Welcome to RotoBaller's daily fantasy football FanDuel lineup picks for the Wildcard Round of the NFL season. In this article, I, Justin Bales, will be taking you, the reader, through the best FanDuel DFS plays of the week for this upcoming Saturday and Sunday.
These FanDuel lineup recommendations are based on matchups, recent performances, overall upside/talent levels, and other factors such as Vegas odds, home field advantage, and more. Good luck with your FanDuel DFS lineups!
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FanDuel Quarterback - Wildcard Round DFS Picks
Aaron Rodgers (vs NYG, $8,600)
Rodgers has been an elite option when he has to be for Green Bay this season. He stated they needed to run the table to make the playoffs, which they did. He has scored 34.2 and 37.18 fantasy points in his last two games, and the Green Bay offense will be in his hands again this week. He gets a matchup against the Giants, who have struggled against the pass at times this season. They have been a great defense recently, but Green Bay should be able to score on them at home, and Rodgers is a great option in all leagues.
Ben Roethlisberger (vs MIA, $8,500)
Roethlisberger could be the highest owned quarterback this week, and for good reason. He has multiple weapons on offense, and he’s always a threat for three or more touchdowns. He also gets a solid matchup against the Dolphins, and the Steelers have the highest team total this week. He hasn’t looked elite over his last few games, but the playoffs are a whole new monster, and Roethlisberger has been here before. He’s another quarterback that can be used in all leagues on the small slate.
FanDuel Running Backs - Wildcard Round DFS Picks
Le’Veon Bell (vs MIA, $10,300)
Bell is the obvious option at running back this week, although he does come with a steep price tag. He’s one of the best running backs in the NFL, and he’s also an above average wide receiver. He can score multiple ways, and the Steelers have no problems featuring him in multiple roles. He gets a good matchup against the Dolphins, and the Steelers could be looking to run the clock out in the second half of this game. If you have the money, Bell is well worth it.
Zach Zenner (at SEA, $6,200)
Zenner recently saw his role grow for the Lions, and he is entering the playoffs on a hot streak. He has scored 19 and 22.2 fantasy points in his last two games. He is scoring fantasy points in multiple ways, as he has 202 yards, three touchdowns, and six catches in those two games. He gets a tough matchup against the Seahawks, but they have been burned by running backs before this season. Zenner comes with a fairly low price tag for his role, and he can be used in all leagues.
FanDuel Wide Receivers - Wildcard Round DFS Picks
Jordy Nelson (vs NYG, $8,500)
It took Nelson a few games to get back into form, but he has been elite over the last 10 weeks. He gets a tough matchup against the Giants this week, but Rodgers should be looking for him early and often. He also has elite red zone splits, and he’s Rodgers’ clear favorite target once the Packers are inside the 20 yard line. Nelson has also been a much better wide receiver at home, as he has scored at least 19 fantasy points in each of his last four home games, including a huge 31.9 fantasy point performance against the Vikings. Nelson should be the first player you stack with Rodgers this week.
Kenny Stills (at PIT, $5,000)
Still is fairly cheap for his recent production. He has scored at least 10 fantasy points in each of his last four games. He has seen at least seven targets in three of those four games, and he has scored a touchdown in each of the games. He’s a deep threat for the Dolphins, and he gets a decent matchup against the Steelers this week. Stills does come with a bit of risk because of his dependency on touchdowns, but it’s a small slate and you’ll need to find value somewhere.
FanDuel Tight End - Wildcard Round Picks
Jared Cook (vs NYG, $5,200)
Cook has seen his role increase recently, as he’s averaging seven targets per game over his last three games. He gets a good matchup against the Giants, who have struggled against the tight end this season. Cook hasn’t displayed much touchdown potential, but Rodgers tends to throw to anyone that works their way open in the red zone. That could be Cook this week because of the matchup, and he’s still fairly cheap. He’s a great option at tight end, especially if you’re pairing him with Rodgers.
FanDuel Defense - Wildcard Round Picks
Oakland Raiders (at HOU, $4,700)
The Raiders weren’t able to win their division, but they are rewarded with a matchup against the Texans for winning the top wildcard seed. They don’t have an elite defense, but they don’t need one against a struggling Houston offense. The Raiders are small underdogs in this game, but it is set at only 37.5 total points. Neither team will likely be doing much scoring, but I feel more confident in the Raiders offense than I do with the Texans. Oakland’s defense is an elite option this weekend.