NFL FanDuel DFS: Wild Card Weekend Special!

Playoff football is here! Welcome to the Wild Card Weekend edition of NFL FanDuel DFS Targets from FantasyCPR. This article will focus on the top cash game plays for the four-game, full weekend slate on FanDuel.

For those who are unaware, NFL FanDuel cash games are simply the games in the Fanduel lobby that are 50/50 or close to that to win. These are basically all of the games other than the tournaments, and guaranteed prize pool tournaments (GPP’s). Head-to-Head’s (H2H), 50/50, and double-ups would best summarize cash games.

Wild Card Weekend is here, and FanDuel is offering two, 2-game slates, and a four gamer with both days combined. This article will cover the full slate, but should be able to easily apply to the shorter slates as well. A four-game slate is about enough to play cash games, but they will likely end up pretty chalky. I wouldn’t recommend playing cash games on the shorter slates however, as there will likely be very little variance.

Before we get to the targets this week, let’s go game-by-game. I will give my picks for the game not just for fun, but to let you know where I think these games will end up, and where the fantasy points may come from. Sound good? Then click the bar below to proceed.

NFL FanDuel: Wild Card Weekend – Game by Game Preview

Saturday Games: 1/5/19

Indianapolis Colts (-1)  @ Houston Texans – (48)

The NFL will officially kick off at 4:35 PM ET this Saturday, and it all starts with the projected highest scoring game between the Colts and Texans. The over/under currently sits at 48, and these teams had it out two different ways over the course of the regular season.

The first match-up was a shoot-out back in late September, in which the home Colts snuck out the 37-34 victory. The second meeting was slightly more of defensive battle, as the home team was once again victorious by three, with the Texans holding on to a 24-21 victory. This looks like the best game to target, and I am leaning the way of the Colts. PICK – Colts 28 – Texans 24

Seattle Seahawks @ Dallas Cowboys (-2) – (43)

The Saturday evening tilt will feature a battle between 10-6 NFC teams, and this one should be just as good. The game total is a little tighter in this one at 43, and they will only get lower from here through Sunday. This is another solid game to target, but getting it right will be key.

These teams did meet in the regular season, a game in which the Seahawks won 24-13 at home, but it is safe to say these are two different teams since then. For what it is worth, Ezekiel Elliott was not given enough run, and ripped off 127 yards on just 16 carries. On the flip side of that, Chris Carson was given the ball 32 times, and managed only 102 yards, but the Seahawks won. The Cowboys now have Amari Cooper in the mix, and they are also using Zeke like he should be used. I think Dallas does just enough to get it done at home. PICK – Cowboys 21 – Texans 20

NFL FanDuel: Wild Card Weekend – Game by Game Preview

Sunday Games – 1/6/19

Los Angeles Chargers @ Baltimore Ravens (-2.5) – (41.5)

Sunday looks like it will be the day of the defense, as two of the best in the business will be in action. The first will be the Ravens as they will welcome the Chargers to M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore. We have the benefit of a recent meeting between these two teams, as they faced off three days before Christmas in Los Angeles.

Baltimore dominated that day, and it was highlighted by this defense, that has helped this Ravens team win six of their last seven games. Philip Rivers only managed 180 yards in that one, threw two interceptions, and was sacked four times. The Ravens defense also scored a touchdown on a fumble by Antonio Gates, and easily beat the Chargers 22-10. I will be surprised if the Chargers get much going on offense in this one. PICK – Ravens 17 – Chargers 13

Philadelphia Eagles @ Chicago Bears (-6) – (41)

Sorry Eagles fans, but this will be the toughest test yet for Nick Foles, and I think the Bears defense will be able to put an end to the magic. It was a good run, and I think this will be a rather close game until the end. The Bears should be able to be beat this Eagles defense through the air, but I have a feeling they are still going to try to pound the ball to control the clock.

Down 23-20 at some point in the second half, Foles will throw an interception, and the Bears will add a touchdown in garbage time to seal the deal. If you try to figure out these games like this based off of what seems likely to happen, it can help your DFS picks. For example, this is where I think Trubisky finds Tarik Cohen out of the backfield and he finds the end zone to lock this game up. Bears win. PICK – Bears 30 – Eagles 20

NFL FanDuel: Wild Card Weekend – Cash Game Targets

QB – Andrew Luck – Indianapolis Colts – $8,000

All week I was thinking Trubisky was the play this week, but I found a way to fit Andrew Luck in my lineup, and this looks more and more like a lock when I break it down. I think the Texans will have the advantage being at home, and should get an early lead. My guess is Luck has to throw a ton in this one, and if you look at what he did in the first two meetings with Houston, and what he has done the last two weeks, Luck is my guy 100%.

Let’s start with the last two weeks. Luck was solid two weeks ago against the Giants, throwing for 357 yards and two touchdowns, but it was even more impressive how he handled the mighty Titans defense last weekend in a must win game. On top of the hot streak, while this Texans defense is loaded, Luck has pretty much owned this team in his career. In the two meetings this season, he threw for a total of 863 yards with six touchdowns. All signs point to Luck being able to pull out a win in this one, and he is my top overall quarterback play on the slate.

