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Joe Nicely's DraftKings and FanDuel NFL DFS picks and lineup sleepers for the NFL playoffs conference championship games (January 2025) Main Slate. His top daily fantasy football lineups to target for DraftKings and FanDuel DFS contests.
The march to the Super Bowl continues, RotoBallers! The DFS slates continue to get smaller and smaller, which forces us to adjust as we get deeper into the postseason. In this week's article, we'll touch on one "core play" and one "pivot play" at each position with both conference championship games taken into consideration for the Sunday Main Slate.
These DraftKings and FanDuel lineup recommendations are based on matchups, projected DFS points and ownership, overall upside/talent levels, and opportunity, as well as factors such as Vegas odds, home-field advantage, and more.
Also, be sure to check out lots of other great NFL DFS articles and NFL DFS tools to help you win MORE during the NFL playoffs! Good luck with your DFS lineups -- let's dominate the conference championship slate together!
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Quarterbacks - Conference Championship DFS Picks
Core Play: Josh Allen - BUF at KC (DK $7,500; FD $8,700)
It's not a huge surprise that we have four megastar quarterbacks to choose from on this conference championship slate. As we all know, a great QB equals success in the NFL. While you can make a case for any of this Sunday's starters, Buffalo's Josh Allen falls into the "core play" category for me.
Capable of dual-threat performances the likes of which we've rarely seen, Allen threw for 30 TDs this season while running for 14 more scores on the ground. He's averaged 56.0 rushing yards per game vs. the Chiefs while also throwing for just over 2,000 yards and 17 TDs in eight career meetings against K.C.
Pivot Play: Jayden Daniels - WAS at PHI (DK $7,000; FD $8,300)
It feels weird talking about Jayden Daniels as a pivot play, but on a slate with four superstar QBs, the rookie has the least postseason experience and draws the toughest matchup of the bunch.
He is well acquainted with this rugged Philly defense, however, as the divisional rivals met twice during the regular season. Daniels was largely held in check by the Eagles when the teams clashed in Week 11, but he then exploded for five TDs in Washington's Week 16 upset of Philly.
THE LAST TIME JAYDEN DANIELS PLAYED THE EAGLES… GAME-WINNING TD 🔥
NFC CHAMPIONSHIP 🔜
(via @NFL)
pic.twitter.com/DE9KxJRPcm— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) January 19, 2025
Though this Eagles defense is undoubtedly elite, I could see Daniels being very effective on the ground in this matchup with a unit that he amassed 99 rushing yards against in two regular-season meetings. The rookie has picked up yards with his legs almost at will in the postseason and has tallied 87 rushing yards in the Commanders' two playoff games.
Running Backs - Conference Championship DFS Picks
Core Play: Saquon Barkley - WAS at PHI (DK $8,600; FD $9,800)
Despite Washington's Cinderella run to the NFC Championship Game, its defensive line has been consistently smashed in the postseason. After finishing the regular season ranked 30th in the NFL in rushing yards allowed per game (137.5), the Commanders have allowed 5.4 yards per carry, 301 total yards, and three TDs to the RB position in its two playoff contests.
“I was Crashing out as the kids say. I don’t know why I was doing that.”
-Saquon Barkley on why he was smacking his helmet as he was racing in for the TD in the snow Sunday. Saquon says this 78 yard TD run is his favorite of his career.
— John Clark (@JClarkNBCS) January 22, 2025
Saquon Barkley is familiar with Washington's inability to stop the run. The record-breaking Eagles superstar feasted on the Commies in two regular-season matchups, steamrolling his way to 296 yards and four TDs on the ground.
If we toss out the Week 18 regular-season finale in which Philly elected to sit Barkley, he's logged 20+ touches in nine straight games. The Eagles will continue to ride their workhorse in this win-or-go-home environment.
Pivot Play: Kareem Hunt - BUF at KC (DK: $5,400; FD $6,000)
Signed midseason due to an injury to Isiah Pacheco, Hunt has outperformed all expectations in his second career stint with the Chiefs. While the now-29-year-old possesses nowhere near the explosiveness he showcased in his first run with K.C., he's evolved into a dependable veteran who Andy Reid trusts in big spots and goal-line situations.
The Chiefs have been content to lean on Hunt over Pacheco down the stretch and in last week's Divisional Round game against Houston. The veteran has received 47 total opportunities to Pacheco's 37 since Week 15 of the regular season. I'm intrigued by Hunt's potential impact via the passing game in this matchup, as Buffalo relinquished the most receiving yards (750) in the NFL to the RB position during the regular season.
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Wide Receivers - Conference Championship DFS Picks
Core Play: Khalil Shakir - BUF at KC (DK $5,700; FD $6,400)
Sure, there are better receivers with more upside than Shakir on this slate. However, you can poke holes in basically each one due to either matchup, injury concerns, or expected game environment. While Shakir doesn't have many massive outings on this season's game log, he's been a consistent producer with a locked-in role in the Buffalo passing attack.
Shakir has been targeted six or more times in every game he's played since Week 6, including earning 12 targets when the Bills met the Chiefs in Week 11 of the regular season. Kansas City coughed up the NFL's fourth-most receiving TDs (19) to the WR position in 2024.
Pivot Play: Dyami Brown - WAS at PHI (DK $4,400; FD $5,400)
We rarely want to go out of our way to target Philadelphia's elite secondary; however, when dealing with a two-game slate such as this one, difficult matchups are all but inevitable. Washington's Dyami Brown will face a tough challenge against the Eagles, but sticks out as my favorite "off the board" play at the WR position.
I really love Dyami Brown casually being the consistent WR2 we’ve desperately needed just in time for the playoffs
— Jordan (@wshingtontoday) January 19, 2025
Brown has solidified himself as the WR2 behind Terry McLaurin in this Commanders passing attack during the postseason. Playing ahead of a banged-up Olamide Zaccheaus, Brown has garnered 13 targets to Zaccheaus' five across Washington's two playoff victories. He leads the team in postseason receiving yards (187) and reeled in four of five targets for 56 yards against this Philly defense in Week 16 of the regular season.
Tight Ends - Conference Championship DFS Picks
Core Plays: Travis Kelce - BUF at KC (DK $6,000; FD $6,800)
"Playoff Kelce" is a real thing, as the Chiefs dusted the cobwebs off their future Hall of Famer to feed him eight targets in last weekend's win over Houston. Kelce looked to be in vintage form, reeling in seven catches for 117 yards and a score against the Texans.
Okay fine, here's Travis Kelce highlights from this weekend set to Eminem.... pic.twitter.com/rP2Yx7CmRK
— Price Carter (@priceacarter) January 22, 2025
Kelce has historically destroyed Buffalo in the postseason. In three playoff meetings since 2020, he has stat lines of 13/118/2, 8/96/1, and 5/75/2 against the Bills. With key Buffalo defenders, such as Matt Milano and Taylor Rapp, both banged up heading into the AFC Championship Game, Kelce could once again smash Sean McDermott's defense.
Pivot Play: Dalton Kincaid - BUF at KC (DK $3,600; FD $5,200)
With his statistical output regressing in 2024, it's fair to label Kincaid's sophomore campaign as disappointing. Due to Buffalo's ball-control philosophy under OC Joe Brady, there are some game environments where Kincaid is given little chance to post big numbers.
However, I am intrigued here by what figures to be a pull-no-punches street fight against Kansas City. While the Chiefs defense has been rock-solid overall, the TE position has been a notable soft spot for this unit. Kansas City ranked dead last in the NFL in receiving yards (1,191) allowed to the TE position during the regular season.
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