
Should I Start Sam Darnold For Fantasy Football?
Darnold had an outstanding first year with Minnesota, averaging 18.1 fantasy points per game. The veteran quarterback finished with 35 passing touchdowns, one of the highest totals in the NFL. More importantly, he played well in the Week 8 matchup against the Rams.
Justin Jefferson 97 YARD TUDDY!!!!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/0PJs9mheCK
— NFL (@NFL) September 15, 2024
The former USC star had 240 passing yards, two touchdowns, and 18.2 fantasy points in the loss. While Los Angeles has a solid defense, they have struggled against elite passing attacks. Darnold is an excellent starting option tonight.
Should I Start Matthew Stafford For Fantasy Football?
Unfortunately, Stafford struggled to end the regular season. He averaged 7.8 fantasy points per game over his final three contests, totaling one passing touchdown. Furthermore, the future Hall of Famer had under 190 passing yards in every matchup.
However, Stafford has had some productive moments this year, totaling 20 passing touchdowns. His best fantasy performance came in Week 8 against the Vikings, totaling 279 passing yards, four touchdowns, and 24.8 fantasy points. While he won’t play that well in the rematch, Stafford is a solid starting option.
MATTHEW STAFFORD TO Demarcus Robinson ONE-HANDED TD TO WIN THE GAME FOR THE @RAMSNFL! pic.twitter.com/xqFG6xQ4eS
— NFL (@NFL) November 4, 2024
Should I Start T.J. Hockenson For Fantasy Football?
The star tight end missed the first half this year recovering from a torn ACL. Unfortunately, he didn’t score a touchdown during the regular season. Hockenson averaged 6.6 half-point PPR fantasy points per game, totaling single digits in 80% of the contests.
Yet, the veteran is an excellent fantasy option tonight against the Rams. Los Angeles struggled to slow down tight ends during the regular season, surrendering 13.3 fantasy points per game, the second-most in the NFL. Last week, they gave up 14.8 fantasy points and a receiving touchdown to Noah Fant.
Smith to Fant! @Seahawks take back the lead.
📺: #SEAvsLAR on FOX
📱: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/i51wgCAGq6— NFL (@NFL) January 6, 2025
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