NFL DFS Value Plays for the Divisional Round

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Welcome to the Divisional Round, Rotoballers! This season, the DFS Value Plays will look at the word "value" from all angles. Usually, it implies a player that won't cost you much of your salary on DraftKings or FanDuel. However, if I see a quarterback, running back, wide receiver, or tight end horrendously underpriced... he's going in the article.

Each week, this article will highlight the value plays who can take home the win in a cash game or tournament on the main slate and help you diversify your lineups. Ensure you're thoroughly informed before building your lineups by checking out the rest of our daily fantasy articles heading into the weekend. Then, send me a last-minute tweet @EuanOrYouOut for more advice if you have any questions before lineups lock. Good luck this week!

DFS Value Plays for the Divisional Round

Quarterbacks

Trevor Lawrence at KC ($6,000 DraftKings; $7,600 FD)

After putting his team in a seemingly impossible hole, Trevor Lawrence showed the NFL world why he was the No. 1 pick in last year's draft with an incredible comeback against the Chargers. He's now 37-0 on Saturdays since High School and travels to Kansas City hoping for a colossal upset. Jacksonville is an 8.5-point underdog, but that shouldn't deter us from rostering Lawrence or his Jaguar teammates. It makes me want them on my team a little more.

The giant halftime deficit from the Wild Card round forced the Jaguars to throw. On the day, Lawrence ended up 28-for-47 with 288 yards and four touchdowns. He also had four interceptions, but he kept getting up and gave his team a chance. Kansas City should win this game, but Lawrence has the opportunity to be the best DFS quarterback. At $6,000 on DraftKings, he's a perfect mid-tier option in cash games and a foundational piece of any Jaguar's stacks in GPP slates.

Brock Purdy vs. DAL ($5,400 DK; $7,000 FD)

You can't fault any DFS manager for playing Brock Purdy. First off, he's never lost an NFL game. Second, the rookie is thriving in the Kyle Shanahan offense. And finally, he's got the best supporting cast in the playoffs with Christian McCaffrey, Deebo Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk, and George Kittle. Unfortunately, I'm restricting him to tournament lineups this weekend.

Dallas showed us something in their Monday night mauling of Tampa Bay. This defense can perform at a high level, and Purdy could struggle against this unit. Still, he's averaging 14.81 DK PPG, and we shouldn't turn away from that, considering Purdy's price tag. This is the league's third-best passing offense in DVOA, and DFS players can't rule anything out regarding this 49ers attack.

Running Backs

Joe Mixon at BUF ($6,500 DK; $7,700 FD)

The Bills' defense passes the stats test but not the eye test. The unit shouldn't be trusted and allowed a Skylar Thompson-led Miami Dolphins team put up 31 points in the Wild Card round. While Cincinnati is dealing with multiple injuries along their offensive line, it could lead to a bigger receiving day for Joe Mixon.

If Joe Burrow has to get rid of the ball quickly, those deep routes to Ja'Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, and others may not have time to develop. So instead, a dump off to Joe Mixon or Samaje Perine will be the break-glass-in-case-of-emergency option. Buffalo has piled up injuries in their secondary all year long, and it has the feel of an under-rostered, breakout Joe Mixon game.

Boston Scott vs. NYG ($4,300 DK; $4,800 FD)

It's Boston Scott versus the Giants week in DFS, and it comes in a pivotal Divisional Round contest. The 27-year-old has 17 career touchdowns, and 10 have come against New York. He's scored a touchdown in five straight games against the Giants and seven of his eight matchups with the NFC East rival. New York was the worst DVOA run defense during the regular season, and this Philly gameplan will include plenty of rushing to share between Jalen Hurts, Miles Sanders, and Scott.

Wide Receivers

Zay Jones at KC ($4,700 DK; $6,500 FD)

Zay Jones usually has a good time when Trevor Lawrence and the Jaguars throw a lot. He saw nine or more targets in eight games this year and wasn't just the second fiddle behind Christian Kirk. Instead, the Jacksonville wide receiver duo became more of a 1a-1b tandem as the Jags went streaking into the playoffs.

There was no further evidence needed than last week against the Chargers. Jones received 13 targets, caught eight, and converted them into 74 yards and a touchdown. Kansas City gave up the seventh-most FPPG to receivers during the regular season, and we can expect more of the same in a game where Jacksonville is likely in catch-up mode for the second half of the contest.

LAWRENCE TO ZAY JONES. 39-YARD TD. #SuperWildCard

📺: #LACvsJAX on NBC
📱: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/LG9lf52l9m pic.twitter.com/E7VZZpAExe

— NFL (@NFL) January 15, 2023

Mecole Hardman vs. JAX ($3,700 DK; $6,000 FD)

Mecole Hardman feels like the forgotten man for Kansas City in a team filled with offensive weapons. Yet, he's the best bang-for-your-buck wide receiver on my sheet for the Chiefs. His price point makes him an excellent stacking partner with Travis Kelce and Patrick Mahomes should you choose that route.

Note: Mecole Hardman (pelvis) is OUT this week. 

Tight Ends

Dawson Knox vs. CIN ($3,800 DK; $5,600 FD)

Last week, Dawson Knox appeared in the Wild Card Weekend article, and he's back again. The Bill's tight end has scored in five straight games, and his price went down for this slate. The 26-year-old can't compete with the ceilings of Travis Kelce or George Kittle, but he's a red-zone weapon for the Bills and one of Josh Allen's favorite targets. Cincinnati conceded the 13th-most PPG to tight ends during the regular season, so Knox's matchup is neither good nor bad.

Premium Sample Lineups - Divisional Round

DraftKings lineup

FanDuel lineup

Please note that we provide sample lineups as a tool for you to use. They are designed to give you building-block options as you go about choosing your lineups, but in no way can we guarantee success. Be sure to examine the latest injury up; Las, Las Vegas projected game totals, and late scratches before finalizing your lineups to ensure the players you choose are active on game day.

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