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Who Should I Start For Fantasy Football Wild Card Round? Sam Darnold, Matthew Stafford, T.J. Hockenson

Sam Darnold - Fantasy Football Rankings, Draft Sleepers, NFL DFS Picks

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.

 

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.

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.

 

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.

 

More Fantasy Football Start 'Em, Sit 'Em Picks

Jacory Croskey-Merritt - Fantasy Football Rankings, Draft Sleepers, NFL DFS Picks

Fact or Fiction: Fantasy Football Outlooks for Malik Willis, Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Luther Burden III, Jayden Higgins, Jake Tonges

Welcome back to Fact or Fiction, RotoBaller's weekly look at some of the NFL's most shocking performances. If you're reading this in search of lineup advice for Week 18, I first want to say that I'm sorry your commissioner has your league playing in Week 18. If you're here because you're playing DFS this week or […]


Dylan Sampson - Fantasy Football Rankings, Draft Sleepers, NFL Rookies

Dylan Sampson, Raheim Sanders, Michael Carter: Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em Picks for Fantasy Football Week 17

Cleveland Browns running backs Dylan Sampson (hand) and Raheim Sanders will have more opportunities to touch the football in Week 17. The Browns starting RB, Quinshon Judkins (leg, ankle) is out for the season after suffering a gruesome leg injury in Week 16. Arizona Cardinals running back Michael Carter also stands to benefit workload-wise since […]


Kenneth Gainwell - Fantasy Football Rankings, Waiver Wire Sleepers

Kenneth Gainwell, Tony Pollard, Jaylen Warren: Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em Picks for Fantasy Football Week 17

The running back position is quite interesting in championship week. Any starting RB as well as a handful of RB2s should be considered for starting lineups. Even the "lower-tier" starting RBs can be quite valuable for fantasy teams. We just saw Tennessee Titans running back Tony Pollard, who was one of the biggest draft busts […]


Jakobi Meyers - Fantasy Football Rankings, Draft Sleepers, NFL Injury News

Parker Washington, Wan'Dale Robinson, Jakobi Meyers: Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em Picks for Fantasy Football Week 17

Week 17 is coming up. Whether you're fighting for your fantasy football league championship, hoping to get some winnings from placing highly, or just trying to avoid being the toilet bowl loser, finding who to start at wide receiver is always important. Many WRs, like Tampa Bay Buccaneers wideout Emeka Egbuka, have been tough to […]


Quentin Johnston - Fantasy Football Rankings, Draft Sleepers, NFL DFS Lineup Picks

Fact or Fiction: Fantasy Football Outlooks for Ashton Jeanty, Jaylen Warren, Parker Washington, Quentin Johnston, A.J. Barner

Welcome back to Fact or Fiction, RotoBaller's weekly look at some of the NFL's most shocking performances. For most of you, this is it: the Super Bowl of fantasy football. Championship week is here, so only one thing matters: winning your fantasy football game. With that in mind, there's no looking ahead this week. There's no […]




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REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Brandon Woodruff

Making Cactus League Debut on Saturday
Zack Wheeler

Feels "Strong" After Throwing on Saturday
Carlos Correa

to Play Shortstop on Monday
Gavin Williams

has Another Good Spring Outing
Christian Vázquez

Astros Sign Christian Vazquez to Minor-League Deal
Byron Buxton

Leaves WBC Game After Being Hit by a Pitch on his Elbow
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Hitting Off a Tee
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Right-Field Job is Carson Benge's to Lose?
Andrei Kuzmenko

Done for Regular Season
Josh Morrissey

Activated From Injured Reserve
Jiri Kulich

Unlikely to Return This Season
Shayne Gostisbehere

Exits Early Friday
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Suffers Lower-Body Injury Friday
Dylan Larkin

Not Expected to Be Out Long-Term
Evgeni Malkin

Suspended for Five Games
Maxx Crosby

Traded to Baltimore in Blockbuster Deal
Deni Avdija

to Miss Seventh Straight Game
Brandon Williams

is Returning on Friday
Klay Thompson

is Upgraded to Available on Friday
Amen Thompson

is Available on Friday
Daniel Gafford

Won't Play on Friday
Andrew Wiggins

is Downgraded to Out
Deandre Ayton

is Ruled Out for Friday's Game
LeBron James

Won't Suit Up on Friday
Mattias Janmark

Undergoes Season-Ending Surgery
Dalton Schultz

Texans, Dalton Schultz Agree on One-Year Extension
John Gibson

Starting Against Panthers
Roope Hintz

Available Against Avalanche
Sidney Crosby

Rejoins Practice Friday
Bobby McMann

Traded to Seattle
Justin Faulk

Lands in Detroit
Nazem Kadri

Avalanche Bring Back Nazem Kadri
Joe Mixon

Texans Release Joe Mixon
Harrison Barnes

is Ruled Out for Friday
Quinn Priester

Brewers Concerned About Quinn Priester's Wrist Injury
Dejounte Murray

is Cleared for Friday's Game
VJ Edgecombe

Misses Friday's Practice
Corbin Carroll

Taking Live At-Bats in Camp
Joel Embiid

to be Re-Evaluated in One Week
Yanic Konan Niederhauser

to Undergo Foot Surgery
Jayson Tatum

is Officially Returning on Friday
Brayden Schenn

Islanders Trade for Brayden Schenn
Elmer Soderblom

Penguins Acquire Elmer Soderblom
Ricky Tiedemann

Could Resume Throwing Soon
Jackson Chourio

"Fine" After Suffering Hand Contusion
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Blue Jays "Still View" Trey Yesavage as a Starter
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A Favorite At UFC 326
Charles Oliveira

Set For BMF Title Fight
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Raiders Prefer Not to Start Fernando Mendoza Immediately?
Reinier de Ridder

Reinier De Ridder Looks To Bounce Back
Caio Borralho

Set For UFC 326 Co-Main Event
Rob Font

Looks To Get Back In The Win Column
Clarke Schmidt

Ditching New Sweeper Grip
Raul Rosas Jr.

