NFL … Playoffs
With six games spread out over three days there’s plenty of action that you can get involved with this weekend but the best way to play DFS in my mind is the six game full weekend slate that is available both on DraftKings and FanDuel
And if you say “but the contests suck”, well, you are wrong. They are not what the other slates are for sure, but you can still find some good contests — in fact, I would argue that playing smaller contests that still payout five figures up top is a better route than the donkey contests on Sat and Sun only slates.
So I am going to write things up including all six games and if you want to cherry pick the plays for Sat / Sun then do that obviously.
THE AMBUSH PLAY
Joe Burrow … You gotta like where the Bengals are at right now. Relatively healthy and well rested having not traveled since Christmas they are primed to come out these first two rounds on fire, which has Burrow as one of my top playoff league QB picks and favorite DFS play this weekend.
ALSO LIKE
Daniel Jones … Although I do back the Vikings this weekend, there’s a strong chance which Daniel Jones at his low $5600 price on DraftKings is the logical option to build through
THE AMBUSH PLAYS
Travis Etienne … I went back and forth all week on this game and then I found a comp for it in my head. That comp had the home team RB scoring 2 touchdowns with a 140 yard day, so here we are.
Dalvin Cook … Vikings win this week and then go to San Francisco for an EPIC divisional round game where Justin Jefferson will have 283 yards receiving. This week is the Dalvin Cook and defense show.
ALSO LIKE
Austin Ekeler … Kinda shocked to see Ekeler not rank higher on projected ownership for the six game slate, but no complaints from me. I do believe the Mike Williams injury is a significant issue for the Chargers and where it should really show up is in the red zone. This brings the upside that Ekeler could have 2 TD (one rushing and one receiving) into play for me.
Christian McCaffrey … Price is the only limitation. He’ll be my FLEX (3rd RB) on the Saturday only slate and has a very realistic chance of hitting a safe floor around 120 all purpose yards and a touchdown.
THE AMBUSH PLAYS
JaMarr Chase … Higgins is also a full go and also a great pick, but I want the star early in the playoffs and that star is no doubt JaMarr Chase.
Chris Godwin … Recently the Cowboys secondary hasn’t been stout at defending WR, and especially #2 WR. Look for that to continue as Godwin can get lots of catch and run action over the middle because Brady is not going to be able to throw it deep on MNF.
Darius Slayton … Slayton was considered by many, including me, to be a must own vs the Vikings on Christmas Eve when they met, and he should be considered that here again.
ALSO LIKE
The Also like for WR this week is a little challenging because I want to throw out some Showdown/Short Slate options as well which you will need.
Deebo Samuel … Remember him? Last years ‘oh my god, this guy is a must own every week’ had a rough season from the start with rumors of wanting to be traded and then injuries and now just too many other mouths to feed. If Shanny isn’t a moron, he’ll get Deebo some good goal line touches to get him into the end zone. Love his anytime TD prop more than him in DFS but on Sat Only it’s viable.
Chargers/Jags … There’s a ton of mouths in the LAC/JAX game obviously and as you saw above, I lean on the RB as lead options in that game but certainly in a game stack I would anticipate that Zay Jones ($4300) and Josh Palmer ($5300) could be nice add ins.
Jaylen Waddle … If we polled 100 people and said what is the most unlikely thing this weekend I think all of them would say Miami beating Buffalo (or Seattle beating San Francisco). People are usually wrong, but in this case, they might be right just with a long sweat that includes Waddle taking end arounds to the house.
Isiah McKenzie … Went 7-76 in their first meeting and is questionable here. Upgrade Gabe Davis value on the six game slate if he is out.
THE AMBUSH PLAY
George Kittle … Seattle is the worst team vs TE and Kittle has been living like Charlie Kolar ever since Brock Purdy took over at QB. That’s an ole CFB DFS reference for those of us who remember the Purdy to Kolar connection at Iowa State.
Dalton Schultz … Love me some Monday Night Schultz. Tampa’s LB will be busy with Pollard out of the backfield and Schultz should be open down the middle for a 17 yard catch and run all game.
ALSO LIKE
TJ Hockenson
Hayden Hurst
THE AMBUSH PLAY
San Francisco, Buffalo and Cincinnati … Lots of reason to like all three of these. This is a rough weekend because you can just smell the D/ST touchdowns coming a mile away and I have nothing bad to say about these 3 other than Buffalo & Cincinnati might not be able to pass rush as much as San Francisco, so the 49ers get the lead nod for me.
ALSO LIKE
Buccaneers … Best among the ‘cheap’ options
AMBUSH Same Game Parlays
A little new feature for the playoffs as this is a better way to get some action on each game … For ‘touting’ purposes I will keep it to just 4 picks per game. A spread, a total, a prop and an anytime TD pick.
I would recommend that if you are more of a cash/SE player, you leave off the anytime TD play. If you are a GPP person then add in the anytime TD pick on your SGP.
Seattle at San Francisco (-10) … Lay the 10 with the Niners, but prefer to tease this one down to -4 with another game. I expect Deebo Samuel and either CMC/Kittle to get into the box for San Francisco, and they wind up putting up 31 points all total and win this one comfortably 31-17.
Same Game Parlay (+575)
- San Francisco -9.5
- Over 42.5
- Christian McCaffrey over 59.5 Rushing Yards
- Deebo Samuel Anytime TD
LA Chargers (-1.5) at Jacksonville … Ask me again Saturday night but right now I am back on the Jaguars to win this game. Lawrence plays well, Etienne shines and the Jaguars win 27-23.
Same Game Parlay (+675)
- Jaguars ML
- Over 40.5
- Austin Ekeler over 44.5 rushing yards
- Travis Etienne Anytime TD
Miami at Buffalo (-13.5) … Buffalo wins, but not the way you all expect them too. Stay away from this game unless you want to ride unders.
NY Giants at Minnesota (-3.5) … Ahh, that hook is a major trap for those taking the Giants. Vikings are going to win.
Same Game Parlay (+310)
- Vikings -3.5
- Vikings OVER 20.5 total points
- Dalvin Cook OVER 64.5 rushing yards
- Dalvin Cook Anytime TD
Ravens at Bengals (-9.5) … Bengals, Bengals, Bengals…. Ravens end ugly and go into an off-season questioning the direction of the team with Lamar’s contract status up in the air.
Same Game Parlay (+900)
- Bengals -9.5
- Bengals OVER 27.5 Total Points
- Joe Burrow 3+ Passing Touchdowns
- JaMarr Chase 2+ Touchdowns
Cowboys (-2.5) at Buccaneers … And last but not least, the team I said wasn’t good all year and would miss the playoffs gets the perfect spot to win. These teams who have bad/losing records and win their division typically play well in the wild card game they get at home and I believe Tampa does that here tonight. Gut says Bucs win, heart says Bucs dont win.
Same Game Parlay (+900)
- Buccaneers +7.5
- Under 54.5
- Chris Godwin OVER 54.5 receiving yards
- Dalton Schultz Anytime Touchdown
CORE BUILD
Joe Burrow
Travis Etienne
Darius Slayton
Dalton Schultz