***Also Consider: Mitchell Trubisky – $7,700***

NFL FanDuel: Wild Card Weekend – Cash Game Targets

RB – Ezekiel Elliott – Dallas Cowboys – $8,800

I think the Cowboys are going to win this game, and it will happen on the shoulders on Zeke. While Seattle has been more susceptible against the pass this season when you look at the rankings, my feeling is that when Dak Prescott drops back to pass in this one, he will be looking at Elliott anyways for the most part. Zeke had the big game against the Seahawks in the first meeting, and I think they are going to pound him here. I don’t think locking in Elliott is even a question, so let’s figure out who to pair him with.

RB – Tarik Cohen – Chicago Bears – $7,000

Jordan Howard has been the workhorse back in this offense as of late, and this Bears offensive line is shaping up to be one of the best in the NFL. When you can combine that with maybe the best defense in the league, you have to believe the Bears have as good of a chance to win the Super Bowl as any other team.

Cohen has been an afterthought in this offense for the last couple of weeks, as Howard has scored four rushing touchdowns in the last three games, but if there is one thing this Eagles defense can do well, it is stop the run. I think we will see Cohen more in this game in passing situations, and Howard will have a hard time getting anything going. The Bears and Trubisky will need to throw to win this game in my opinion, and will all come down to what point in the game they figure that out. At that point, my hope is that Cohen gets involved once again.

***Also Consider or FLEX: Melvin Gordon $8,400 – Chris Carson $7,500***

NFL FanDuel: Wild Card Weekend – Cash Game Targets

WR – T.Y. Hilton – Indianapolis Colts – $7,700

DeAndre Hopkins is probably the best play at the position, regardless of price, but this discount down to Hilton just makes so much sense with roster construction on this slate. Hopkins scored a touchdown in both meetings with the Colts in the regular season, but the most recent game was far from a good one. He managed only four catches on 10 targets, as this Indianapolis is improving week in and week out, and is much better since that first meeting.

On the flip side, in that most recent meeting back on December 9th, nobody on the Texans defense could keep up with T.Y. Hilton, as he got loose for 199 yards on nine catches. He is officially listed as questionable right now, but it is the same nagging injury he has been playing through and there is little doubt he misses this game.

WR – Amari Cooper – Dallas Cowboys – $6,700

I mentioned magic when referring to Foles and the Eagles earlier, and apparently the 44.7 FDP game from Amari Cooper was simply magic, because he hasn’t come anywhere close to double-digit fantasy points in three games since. For that fact exactly, this could be the perfect time to go back to Cooper. My hope is that after burning everyone for the last three weeks, they can’t stomach rostering him again. I don’t think he will crack my cash lineup, but I can see it as a solid GPP play for this slate.

WR – Allen Robinson – Chicago Bears – $6,500

My second favorite offense this week behind the Colts is the Bears. Robinson is the clear favorite target in this passing game, and this price is fair. He missed the week 17 game against the Vikings, but was targeted no less than seven times in every game in weeks 13-16. Philadelphia has been terrible against opposing starting wide receivers, so this is possibly the best overall match-up at the slate at the position. However, I am going to save some money on a much cheaper Bear in Taylor Gabriel, as he has been quietly consistent all season long.

***Also Consider or FLEX: DeAndre Hopkins $8,800 – Michael Gallup $5,700 – Taylor Gabriel $5,000***

NFL FanDuel: Wild Card Weekend – Cash Game Targets

TE – Eric Ebron – Indianapolis Colts – $6,600

Ebron was my top play anyways, but after he tweeted out that he had a baby this week, we now have the new baby narrative to consider as well. All kidding aside, Ebron has exceeded probably most people’s expectations this season, maybe even of those around him. Known as a tight end who couldn’t hang on to a pass in his time with the Lions, that all seems forgotten for the most part. Ebron ended up playing all 16 games this season, and finished with 13 touchdowns, emerging as Andrew Luck’s clear favorite red zone target.

***Also Consider: Blake Jarwin – $5,800***

DEF – Indianapolis Colts – $3,700

If you can pay up the first thing you should do is choose the Ravens. When they played the Chargers a few weeks ago, they put up a 20 spot. But if you are like me and would rather pay down at a position a lot tougher to predict, then this looks like a great spot to punt with the Colts defense.

I think Houston will be able to move the ball a little bit and score some points, but this defense should be able to do enough to win the game. I don’t know that they can score more than six or seven FDP if they don’t get a touchdown, but the bottom line is I need this salary elsewhere.

***Also Consider: Baltimore Ravens – $4,900***

NFL FanDuel: Wild Card Weekend – Cash Game Sample Lineup

The line-up below is meant to be illustrative only to further back-up the logic laid out in previous slides. It is not an optimal line-up. It is in fact, just a “Sample Lineup.” 

QB – Andrew Luck – $8,000
RB – Ezekiel Elliott – $8,800
RB – Chris Carson – $7,500
WR – T.Y. Hilton – $7,700
WR – Michael Gallup – $5,700
WR – Taylor Gabriel – $5,000
TE – Eric Ebron – $6,600
FLEX – Tarik Cohen – $7,000
DEF – Indianapolis Colts – $3,700

I hope you enjoyed some bonus playoff coverage today. You can find me on Twitter with the link at the top of the page. Look for the same type of article for the divisional playoff round next week as well right here at FantasyCPR! Good luck this weekend!