IT’S PLAYOFF FOOTBALL TIME, BABY! Now, the season after the season begins. Anything can happen in the playoffs. We have seen in previous years Cinderella teams keep the magic going and advance deep into the playoffs. We have also witnessed NFL Goliaths get trounced by lowly-seeded teams. My body is ready for the chaos.
The chaos of injuries and a playoff slate that extends across three days should make it a wonderful DFS slate for us to get different with our lineups. Embrace variance. Embrace the wildness of playoff DFS. Again, if I didn’t write up a particular player for this week’s Primer, it’s because I don’t like their outlook and won’t be playing them in DFS. It’s time to build some lineups.
Here is the complete Super Wild Card Weekend Primer. Below we dive into Eagles vs. Buccaneers.
- NFL DFS Lineup Optimizer
- NFL DFS Projected Roster Percentages
- Weekly NFL DFS Salary Changes
- NFL DFS Stacking Strategy & Advice
DFS Primer: Wild Card Weekend
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- PHI -3, O/U 44
- Eagles vs. Buccaneers Player Prop Bets via BettingPros
Quarterbacks
Jalen Hurts: Hurts sustained a gnarly finger injury in Week 18, but he would likely have to have his hand amputated for him to miss this game. Hurts is a warrior, and I expect him to suit up this week. Hurts passing numbers haven’t been pretty since Week 11. Since that week, among 34 qualifying quarterbacks, he has ranked 27th in yards per attempt, 28th in passer rating, and 25th in CPOE. Hurts will not be popular on the six-game slate, which is why he’s a perfect GPP target. His rushing upside can still help take down a tournament this week, and the injuries to his receiver room could make stacking him easy. Hurts ranks first in red zone carries, third in rushing yards, and first in rushing touchdowns among quarterbacks. Since Week 11, Tampa Bay has allowed the 11th-highest yards per attempt and the eighth-most passing yards per game and ranked 15th in adjusted completion rate.
Baker Mayfield: Mayfield is in play for large field tournaments and MME. Since Week 10, he has been solid, ranking fifth in passing touchdowns, 11th in passer rating, and 14th in CPOE. Mayfield has logged seven games this season with at least 19 fantasy points, which is plenty to take down a tournament. He should have no problems this week against a porous Eagles secondary that, since Week 13, has allowed the sixth-highest yards per attempt, the third-most passing touchdowns, the fourth-highest passer rating, and the seventh-highest adjusted completion rate.
Running Backs
Rachaad White: White should remain a volume hoarder this week. That’s been the staple to his game all year as he finished the regular season ranking fourth in snap share, seventh in opportunity share, second in carries, and ninth in targets. White averaged 19.8 touches and 90.5 total yards. His tackle-breaking metrics have been in the toilet all season, and it hasn’t stopped him from scoring fantasy points, so why worry about them now? White should trample the Eagles’ run defense. Since Week 13, Philly has allowed the fourth-most rushing yards per game, the 10th-highest explosive run rate, the fourth-highest yards before contact per attempt, and the ninth-highest rushing touchdown rate.
Wide Receivers
Mike Evans: The last time Evans faced this pass defense, he secured five of his ten targets for 60 yards and a score (17 PPR points). He could easily surpass that mark this week. Evans had another banner season, ranking ninth in receiving yards, first in deep targets, 14th in red zone targets, and second in total touchdowns. Since Week 13, Philly has had the seventh-highest rate of single-high (57.3%). Against single-high, Evans has had a 26.6% target share, a 42.9% air-yard share, 3.30 YPRR, and a 31.6% first-read share. Since Week 13, Philly has allowed the third-most PPR points per target to perimeter wide receivers.
Chris Godwin: Godwin is in play for Mayfield stacks or if you’re game-stacking this matchup. Godwin had a disappointing season, but he still managed to rank 22nd in red zone targets, 17th in yards after the catch, and 23rd in receiving yards. Since Week 13, Philly has had the seventh-highest rate of single-high (57.3%). Against single-high, Godwin has had a 21.2% target share, 1.87 YPRR, and a 25.3% first-read share. The Bucs have been trying to force the ball to Godwin, as he has at least 11 targets in three of his last five games. Since Week 13, Philly has allowed the third-most PPR points per target to perimeter wide receivers.
Tight Ends
Dallas Goedert: In Weeks 14-17, Goedert had a 22.3% target share, 1.65 YPRR, and a 23.9% first-read share. The team has been trying to get him more involved in the red zone, as he has three red zone looks in his last four full games. Goedert could be Hurts’ main target this week if Smith and Brown can’t suit up. Tampa Bay has been giving to tight ends all season, allowing the second-most fantasy points and receiving yards to tight ends.
Cade Otton: If you’re double-stacking Mayfield, Otton is in play. Otton has had an 11.8% target share, 0.89 YPRR, and an 11.5% first-read share. Otton finished the season 18th in deep targets and 11th in red zone looks among tight ends. He could spike a touchdown and make the optimal this week against a Philly defense that has allowed the 12th-most fantasy points and the 13th-most receiving yards to tight ends.
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | SoundCloud | iHeartRadio