Go against grain in final full-roster DFS week

January 27, 2024

Life is much more enjoyable when there are no obvious bad choices. Crab or lobster? Steak or sea bass? New Batman or old Batman? Do you nap on the couch or in the recliner?

All are great options. Something like this weekend's conference championship DFS slate. Which games or teams do you stack?

The 49ers were the third-highest scoring team in the league. The Ravens were in fourth place. The Lions are in fifth place. Of the remaining four teams, only the Chiefs averaged less than 27 points per game. But they also happen to have the most skilled quarterback of this generation, and they looked sharp in both postseason games.

So which one will you choose? And remember, this is the last full roster opportunity of the season. Come Super Bowl week, the only widely available option will be a single-game caption/showdown format rather than a full roster. With that in mind, we want to go backwards.

Of the four teams remaining, the most obvious decline is Detroit. The Lions will face a solid 49ers defense at quarterback and running back. Plus, because they're on the road and outside, things often don't work out, especially for QB Jared Goff.

But the point is, none of these facts are secrets. Anyone interested knows these things. And that could lead most other people to go in a different direction. And if others turn away from Goff, we will turn towards him.

Add Goff ($6,300 at DraftKings) and add some receiving options, including two of his favorites, WR Amon-Ra St. Brown ($7,900) and tight end Sam LaPorta ($5,400). ). Some people are scared when they see Laporta's suspicious tag.

I believe Christian McCaffrey's $9,000 price tag will limit his upside potential. Additionally, he faces a strong Lions run defense. You have every reason to avoid him, so use him instead. Gus Edwards ($5,500) can't catch passes and is maxed out at DraftKings. We're going to go against him again and get him.

Christian McCaffrey carries a high price tag for the NFC Championship Game against the Lions. AP

Brandon Aiyuk will be very popular as the Lions have struggled to protect their top wideouts as of late. Instead, pivot to the ultra-cheap Jauan Jennings ($4,600). Ravens tight end Mark Andrews will be activated, which will almost certainly limit Isaiah Likely's chances. But all he needs is a few catches and a score at his price point, so we'll take him as his $4,300 flex. Throw in Odell Beckham Jr. ($4,400) and you're left with just enough money to scoop up the cheapest defense/special teams pick, the Lions ($2,600).

If the Super Bowl is the game-ending field goal of a fantasy season, this week is the final Hail Mary, the last chance to make a real play. There's no need to go out extravagant. I happily decide to go out with Cha Ching!

championship call

Top picks to consider for this weekend's FanDuel and DraftKings contests:

Brock Purdy QB, 49ers vs. Lions (Fanduel $7,700/DraftKings $6,400)

Look, Lamar Jackson and Patrick Mahomes are out-of-this-world talents, and there's no debate over which one to use. But Purdy has the best matchup this week and has outclassed Mahomes all season.

David Montgomery RB, Lions, 49ers (FD $6,000/DK $5,600)

In this week's Motown RB battle, it seems like most DFS entries will choose Jahmil Gibbs. Additionally, Montgomery is significantly cheaper than Gibbs on both sites.

Do you want to bet on the NFL?

Clyde Edwards-Helaire RB, Chiefs, Ravens (FD $4,600/DK $4,500)

Isaiah Pacheco is expected to play, but may have trouble dealing with sore toe. CEH is a cheaper option that allows you to use Pacheco more frequently and stands to inherit a healthy workload if Pacheco faltered.

Brandon Aiyuk WR, 49ers vs. Lions (FD $7,800/DK $6,900)

The Lions haven't held an opposing WR1 to less than 141 yards since Week 5 against the Broncos. That's great for Aiyuk. All of his other DFS players know this, and it negatively impacts Aiyuk's usage rate. However, some of those usage concerns were negated with Deebo Samuel coming off the injury report.

Mark Andrews TE, Ravens vs. Chiefs (FD $5,700/DK $5,000)

We are usually shy about the first game when players return after an extended period of absence. But Andrews and Jackson have history, and Andrews has been practicing for several weeks now. There is also minimal worry about rust.