Welcome back, RotoBallers! After a week off, I'm back and better than ever, ready to get back into the grind of the NFL season. We're getting a big divisional matchup that has big wild card implications. The Denver Broncos (9-5) travel to LA to take on the Chargers (8-6). There isn't much injury news but keep an eye on Will Dissly and Jaleel McLaughlin as they are both questionable at this time.
We have been pretty successful so far with these showdown slates, and hopefully, that trend will continue from last year into this year. Most of us started our fantasy journeys with football, so it's always nice when it comes around. Thanks to today's advanced analytics, I'll do my best to provide you with as much in-depth analysis as possible regarding positional matchups.
I will provide you with daily fantasy football picks on FanDuel and DraftKings for the Broncos vs. Chargers NFL DFS showdown slate on December 19. These NFL DFS lineup picks can vary from higher-priced players and elite options to lower-priced players and value picks on both DraftKings and FanDuel. If you have any questions, you can follow me on X @DFSKoby and fire away, or sign up for a premium RotoBaller NFL package and chat with me and other NFL DFS analysts whenever you'd like!
MVP/Captain Plays
Bo Nix - QB, Denver Broncos - $15K (DK), $15.5K (FD)
Key Stats
- 2024 Stats: 2,972 passing yards, 20 passing touchdowns, 11 interceptions, 327 rushing yards, four rushing touchdowns
The running back situation has been a disaster in Denver the last few weeks, which leads me to believe they are all in on the passing game. He has also thrown 30+ times in seven straight weeks with 15 touchdowns in that time. In their matchup earlier this season, Nix had his second-biggest rushing game, going for 61 yards. He finished with 21 FP in this game as well. Bo Nix should be in for a shootout in this one.
Ladd McConkey- WR, LA Chargers - $14.1K (DK), $13.5K (FD)
Key Stats
- 2024 Stats: 88 targets, 63 receptions, 873 receiving yards, five touchdowns
Ladd McConkey is in one of the best spots on this slate, he lines up in the slot 70% of the time and should end up going against Ja'Quan McMillian who lines up there 90% of the time. He is also giving up the most fantasy points per route run on this Broncos defense at .25. Not having to worry about going against Pat Surtain most of the time should lead to more targets for Ladd who has been targeted 34 times across the last four weeks.
Ladd McConkey ranks 2nd in the NFL in Win Rate Vs. Man (45.9%)
Anyway, here’s 50 seconds of Ladd McConkey cooking everyone on the field pic.twitter.com/UTIra8673X
— Austin Abbott (@AustinAbbottFF) December 18, 2024
Other Captains/MVPs: Justin Herbert, Courtland Sutton
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DFS Flex Plays
Justin Herbert- QB, LA Chargers - $9.8K (DK), $15K (FD)
Key Stats
- 2024 Stats: 2.959 passing yards, 16 touchdowns, two interceptions, two rushing touchdowns
I think this is a double QB slate, there aren't a lot of big-scoring guys, so we have to take them where we can. I'm going to be going studs and duds more than likely on this slate in hopes the duds can put up enough to make it worth stacking the top heavy. Denver is giving up the sixth most fantasy points to opposing TEs across the last four weeks. Although Justin Herbert hasn't put up big numbers, the passing game is the main focus as the run game has become lackluster since J.K. Dobbins went down with injury.
Wil Lutz - K, Denver Broncos - $5.2K (DK), $8.5K (FD)
Wil Lutz is in for a solid game, The LA Chargers are only allowing TDs on 40% of Redzone drives this season which is the best in the NFL this season. This should result in more FGs being hit for Wil Lutz who has hit 90% of his FGs this season and 100% of his XP. His Long this season is also 54 this season but has a career-long of 60. At only 8.5k he is solid value for someone that is in a great position to perform.
Other Flex Options: Courtland Sutton, Quentin Johnston, Cameron Dicker
DFS Value Plays
Stone Smartt - TE, LA Chargers - $4.2K (DK), $7.5K (FD)
Will Dissly is trending towards being out in this game which should give Stone Smartt the start at TE1. He saw 67% of the total snaps in last week's game against the Buccaneers and finished with five receptions on six targets. He should continue to see a decent amount of targets, especially against the Broncos' defense who is giving up the ninth most fantasy points to TEs across the last four weeks.
Stone Smartt stacked another 50-yard game together yesterday. Seems like a perfect fit for this offense.
Heck of a job tracking this football. pic.twitter.com/GyXnoSQYOe
— Tyler Schoon (@tylerjschoon) December 17, 2024
Troy Franklin - WR, Denver Broncos - $3K (DK), $7K (FD)
Troy Franklin hasn't been spectacular this season but for his price, I think we are getting solid value compared to Devaughn Vele. They have both seen 14 targets across the last three games but Franklin is 2.5k cheaper on FD. He has seen a 40% or better snap share across the last four games and should continue to see a decent amount of targets.
Other Value Plays: Adam Trautman, Marvin Mims Jr.
Enjoy your week, and good luck, everyone!
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