NFL Wildcard Weekend is upon us so let’s get right our DFS Sunday Main Slate Preview. In creating a successful lineup, we research and find positional values to see where you can save money and players with projected low ownership who can pay 2x-2.5x of their listed DFS salary. The quarterback position is crucial within our lineup construction, we need a player that will give us the potential for a minimum of 20 points. The next big decision you have to make is whether or not you want to pay up a tight end, many players wish for some consistency, if that exists, at this position.
These recommendations are designed to provide a nucleus to build your lineups around that have the potential to be less owned, have good value, and help you create a unique DFS build. We strive for a lineup different from the masses, most likely made with an optimizer. Sunday’s main slate contests include three games, which provides us a better opportunity than Saturday to be differentiated from the masses. The fantasy point-per-game averages referenced are those across FanDuel scoring rules.
Please note that the Commanders-Buccaneers game is only available in the FanDuel Sunday main slate contests.
DFS Quarterback
Josh Allen ($8.2k DraftKings and $8.9k Fanduel)
We consider this the most important position in our DFS builds, so we are not messing around. Let us pay up, roster the best quarterback, and build around him. Josh Allen is the odds-on favorite for the league MVP, finished as the overall QB2, and was the third-highest overall scorer in fantasy.
The Bills quarterback has scored a minimum of 20 fantasy points in 10 of his last 11 starts. In his last five home games, he has averaged 22.32 points per game. The match-up versus the Broncos is decent, as Denver is top ten in fantasy points allowed to the position but just 19th against the pass. Allen’s rushing prowess provides us with a nice floor and enough touchdown equity.
Additional Options: Bo Nix, Jayden Daniels
DFS Running Back
Saquon Barkley ($8.5k DraftKings and $9.6k Fanduel)
You will not normally see us pay up at running back but we want to save salary at our RB2 spot and roster Saquon Barkley. As they say, start your studs and we are doing just that. Barkley, much the same as Allen mentioned earlier, is a top fantasy performer both overall and in his position. The usage rate for the Eagles running back is worth the DFS price tag. In his last seven regular season games, he averaged nearly 25 rush attempts and 27 touches with 7 touchdowns.
We also feel with Jalen Hurts coming off the concussion, he may see an even more increased rushing share to protect him from further hits. The Eagles, since week 10, are top five in rush rate so fire up Barkley in your DFS wildcard builds.
Additional Options: Bucky Irving, Jaleel McLaughlin
DFS Wide Receiver
Dontayvion Wicks ($4.5k DraftKings and $5.4k Fanduel)
This recommendation comes with obvious risk but with Christian Watson declared out, Dontayvion Wicks now becomes the Packer’s most likely deep ball threat. Wick’s price tag is very low and if he scores, he will smash his DFS salary. Teams have been attacking the Eagles’ secondary via the slot, which is where Wicks mostly resides. We think most lineups will roster Romeo Doubs over Wicks, but the data shows Wicks with a higher slot snap rate.
The Packers young receiver has seen at least 5 targets in five of his last six games and that should increase without the presence of Watson. Green Bay is a near-touchdown underdog in this game, forecasting us to have a negative game script in our favor. If you are too skittish to use Wicks in your builds, pay the salary bump and roster Jayden Reed.
Additional Options: Keon Coleman, Jaylen McMillan, Courtland Sutton, DeVonta Smith
DFS Tight End
Zach Ertz ($4.3k DraftKings/Fanduel)
We decided to pay down at tight end as well in Zach Ertz, but that being said, we get exposure to Jayden Daniels. Ertz finished the season as the overall TE7 and continues to see a steady diet of targets. He has seen 5 or more targets in six of his last eight games. The matchup is stellar, as the Buccaneers rank 29th in pass defense and 28th in fantasy points allowed to tight ends. Finally, the veteran tight end has been steady of late, scoring 12 or more fantasy points in five of his last seven games. Perhaps most importantly, he allows us to roster both Allen and Barkley in our builds.
Additional Options: Cade Otton, Dalton Kincaid
Defense/Special Teams
Green Bay Packers ($2.6k DraftKings and $3.7k Fanduel)
All the defenses on the Sunday Main Slate have below-average match-ups as it relates to points allowed to fantasy defenses. However, that pairs well with our philosophy of paying down at defense. The top defense for us based on salary and rating is Green Bay. The Packers finished as the overall DST3 this season, tied for third in interceptions, and were top 10 in sacks. Rostering them allows us to use the cheapest defense on the slate and yet still have the potential for a decent fantasy output.
DFS Tournament Stacks
Josh Allen-James Cook-Keon Coleman/Bo Nix-Courtland Sutton-Jaleel McLaughlin/Jayden Daniels-Austin Ekeler-Zach Ertz
Conclusion
If we spent up at certain positional recommendations, we listed value plays for you to help balance your roster builds. The pay line for FanDuel tends to be approximately 125 points, which equates to 2x per player. For example, a player with a $4500 salary needs 9 points. DraftKings pay line is approximately 134 points, which is 2.5x per player. So, for a $4500 salary, that player would need 9.9 points.
Again, we try to find player options projected for low ownership. Good luck with your DFS builds, please like and follow us on social media and check back for updated recommendations before Sunday’s kickoff.
