Here we are! The best playoffs in the world. Set your Daily Fantasy lineups, sit back, relax and enjoy. Here is a rundown and preview of Sunday’s slate, as well as my favorite plays.
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Schedule and Odds
- PHI @ TB (TB -8.5) O/U: 45.5
- SF @ DAL (DAL -3) O/U: 51
- PIT @ KC (KC -12.5) O/U: 46
Injury Report
- PHI
- Josh Sweat (Illness) QUESTIONABLE
- Nate Herbig (Ankle) QUESTIONABLE
- TB
- Cyril Grayson (Hamstring) OUT
- Ronald Jones (Ankle) OUT
- Sean Murphy-Bunting (Hamstring) QUESTIONABLE
- Carlton Davis III (Back) QUESTIONABLE
- Justin Watson (Quad) QUESTIONABLE
- SF
- Azeez Al-Shaair (Knee) QUESTIONABLE
- Marcell Harris (Achilles) QUESTIONABLE
- Talanoa Hufanga (Knee) QUESTIONABLE
- Mitch Wishnowsky (Concussion) QUESTIONABLE
- DAL
- Keanu Neal (Chest, Elbow) OUT
- PIT
- Najee Harris (Elbow) QUESTIONABLE
- KC
- Clyde Edwards-Helaire (Shoulder) QUESTIONABLE
- Darrel Williams (Toe) QUESTIONABLE
Core Plays
- Patrick Mahomes (QB – KC) – $8,700
- I’d pay nearly any price for Mahomes here. With Edward-Helaire banged up the gameplay is clear as day: let the expert go to work. After how the Super Bowl went down, I fully expect Mahomes to play with a chip on his shoulder. Travis Kelce and Tyreek Hill are healthy, so don’t think twice about starting Mahomes.
- Elijah Mitchell (RB – SF) – $7,400
- A true workhorse running back is hard to find in Sunday’s slate of games. I think Mitchell is the closest to that, and in a game projected to be high-scoring and close, I’ll happily take the RB1 on a team that made a Super Bowl not too long ago relying on defense and their run game.
- Tyler Johnson (WR – TB) – $5,100
- $5,100 is an insanely low number for someone who could be Tom Brady‘s WR2 on Sunday. He’s earned high snap counts through the last five weeks of the regular season and his target share (13 in weeks 17-18) is nothing to scoff at. With much of the Eagles’ defensive attention likely headed towards Mike Evans and Rob Gronkowski, Johnson represents a pretty high floor.
Cash Game Considerations
- Tom Brady (QB – KC) – $8,400
- Brady’s floor is incredibly high. With their top three RBs out, the Bucs will have no problem letting Brady throw the ball as often as he’d like (like they need an excuse to do that?).
- Travis Kelce (TE – KC) – $7,500
- A top-flight TE performance can be what pushes your squad into money territory. I have no qualms taking the perennial scoring machine and target hog in the Chiefs’ first playoff game following a bitter Super Bowl loss. Kelce will get his, regardless of what the defense throws at the Chiefs.
- Diontae Johnson (WR – PIT) – $7,200
- Johnson finished a game with fewer than nine targets only three times this season. That’s incredible consistency for someone who’s playing with a quarterback many are calling over the hill. Well, this might be the spot where an “Over the hill,” QB shines. Ben Roethlisberger has been here many times before and will surely be throwing the ball with Najee Harris banged up.
GPP Targets
- Rob Gronkowski (TE – TB) – $7,400
- Gronkowski, as he’s shown many times, is a candidate to score seemingly infinite touchdowns in a game. As long as a team led by Tom Brady has the ball in the red zone, it’s only a matter of time before Gronk’s targeted. He’s gone quiet before, but against the Eagles, a below-average team at covering opposing TEs, a signature Gronk game could be in the works.
- Chase Claypool (WR – PIT) – $5,900
- Claypool definitely let fantasy managers down this year, but if Ben Roethlisberger plays above his ticket price, Claypool will be a beneficiary. We’ve seen flashes of Claypool’s potential, with acrobatic catches and nine-reception games, but it was never consistent. If there’s ever a time to dial up the intensity it’s in a playoff game. With Claypool’s size and skillset, there’s potential for a deluge of big plays.
- Tony Pollard (RB – DAL) – $5,700
- This play is definitely a boom-bust GPP play. The Cowboys could lean on Ezekiel Elliott for a proven, veteran presence at the RB spot. However, Pollard has shown explosiveness throughout the season and if he gets cooking early, the Cowboys have no problem making this backfield a true timeshare.
Value Plays
- Ben Roethlisberger (QB – PIT) – $6,400
- Roethlisberger is the cheapest starting quarterback option Sunday and it’s potentially justifiable given the stacked QB slate we’re expecting. However, his matchup screams value. First of all, the Chiefs surrendered the sixth-most passing yards this season. Secondly, Najee Harris is banged up so the likelihood he’s a workhorse on the ground is low. After all, it could be Big Ben’s last playoff run, there’s no doubt he’ll have a long leash to throw the ball and see what he can do.
- Le’Veon Bell (RB – TB) – $5,000
- With Leonard Fournette, Ronald Jones, and Giovani Bernard out, the Tampa Bay backfield is squarely in the hands (or feet?) of Ke’Shawn Vaughn, Le’Veon Bell and Kenjon Barner. While Vaughn edged Bell in snaps in week 18 (45% to 38%) there’s a chance the Bucs decide to lean on the veteran in a playoff game. If the Bucs take a lead, which they’re expected to, they’ll likely be looking for veteran reliability and ball security from whoever is taking carries.
- Jalen Reagor (WR – PHI) – $4,900
- Don’t get me wrong, Jalen Reagor’s regular season was remarkably disappointing. I’m not even making the argument he looks great but just isn’t being targeted or something like that. However, he’s on the field. Reagor played 91% of offensive snaps in Week 18. On Sunday, the Eagles should be throwing the football. Whether it’s because they’re playing from behind or because the Buccaneers’ pass defense has been relatively pedestrian, the ball will be thrown a healthy amount. Reagor will be on the field and, after all, this is a value play section.
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TJ Horgan is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from TJ, check out his archive and follow him @tjhorgantv.