Happy Monday, RotoBallers, and Merry Christmas! We have a special showdown in line for y'all as a couple of stud defenses take each other on in what could be a preview of this year's Super Bowl matchup. The Ravens and the Niners are topping off a day filled with NBA and NFL DFS. This slate is going to be a tough one as it is so top-heavy and there isn't a lot of deep value. That being said, I will do my best to get you guys some extra Christmas cash!
I absolutely love playing the NFL showdowns each weekend, it has become one of my favorite forms of DFS. Nothing is more thrilling than having a lineup consisting of players from one game and sweating it out while watching it live. There is a lot less room for error though with there being fewer options to choose from. Hopefully, with all the advanced stats, I will be able to bring you the best analysis possible and get you some extra cash for the weekend ahead. So strap in as the season is just beginning and we will be here all year long.
I will be providing you with daily fantasy football picks on FanDuel and DraftKings for the Ravens vs. 49ers NFL DFS showdown slate on December 25. 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 Twitter/X @DFSKoby and fire away, or sign up for a premium RotoBaller NFL package and chat with me and other NFL DFS analysts at any time you'd like in our RotoBaller Discord!
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MVP/Captain Plays
Christian McCaffrey - RB, $17,700 (DK), $17,000 (FD)
Key Stats
- 2023 Stats: 1,292 rushing yards, 13 rushing touchdowns, 244 rushing attempts, 57 receptions, 509 receiving yards, and 7 receiving touchdowns.
CMC has been on an MVP-level tear this season and he might be the one player I find hard to avoid in my lineups. He may be expensive but he has shown to be worth every penny this season, as he has only scored less than 15 fantasy points in a game two times this season. He has had games of 30+ as well as games of 45 and 50 fantasy points. Baltimore may have a stout defense but they also gave up 114 rushing yards to the likes of Kyren Williams. With his pass-catching ability as well, it makes CMC an absolute must-have.
Lamar Jackson - QB, $16,200 (DK), $16,000 (FD)
Key Stats
- 2023 Stats: 3,105 passing yards, 17 passing touchdowns, 741 rushing yards on 135 carries, 5 rushing touchdowns
With the loss of Keaton Mitchell, the Ravens are going to rely on Lamar to run even more than his normal workload. They have the option of Gus Edwards, but no one from the Ravens has been as much of a fantasy machine as Lamar has. My only worry is how much of a tough matchup this is against a stout Niners' defense. That being said though, I believe he still gets it done on the ground and probably ends up with a rushing touchdown. I also expect Baltimore to be playing from behind, therefore leading to Lamar passing the ball quite a bit.
Other Captains/MVPs: Deebo Samuel, Brock Purdy
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DFS Flex Plays
Isaiah Likely - TE, $6,400 (DK), $10,000 (FD)
The TE has become one of Lamar's favorite targets. Since Mark Andrews went down, Likely has had 14 catches for 193 yards and two touchdowns. We are still getting him at a solid price that fits well in lineups. He has also seen a 75% snap count since Andrews went down. He will "likely" be in a majority of my lineups as he pairs well with Lamar Jackson.
Deebo Samuel- WR, $10,200 (DK), $14,500 (FD)
Key Stats
- 2023 Stats: 49 receptions, 787 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns, 31 rushing attempts, 172 rushing yards and five touchdowns
This is a high-end flex play but Deebo over the last four weeks has been on a tear and has been the primary receiving target outside of CMC. He has scored 22+ fantasy points in four straight with 37+ in two of those. He has got quite expensive, so landing him along with some of the other studs in CMC and Lamar can be quite tough. But if you are looking for a way to get different, I would start with Deebo and get different elsewhere.
Other Flex Options: George Kittle, Zay Flowers
DFS Value Plays
Odell Beckham Jr.- WR, $5,600 (DK), $8,500 (FD)
Key Stats
- 2023 Stats: 32 receptions, 519 yards, 3 receiving touchdowns
This is kind of a value spot. Odell has been the definition of boom or bust this season with multiple 15+ fantasy point games as well as a few sub-six-point performances. Over the last two games, he has just over a 50% snap count. If Zay Flowers is to be limited at all in this game due to his foot injury, then Odell could be in for an increased role. I love his price on DraftKings and he is a great value option on a slate that is so top-heavy.
Jake Moody- K, $4,600 (DK), $9,000 (FD)
You know the value well is dry when you see a kicker! Jake Moody has been great in his rookie season, though. Replacing a veteran like Robbie Gould is no easy task and he has fit well into this team. He is 100% on his extra points kicked this year and has kicked 18/21 with a long of 57 and has been straight money from 40 yards and under. Baltimore has a good defense and I could see them pulling up the stops in their territory, resulting in the Niners kicking a few field goals.
Other Value Plays: Justin Tucker, Nelson Agholor (Punt), Melvin Gordon (min price)
Merry Christmas once again and good luck, everyone!
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