The 2022 NFL season is winding down but it still has two monster games to offer up before Super Bowl LVII. Cincinnati will travel to GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in a 2021 AFC Championship rematch against Kansas City and MVP favorite Patrick Mahomes (QB – Chiefs), while rookie quarterback Brock Purdy (QB – 49ers) and the San Francisco 49ers will travel across the country to face the NFC’s top-seeded team, the Philadelphia Eagles, led by third-year quarterback Jalen Hurts (QB – Eagles). Hurts was briefly the MVP betting favorite prior to missing two games in Week 16 and 17 due to a shoulder sprain sustained during his three rushing touchdown performance against the Chicago Bears. Purdy will leave the comfort of Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara and make his way into a hostile environment in front of Eagles fans, who will be feverishly cheering on their team to a second Super Bowl appearance since winning it all with Nick Foles (QB – Colts) and former head coach Doug Pederson back in 2017.
The game of the weekend will feature Joe Burrow (QB – Bengals) and Patrick Mahomes duking it out to close out Sunday’s Championship slate. Burrow is 3-0 against the Chiefs across the last two seasons, but the Bengals’ defense is the unsung hero, holding opponents under 20 points for four consecutive games and showing why they were able to nearly pull off the upset in Super Bowl LVI against the Los Angeles Rams. It was the sole reason why the Bengals were able to crawl back into the game in the second half of last year’s AFC Championship game, holding Mahomes’ high-octane offense to three points in the second half and overtime. This time around, Mahomes will be dealing with a high ankle sprain that he suffered on a gruesome tackle against Jacksonville in the AFC Divisional Round. Cincinnati has all of the momentum and confidence in the world after routing Buffalo on the road 27-10 in the Divisional Round after struggling to beat Tyler Huntley (QB – Ravens) and the Baltimore Ravens in the Wild Card Round.
The 2022 NFL season is winding down but it still has two monster games to offer up before Super Bowl LVII. Cincinnati will travel to GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in a 2021 AFC Championship rematch against Kansas City and MVP favorite Patrick Mahomes (QB – Chiefs), while rookie quarterback Brock Purdy (QB – 49ers) and the San Francisco 49ers will travel across the country to face the NFC’s top-seeded team, the Philadelphia Eagles, led by third-year quarterback Jalen Hurts (QB – Eagles). Hurts was briefly the MVP betting favorite prior to missing two games in Week 16 and 17 due to a shoulder sprain sustained during his three rushing touchdown performance against the Chicago Bears. Purdy will leave the comfort of Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara and make his way into a hostile environment in front of Eagles fans, who will be feverishly cheering on their team to a second Super Bowl appearance since winning it all with Nick Foles (QB – Colts) and former head coach Doug Pederson back in 2017.
The game of the weekend will feature Joe Burrow (QB – Bengals) and Patrick Mahomes duking it out to close out Sunday’s Championship slate. Burrow is 3-0 against the Chiefs across the last two seasons, but the Bengals’ defense is the unsung hero, holding opponents under 20 points for four consecutive games and showing why they were able to nearly pull off the upset in Super Bowl LVI against the Los Angeles Rams. It was the sole reason why the Bengals were able to crawl back into the game in the second half of last year’s AFC Championship game, holding Mahomes’ high-octane offense to three points in the second half and overtime. This time around, Mahomes will be dealing with a high ankle sprain that he suffered on a gruesome tackle against Jacksonville in the AFC Divisional Round. Cincinnati has all of the momentum and confidence in the world after routing Buffalo on the road 27-10 in the Divisional Round after struggling to beat Tyler Huntley (QB – Ravens) and the Baltimore Ravens in the Wild Card Round.
The DFS slate is lighter now with only four teams remaining, so I’ve eliminated my typical honorable mention pivots that tend to be cheaper when there are more games being played. It just means we have to maximize the upside that is available, going for blue-chip prospects such as Ja’Marr Chase (WR – Bengals) and Travis Kelce (TE – Chiefs), while taking some risk on more volatile players such as Isiah Pacheco (RB – Chiefs) and Tyler Boyd (WR – Bengals). Let’s get right into my favorite DFS players to target when constructing lineups on DraftKings and FanDuel ahead of these two highly anticipated matchups on Sunday afternoon. After all, few things are better than cashing a contest and watching the best football players in the world compete for a trip to the Super Bowl.
Quarterbacks
DraftKings
DraftKings maximum salary is set at $50,000
Joe Burrow (QB – Bengals): $6,800
Cincinnati has a top-tier wide receiving corps that allows Joe Burrow to elevate his game. It helps that the Chiefs’ pass defense has been vulnerable throughout the season, although it has improved down the stretch against lesser opponents. Kansas City allowed the fourth-highest DK points to opposing quarterbacks on DraftKings, allowing 21.3 points per game. Burrow averaged 23.8 DK points per game, including a 30 point outing against the Chiefs back in Week 13, totaling three touchdowns and 286 passing yards. We’re getting Burrow at a solid value in a plus-matchup, so insert him into lineups with the utmost confidence.
FanDuel
FanDuel maximum salary is set at $60,000
Jalen Hurts (QB – Eagles): $9,200
We saw Jalen Hurts do it all for Philadelphia this season, averaging 25.6 points per game on FanDuel. The former MVP frontrunner showed us that he’s far from finished in a 38-7 rout of the New York Giants in just his second career playoff games. The 49ers are arguably the best defense remaining in the playoffs but they have been gashed against the pass this season, so expect Hurts to keep it dialed up with one of the best receiving tandems in the league comprised of A.J. Brown (WR – Eagles) and DeVonta Smith (WR – Eagles). 11 of Hurts’ 15 regular season games produced at least 20 FD points, so pay up to acquire the dual-threat quarterback with an arsenal of weapons at his disposal at home against a mediocre San Francisco pass defense.
