And then there were four. Four teams are competing for their shot at a Super Bowl appearance this weekend, with two highly anticipated games on the slate. Without further ado, this is our second-to-last DFS slate of the NFL season, so let’s make it count!
FanDuel’s pricing is a bit tight for this slate, but we think we were able to find some value plays at WR that allow us to pay up at WB, RB, and TE.
QB: Patrick Mahomes ($8,500)
We must start this DFS lineup off right, and we would be remiss to not include Patrick Mahomes as the quarterback of this roster. Even though he is currently suffering from a high-ankle sprain, the reporting from Chiefs camp has been overwhelmingly positive for Mahomes heading into this weekend. There’s a reason he is known as a magician, and Mahomes’ 24.75 points per game paired with his propensity to have huge games in the playoffs is just the tip of the iceberg. You won’t regret starting Mahomes this week.
RB: Jerick McKinnon ($6,500) & Miles Sanders ($6,200)
Jerick McKinnon has lived up to his nickname. “Jet,” as he is commonly referred to, has turned into a key contributor for the Chiefs this season. McKinnon presents a boom upside to your lineup this week, given his three performances with 20 or more points. The Chiefs have been relying on McKinnon for both rushing and passing downs, and we are also trusting him in our DFS lineup this week.
Like McKinnon, Miles Sanders has been a reliable piece of the Eagles’ offense. Last week against the New York Giants, the Eagles ran for over 200 yards, and they will look to replicate that success this week against the San Francisco 49ers. We’re expecting the Eagles to establish the run early in this game, making it the perfect time for Sanders to shine.
WR: Kedarius Toney ($5,600), Trenton Irwin ($4,700), and Brandon Aiyuk ($6,000)
We decided to spend a bit less at receiver this week, given our massive spend at tight end and flex. Just because we spent less certainly does not mean that these are bad plays, though!
Going Chiefs-heavy on this roster was certainly strategic. We are expecting the AFC Championship to be high-scoring, and Kadarius Toney should be a big part of that. Although Toney has just three games in double-digits this season, the Bengals are allowing 26.8 points to opposing wide receivers on the season. Toney’s shifty play style could stifle the Bengals’ defense, resulting in a few high-yardage plays.
Trenton Irwin might not be a household name across the NFL, but he is certainly a valuable player to the Bengals organization. Irwin has just two games with double digits this season, but that shouldn’t necessarily be a concern. The Bengals have shown confidence in Irwin’s abilities, and if the Chiefs offense locks down Tee Higgins and Ja’Marr Chase, they could look for Irwin to come up with a monster performance in a big spot.
Brandon Aiyuk is due. Prior to his last three games, Aiyuk had performances of 22.2, 10.6, and 12.7 points. His last three games, however, he has yet to eclipse nine points. Brock Purdy has shown a propensity to heavily target Aiyuk, and if George Kittle is tightly covered, Aiyuk will have to shine in the biggest game of the year.
TE: Travis Kelce ($8,500)
Travis Kelce continues to impress with no signs of slowing down. He is coming off a 17-target, 14 reception game. It looks like nobody in the league can stop him, and we simply have to play him in DFS lineups this week. Trust Kelce’s big playmaking abilities to provide immense value, even though he is one of the most expensive players on the slate.
FLEX: Christian McCaffrey ($9,000)
Speaking of the most-expensive players on the slate, here comes Christian McCaffrey. McCaffrey has not only scored touchdowns in eight straight games, but he continues to torch opposing defenses. In his last ten games, McCaffrey has put up over 20 or more points on five separate occasions. Although the Eagles defense is one of the league’s best, we still like McCaffrey’s chances of another big game.
DEFENSE: Philadelphia Eagles ($4,600)
The Eagles have an incredible defense on the year, but the reason that we’re picking them this week is more about their matchup. 49ers’ quarterback, Brock Purdy, has yet to look like a rookie. However, in the past several weeks, Purdy has gotten incredibly lucky, as opposing defenders have dropped passes that should have been picked off. The Eagles’ opportunistic defense won’t let that fly.
