NFL Saturday Night Football FanDuel Player Picks: Buccaneers vs. Washington

This Saturday night, the NFL presents a wildcard playoff clash of NFC teams. Let’s take a look at this FanDuel single game slate from a fantasy football perspective.

Before we discuss FanDuel player selections for Saturday’s game, let’s briefly review the rules for the FanDuel single game contest.

*As of this writing, the official final injury report has not been released by the NFL for this game. The league will release a final injury report 48 hours prior to kickoff. 

Let’s shift our focus to the rules for the FanDuel single game contest. You have $60,000 to utilize on five players from either team. However, one of those players will be designated as your team MVP. The FanDuel MVP accumulates 1.5 times the standard FanDuel points value.

The remaining four players in your lineup will receive the standard FanDuel points value. Having stated that, it is important for you to identify the correct player for your MVP position if you hope to win a FanDuel single game contest.

If you have additional questions regarding the rules for the single game contest, I highly recommend that you check out the FanDuel website for more details.

Here are my FanDuel Player Selections for Saturday Night’s Wildcard Playoff Game!

MVP

Yes, I know that the Buccaneers defense allowed the fewest rushing yards to opposing running backs this season. If that’s the case, how can you select a Washington running back as a flex play on this single game slate? Well, let me explain. The Buccaneers defense has allowed, a league worst, 101 receptions to the running back position this season. Having stated that, guess what McKissic’s specific skill set is for Washington? J.D. McKissic is effectively a receiver that plays the running back position.

In his last three games played, J.D. McKissic has been targeted by Washington quarterbacks a whopping 28 times! McKissic was able to turn those 28 targets into 22 receptions, 163 receiving yards, and two receiving touchdowns.

I envision a game script for Saturday’s game that has the Washington Football Team behind virtually the entire game. If that turns out to be true, McKissic will be on the field for the majority of the football game and will be targeted by Washington quarterback Alex Smith 10-15 times.

Flex Plays

How great has Terry McLaurin been from a fantasy football perspective this season? Let’s take a look at the data to answer that question. Now that the regular season has ended we can clearly see how McLaurin stacks up from a statistical perspective relative to his peers in the NFL. With regard to the wide receiver position, McLaurin finished the NFL regular season ranked 13th in receiving yards (1,118), 12th in receiving targets (134), and 17th in receptions (87).

It should also be noted that from a statistical perspective, McLaurin has been far more effective in the Washington offense with Alex Smith under center (QB Dwayne Haskins was recently released). Alex Smith is expected to start Saturday night’s playoff game.

Tampa Bay quarterback Tom Brady has been targeting Antonio Brown early and often lately. In his last three games played, Antonio Brown has been targeted by his quarterback 27 times! In those three games just mentioned, Brown has accumulated 20 receptions, 266 receiving yards, and four receiving touchdowns.

I am aware that Gronkowski has not put up spectacular fantasy numbers every week. However, I also know that when the he is presented receiving opportunities, Gronkowski has a higher ceiling from a fantasy perspective than many tight ends in the NFL. What do I mean by that statement? Well, Gronkowski is second on the Tampa Bay team in red zone targets. Just look at Gronkowski’s statistics in the Buccaneers week 15 win over the Detroit Lions. In the game just mentioned, Gronkowski only had two receiving targets. However, both of those receiving targets occurred in the redzone. Gronkowski finished the game with two touchdowns and two receptions.

Additional Flex Plays: Tom Brady, QB $16,500: Chris Godwin, WR $12,500.