Running Backs
DraftKings
Joe Mixon (RB – Bengals): $6,500
The Bengals stuck to establishing the run against Buffalo after a quick 14-0 lead was built in the first quarter. Joe Mixon didn’t have consistently great performances but he saved one of them for the biggest stage in the Divisional Round, ripping off 20 carries for 105 rushing yards and a touchdown to seal the win on the road. Mixon will likely continue to be fed as a ball carrier and receiver against the Chiefs on Sunday, as Kansas City ranked 13th in most running back fantasy points allowed per game in the regular season. The Jaguars just hung 144 rushing yards on the Chiefs, so Mixon should be in line for another big workload to produce a lot of points in DraftKings lineups.
FanDuel
Jerick McKinnon (RB – Chiefs): $6,500
I’m opting to go with Kansas City’s more explosive receiving threat out of the backfield by investing in veteran running back Jerick McKinnon. His touchdown streak came to an end against Jacksonville after racking up nine touchdowns in the final six games of the regular season but McKinnon is the X-factor in Andy Reid’s exotic, creative play calling schemes. Especially with Mahomes likely not playing at 100 percent after his high ankle sprain, expect a lot of quick passes dialed up for the shifty dual-threat running back against a tough Cincinnati defense. I like McKinnon’s red zone usage and home-run ability at $6.5K on FanDuel.
Wide Receivers
DraftKings
Ja’Marr Chase (WR – Bengals): $7,600
Second-year star wideout Ja’Marr Chase is the king of making big plays in the biggest moments. Arguably the overall WR1, even above former LSU teammate Justin Jefferson (WR – Vikings), Chase has scored at least one touchdown against the Chiefs in each of their previous three games, including a crucial equalizer in the 2021 AFC Championship game. He’s scored the first touchdown of the game in each of his previous playoff matchups this postseason and has scored five touchdowns in his last six outings. Chase is worth every penny of your salary to acquire in as many lineups as possible against a Kansas City pass defense that remains a liability against top-tier wideouts.
FanDuel
Kadarius Toney (WR – Chiefs): $5,600
I’m digging into the value here by recommending Kadarius Toney. He came within a yard of scoring a touchdown for the Chiefs last weekend and is used on a lot of jet motion sweeps, while drawing seven targets against the Jaguars. He turned these opportunities into a modest 5-36 stat line, but his usage in the red zone and as a big-play receiver makes me want to invest in his upside despite playing in a tough matchup against an underrated Cincinnati secondary. At $5.6K on FanDuel, Toney is a massive value and could wind up making a couple of big plays to flip momentum in Kansas City’s favor throughout the AFC Championship game.
Tight Ends
DraftKings
George Kittle (TE – 49ers): $5,200
We watched George Kittle haul in a bobbled reception for a huge first down conversion to keep the momentum with San Francisco against Dallas’ defense in the NFC Divisional Round last weekend. Kittle has re-emerged as a downfield receiving threat during Brock Purdy’s tenure as the 49ers’ signal-caller, although he has cooled off a bit in terms of touchdowns in the playoffs. Still, Kittle caught all five of his targets for 95 yards against a tough Cowboys secondary and will be able to replicate this performance against an equally talented Eagles pass defense on Sunday. Purdy will need to make quick throws and look toward his security valve, which is often Kittle in the middle, so don’t pass up the opportunity to plug him into DraftKings lineups.
FanDuel
Hayden Hurst (TE – Bengals): $5,400
Cincinnati added Hayden Hurst this offseason and his presence has helped the Bengals’ offense reach new heights. Hurst has been playing a vital role for Burrow in the playoffs, finishing with at least four receptions for 45 yards, while logging a touchdown against the Bills to secure the second receiving touchdown of the first quarter during Cincinnati’s rout of Buffalo last weekend. Hurst doesn’t offer a monster ceiling but if he can catch another five passes for 50 yards and a touchdown, he’ll deliver the perfect amount of production to boost your lineups into the green on FanDuel.
Defense/Special Teams
DraftKings
Eagles D/ST: $2,800
Philadelphia’s defense has been among the best all season, leading the league in sacks (70) during the regular season and dominating the line of scrimmage against the Giants in the Divisional Round. They have been gashed in the run game from time to time, which is what Kyle Shanahan likes to execute in most games, especially now with star running back Christian McCaffery (RB – 49ers) to bail out the inexperienced Purdy on the road in a hostile environment. There are simply too many playmakers on the defense for Philadelphia, ranging from Darius Slay and James Bradberry (CB – Eagles), to Haason Reddick (LB – Eagles) and Javon Hargrave (DT – Eagles) up front. Take advantage of their value and watch them wreak havoc against Purdy all afternoon.
FanDuel
Bengals D/ST: $2,300
The cheapest D/ST on the slate is Cincinnati’s, which I find massively disrespectful. The Bengals have been lights out in their last four games played, holding every opponent to 18 points or less, while ranking first in quarterback completion percentage at a staggeringly low 58.9 percent rate. Vonn Bell (S – Bengals) and Jessie Bates III (S – Bengals) dominate as a top safety tandem, while Mike Hilton (CB – Bengals), Trey Hendrickson (DE – Bengals), and Sam Hubbard (DE – Bengals) are other notable standouts on an underrated defense that has done nothing but consistently hold Mahomes and the Chiefs offense in check. Give me Cincinnati’s D/ST all day with this type of value, as they are playing with massive amounts of confidence within DC Lou Anarumo’s scheme.