Looks For His Fifth Consecutive Win
J.J. Wetherholt

Is JJ Wetherholt Already the Best Cardinals Hitter?
Corey Perry

Lightning Acquire Corey Perry
Drew Dober

Returns At UFC 326
Michael Johnson

Looks To Extend His Win Streak
Rafael Devers

Could Return to Game Action Next Week
Nick Foligno

Wild Acquire Nick Foligno
Bobby Brink

Wild Acquire Bobby Brink
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Raiders Release Geno Smith
Josue Briceño

Josue Briceno has Wrist Surgery, Expected to Miss Multiple Months
Jeremy Peña

Jeremy Pena Hopes to be Ready for Opening Day
Jackson Chourio

Won't Play in WBC on Friday
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Scratched With Neck Injury
Brandon Woodruff

is a Risky Draft Choice
Nic Dowd

Golden Knights Acquire Nic Dowd
Jeff Petry

Traded to Wild
Grant Williams

Good to Go Friday
Ivica Zubac

to Remain Out Friday
Aaron Nesmith

Listed as Probable for Friday
Danielle Hunter

Texans, Danielle Hunter Agree to One-Year, $40.1 Million Extension
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Available Thursday Night
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Cleared to Take on Kings
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Expected to Play Against Lakers Friday
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Probable for Friday's Action
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Bears Working to Finalize Deal to Send DJ Moore to Buffalo
Stefon Diggs

Patriots Releasing Stefon Diggs
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Chiefs Sending Trent McDuffie to Rams in Blockbuster Deal
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Brings Solid Form to Bay Hill
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the Tournament Favorite at Bay Hill
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Trending Well Ahead of API
Si Woo Kim

Looking to Return to Top Form at Bay Hill
Ben Griffin

Looking to Return to Form at Arnold Palmer Invitational
PGA

Nico Echavarria Looks to Build on Cognizant Classic Win at Arnold Palmer
Sam Burns

Searching for Consistency at Arnold Palmer Invitational
Daniel Berger

Offers Sneaky Upside at Bay Hill
Justin Thomas

Making Season Debut at API Following Lower-Back Surgery
NASCAR

Collin Morikawa Hopes To Better Last Year's Runner-Up Finish at API
Tommy Fleetwood

Isn't As Confident of a Start at Bay Hill as Previous Weeks
Kyler Murray

Will be Released
Trey Hendrickson

Bengals Not Using the Franchise Tag on Trey Hendrickson
Daniel Jones

Colts Place Transition Tag on Daniel Jones
Adam Scott

Might Endure Tough Times at Bay Hill
Aldrich Potgieter

Extremely Risky When it Comes to Bay Hill
PGA

Sungjae Im to Make Season Debut at Arnold Palmer Invitational
Jordan Spieth

an All-or-Nothing Option at Bay Hill
Harry Hall

Trying to Rebound After the Genesis Invitational
Ryan Gerard

Needs Better Start at Bay Hill
Kenneth Walker III

Won't Get the Franchise Tag
Patrick Cantlay

Still Plagued by Bad Putting Ahead of Arnold Palmer Invititational
Daniel Jones

Colts Expected to Use Transition Tag on Daniel Jones
Breece Hall

Jets Placing Franchise Tag on Breece Hall
CFB

Mark Stoops Joining Texas Coaching Staff
Jason Day

Attempts to Bounce Back from The Genesis Invitational
Jacob Bridgeman

Rolling into Arnold Palmer Invitational
Russell Henley

Looks to Defend Title at the Arnold Palmer Invitational
Khalil Mack

Will Play in 2026
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Lone'er Kavanagh Gets Back In The Win Column
Brandon Moreno

Gets Outclassed
Marlon Vera

Loses Fourth Fight In A Row
Daniel Jones

Colts Have "50/50" Chance to Get a Deal Done With Daniel Jones
David Martinez

Remains Undefeated In The UFC
Daniel Zellhuber

Loses Third Consecutive Fight
King Green

Gets Second-Round TKO Win
Felipe Bunes

Drops Decision At UFC Mexico City
Édgar Cháirez

Edgar Chairez Wins Back-To-Back Fights
Ryan Blaney

Falls to Eighth Despite Running Most of the Race in the Top Five At COTA
Ty Gibbs

Wins A Stage and Finishes Fourth At COTA
Christopher Bell

Earns First Top-Five Finish of the 2026 Season at COTA
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"Repeatedly" Linked to Jets
Shane Van Gisbergen

Falls Short of Victory At COTA
Tyler Reddick

Wins At COTA and Makes NASCAR History
David Montgomery

Texans Acquire David Montgomery From Lions
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