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The NFL's regular season and traditional fantasy football leagues have come to an end, but now is arguably the most exciting and enticing time to participate in single-game DFS tournaments. While Trevor Lawrence and Justin Herbert make their playoff debuts in a battle for an AFC Wild Card win, fantasy gamers will compete for the top prize in this single-game showdown on DraftKings and FanDuel.
This Chargers-Jaguars contest features some of the most offensive firepower throughout Wild Card weekend. Both teams have plenty of "boom-or-bust" skill players perfect for DFS contests. This could be the first of many Lawrence vs. Herbert bouts with a lot on the line, so there's plenty of intrigue in terms of real NFL football and fantasy football. All in all, it sets up for an interesting and wild game for DFS.
I will be providing you with daily fantasy football picks on FanDuel and DraftKings for the Chargers vs. Jaguars NFL DFS showdown slate on January 14th. 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 sign up for a premium RotoBaller NFL package and chat with our NFL DFS analysts or find us on Twitter!
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MVP/Captain Plays
Keenan Allen- WR, $14,400 (DK), $13,000 (FD)
Key Stats
- 2022 Stats: 89 targets, 66 receptions, 752 receiving yards, four touchdowns (ten games)
- 17.1 DK fantasy points per game
- 32.09 opponent fantasy points per game allowed to WR (11th-fewest)
While the Jaguars are statistically solid against wide receivers, Los Angeles is going to be a high-volume passing team in all matchups and elite passing games can exceed expectations in any game conditions. Allen is coming off of his best game of the season, catching eight passes for 102 yards and two touchdowns. Even if Mike Williams (back) plays, he'll likely be compromised. If he doesn't play at all, Allen should smash in this spot. Allen has been an elite target hog for most of his career, but as shown below, he's a lock for a big day when Williams is out of action. In Justin Herbert's playoff debut, I expect him to rely on his veteran security blanket.
Austin Ekeler- RB, $17,100 (DK), $16,000 (FD)
Key Stats
- 2022 Stats: 915 rushing yards, 107 receptions, 722 receiving yards, 18 total touchdowns
- At least seven receptions in eight of 18 games played this season
- Jaguars have allowed 104 receptions to running backs (second-most)
Since Jacksonville allowed the most targets and second-most receptions to running backs during the regular season, there's a clear path for Ekeler to put up another huge stat line in the passing game on Saturday. His targets have seen a bit of a decline since Keenan Allen and Mike Williams entered the lineup, but if Williams (back) misses this contest, expect him to be peppered with looks against the Jaguars. Touchdowns are tough to predict, but Ekeler has been the best bet to find the end zone over the last two seasons.
Other Captains/MVPs: Justin Herbert, Trevor Lawrence, Travis Etienne
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DFS Flex Plays
Travis Etienne- RB, $13,500 (DK), $12,500 (FD)
Key Stats
- 2022 Stats: 1,125 rushing yards, five rushing touchdowns, 35 receptions, 316 receiving yards.
- Chargers allowed 5.4 rushing yards per attempt in the regular season (most in NFL). Allowed 5.8 rushing yards per attempt in last three games (most in NFL)
- Surpassed 83 rushing yards in three of last four contests
Etienne has been a hit-or-miss fantasy and DFS asset this season, but he's delivered more often than not in juicy matchups. The Chargers present a historically weak defense against the run, so he should see plenty of opportunities. While JaMycal Hasty often takes a lot of the running back receiving work, Etienne should find success early and often and has a good chance to notch his fourth game of at least 22 rushing attempts and his sixth game of at least 100 rushing yards.
Justin Herbert- QB, $10,800 (DK), $14,00 (FD)
Key Stats
- 2022 Stats: 4,739 yards passing, 25 touchdowns, 10 interceptions
- 17.77 opponent fantasy points allowed to quarterbacks (ninth-most)
While Herbert, did not produce huge fantasy numbers this season, he was still near the top of the league in passing yards and posted a career-high completion percentage. His passing touchdown regressed from 38 in 2021 to 25 in 2022, but his upside is still what it has always been. He played in many games this season without the services of Keenan Allena and Mike Williams, but we know for sure Allen is going to be out there for Herbert's playoff debut. Herbert could arguably be considered the best value in this matchup, as his upside exceeds his price tag more than any player in this single-game contest.
Other Flex Options: Christian Kirk, Trevor Lawrence, Mike Williams (if active)
DFS Value Plays
Gerald Everett- TE, $4,800 (DK), $8,000 (FD)
Key Stats
- 2022 Stats: 87 targets, 58 receptions, receiving 555 yards, four touchdowns
- Jaguars have allowed eighth-most FD points to TEs, ninth-most DK points to TEs
- Jaguars allowed 62.7 yards per game to tight ends (fourth-most)
Everett is a cheaper option to get a piece of the Los Angeles passing offense, and he's got tons of upside relative to his price tag. He was at least six targets in nine of his 15 games played this season, and if Mike Williams is out, he and Josh Palmer will battle to be Justin Herbert's No. 2 option behind Keenan Allen. While the Jaguars have been stout against wide receivers, the weakness in their secondary comes against the tight end position.
Zay Jones WR, $5,400 (DK), $11,000 (FD)
Key Stats
- 2022 Stats: 121 targets, 82 receptions, 823 receiving yards, five touchdowns.
- At least eight targets in eight of 16 games played this season, at least ten targets in five of 16 games
- 24.55 fantasy points per game allowed to wide receivers (seventh-fewest)
- 6.7 opponent yards per pass attempt allowed (12th-most)
The Chargers are a top team against fantasy wideouts, but when Trevor Lawrence and Jones are at their best, he can explode in a big way in any matchup. Ultimately, the Los Angeles secondary isn't actually an elite unit, as they've been weak against the pass on a per-attempt basis. Teams have often chosen to lean on the ground game against their historically weak rushing defense, inflating their overall pass defense statistics. If this game becomes a shootout or if the Jags face a negative game script, there's little doubt Lawrence and company will be able to get it done through the air. Jones gives you exposure to a high-ceiling fantasy play should this game see one of those conditions and he's significantly cheaper than Christian Kirk.
Other Value Plays: Joshua Palmer, DeAndre Carter, JaMycal Hasty
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