Did the Wildcard Weekend matchups leave you feeling blue? Not to worry, between Divisional Round tournaments and daily fantasy apps, there are plenty of options to scratch the fantasy itch this week. Below are four players from each matchup over this weekend’s Divisional Round to either start or sit for your second-round NFL Playoff Tournament rosters.
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Texans @ Chiefs
Start:
- Nico Collins: Collins torched the Chargers defense for 122 yards and touchdown during Wildcard Weekend and set a Texans playoff record for receiving yards. Notably, C.J. Stroud has a perfect passer rating (158.3) when targeting Collins in this game.
- Xavier Worthy: Xavier Worthy recorded a 22.3-percent target rate over the last five weeks. This is a 5.2-percent increase from his target rate through the first 10 weeks of the season. The Texans gave up nearly 200 yards alone to Ladd McConkey last week, which is not a surprise since they allow the sixth most fantasy points per game to opposing teams’ receivers.
Sit:
- Isiah Pacheco: Since his return in Week 13, Pacheco has been limited to a 37.4 snap percentage and five fantasy points per game. Plus, Pacheco is also in a time share with Kareem Hunt. The Texans have stifled opposing teams running backs by posting -93 yards over expected per rush play.
- Joe Mixon: Since Week 15 Mixon has struggled to produce at the level fantasy managers were used to seeing this season. Against the Chargers, however, he rebounded by rushing for over 100 yards and getting in the endzone. Don’t expect the Chiefs rushing defense to be pushed around as easily. They gave up the fewest fantasy points to opposing running backs this season.
Ravens @ Bills
Start:
- Khalil Shakir: Shakir caught all six of his targets for 61 yards against the Broncos last week. The Ravens have a formidable defense but are susceptible to opposing teams’ receivers, allowing second most yards through the air this season. Their rush defense is the opposite so expect Buffalo to have to score by passing the ball instead of relying on their rushing attack.
- Derrick Henry: Without even considering his stats from last weekend, Henry is an easy start for the matchup against the Bills. Flashback to Week 4 against Buffalo when he rushed for 199 yards on 24 carries and scored touchdowns in both the air and on the ground. He posted 35.9 fantasy points that week, his most productive all season.
Sit:
- James Cook: Cook was held to only 39 yards in Week 4’s matchup with the Ravens. Against the Steelers, the Ravens only allowed 29 total yards to the Harris/Warren backfield combo. Cook has been a stud this season, but expectations should be lowered for this matchup.
- Ravens Pass Catchers not named Zay Flowers: Sure, the Bills posted the third fewest rushing yards allowed in the initial playoff round. That was against the less than impressive Denver running back committee of Javonte Williams and Jaleel McLaughlin and they are definitely not on Derrick Henry‘s level. There is no concern that the Ravens will need to focus on scoring through the air instead of the ground especially after Henry went scorched earth on the Bills in Week 4. Also, not one of the seven Ravens pass catchers targeted against the Steelers saw more than four targets all game.
Commanders @ Lions
Start:
- Dyami Brown: Wide Receivers match up well against the Lions this season, scoring an average of 31.9 fantasy points per game. Brown made himself invaluable to Jayden Daniels against the Bucs, averaging 17.8 yards per catch. The Commanders will need a field stretcher if they plan on keeping up with the Lions offense on Saturday. Brown could play that role.
- Jahmyr Gibbs: This seems incredibly obvious given his high production this season. Looking at the numbers though, it is clear why starting Gibbs this week is an absolute smash. The Commanders rank No. 30 in the NFL over the season in most rushing yards allowed to opposing teams running backs. Pair that with Gibbs’ 20 touchdowns and over 1400 rushing yards, and this makes for a winning decision.
Sit:
- Jared Goff: This might seem controversial but just consider that the Commanders allowed the third fewest passing yards per game to opponents during the regular season. They held Baker Mayfield to only 15 completions total on Sunday night whereas he typically averages nearly 24 completions per game. Goff’s attempts and completions are nearly identical to Mayfield’s numbers.
- Brian Robinson Jr.: Robinson made the “sit” list last week and while repeats are not ideal, Robinson’s play against the Bucs was not inspiring at all. 10 carries for only 16 yards were all that Robinson could manage Sunday night. The Lions have lost several key defensive players, but over the season they held opposing teams to the fifth fewest rushing yards per game.
Rams @ Philadelphia
Start:
- Kyren Williams: Williams has been one of the few bell cow backs in the NFL this season and with Blake Corum‘s injury, there is no reason to think he won’t continue to get the majority of the carries during the post season as well. Volume alone warrants him a starting place on your roster.
- Dallas Goedert: All it takes is one look at the box score from Monday Night’s matchup to see that the Rams are weakest against the tight end position this season. The only offensive player who managed to get in the endzone against Los Angeles was T.J. Hockenson, who also led the team in yards. Last week against the Packers, Goedert led the Eagles in targets. With the Rams giving up 13.3 fantasy points per game to the tight end position, Goedert is an easy start this week.
Sit:
- Cooper Kupp: Kupp made this list last week and did not do anything to deserve a move into your starting lineup in the matchup with the Vikings. One target for 29 yards was the extent of his production. The Eagles give up the sixth fewest touchdowns to opposing offenses and allowed the fewest passing yards per game all season.
- Jalen Hurts: In the Wildcard matchup with Green Bay Hurts only threw 13 times for 131 yards and two touchdowns. The Eagles face a Rams defense that sacked Sam Darnold a league playoff record tying nine times on Monday night. Not only that but the Rams have given up the lowest passing yards per play allowed during this first round of the playoffs.
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