NFL Playoffs DraftKings Picks: DFS Lineup advice for Divisional Round cash games

Matt Lutovsky

NFL Playoffs DraftKings Picks: DFS Lineup advice for Divisional Round cash games image

With just four games in the second round of the NFL playoffs, it's tough to really to build a classic NFL DFS "cash game" lineup. You're going to have to take some risks because of budget constraints or matchup concerns (or, realistically, both). For our divisional round DraftKings picks for the Saturday-Sunday slate, we're taking risks at WR and paying up for "safe" players at QB, RB, and TE. 

This strategy is far from a sure thing. Our RBs, despite being the most talented and expensive available, both face brutal matchups. You can make a case for paying down at RB (like we did with Damien Williams and Duke Johnson in our FanDuel weekend lineup) and paying up for high-target WRs, but we're going to follow the guaranteed touches and instead hope our WRs can hit on one or two big plays and give us solid floors. 

MORE DIVISIONAL ROUND DFS: FanDuel | Yahoo

Ultimately, most players are facing tough matchups by the time the second round of the playoffs gets here. Sure, you can find a talented RB with a slightly easier matchup (Mark Ingram? Aaron Jones?), but at the end of the day, we have both of the most talented RBs on our roster. In cash games, that means a lot, and with Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce also in tow in great matchups, we should be able to afford a dud from one of our risky WRs. 

NFL Playoff DraftKings Picks: Divisional Round DFS cash game lineup

QB Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs vs. Texans ($7,500). Mahomes is priced $900 below Lamar Jackson and $800 above Deshaun Watson, so he's not exactly a "value", especially when you factor in his relatively modest numbers over his final six games (234.2 passing yards per game, 10 total TDs). But we know what kind of upside he has, especially now that he's running a little bit more (22.7 rushing yards per game, two rushing TDs over the past six games). Houston allowed the fourth-most fantasy points to QBs during the regular season, and Mahomes put it on them earlier this year (273 yards, three TDs). We're hoping others either pay up for Jackson or try to save money with one of the other talented QBs priced lower than Mahomes and we actually get relatively low ownership on the NFL's best passer. 

RB Derrick Henry, Titans @ Ravens ($8,200). Henry might be chalky in cash games, but that's fine. He's been nearly unstoppable over his past seven games, rushing for 1,078 yards and 11 touchdowns. His worst game in that span was a 21-carry, 86-yard performance against Houston in Week 15 when he was playing on a bum hamstring. By giving Henry 35 touches last week, the Titans made clear that they plan to ride him for as long as they can, and DFS owners in cash games should do the same. You know the touches are going to be there, which is half the battle. Some owners might fade Henry on DK because of his lack of receptions and potential game script worries, but we're not taking that bait. Even in a relatively tough matchup, no RB is as likely to post 80 yards and a score. 

RB Dalvin Cook, Vikings @ 49ers ($8,000). Like Henry, Cook dealt with injury issues down the stretch, but he looked more than 100 percent in the wild card round, running for 111 yards and two scores on 21 carries. Unlike Henry, we know Cook can be a difference-maker in the receiving game if the game script calls for it. Few teams are tougher against the run than San Francisco -- and its expected to get back Dee Ford (ankle) and Kwon Alexander (pec) for this game -- but we saw the Niners give up 100-yard games during the middle of the season to Christian McCaffrey and Kenyan Drake, and they've had some trouble keeping RBs out of the end zone lately, allowing four rushing TDs in their final three games. 

SATURDAY DFS LINEUPS: FanDuel | DraftKings

WR Deebo Samuel, 49ers vs. Vikings ($5,200). Because we can't afford big-time WRs, we have to look for guys who at least get consistent touches/targets. Samuel gets a good amount of targets (5.4 per game) and is always good for a couple carries per game, too. With his big-play potential and prominent role in the 49ers offense, Samuel is a solid option against a Vikings defense that allowed the 11th-most fantasy points to WRs during the regular season.

WR Marquise Brown, Ravens vs. Titans ($4,400). Brown isn't a typical cash game play, as he's had 15 receivers yards or fewer in four of his past five games. Moreover, he's had just one game since Week 2 with more than 49 receiver yards. Still, he's managed to score seven TDs in 14 games this year and is easily Baltimore's top wide receiver. Because we're paying so much at QB, RB, and TE, we have to take some chances at wide receiver, and getting Brown at WR13 pricing still presents a solid value. The Titans are middle of the road against WRs, allowing the 11th-most receptions to the position, so Brown is in a slightly better spot for catches than you might have originally thought. 

WR Corey Davis, Titans @ Ravens ($3,700). Davis was shut out last week, so he likely won't be high on people's lists for cash games, but he was a steady 40-yard producer down the stretch. Obviously, that isn't all that great, but Davis will get looks. We know Tennessee will try to establish Henry early, but if it falls behind in the second half, Davis could get some cheap production. "Cheap" is the operative word, as Davis is less expensive than a few receivers whose targets are less predictable. We'll take the savings and hope Davis scores for the first time since Week 7. 

SUNDAY DFS LINEUPS: FanDuel | DraftKings

TE Travis Kelce, Chiefs vs. Texans ($6,400). As soon as we picked Mahomes as our QB and committed to Henry and Cook, we almost had to pick Kelce as a stacking partner. Sure, we could've just used Jacob Hollister at TE and tried to find a way to fit in Tyreek Hill ($7,600), but that would have required even riskier WR picks. Kelce is a target monster (second most in regular season among players still playing), and Houston allowed the ninth-most fantasy points to TEs in the regular season. Kelce has as high of a floor as virtually any WR or TE, so he's worth paying up for in cash games. 

FLEX Jacob Hollister, Seahawks @ Packers ($4,000). Hollister hasn't done much down the stretch, failing to score in each of the past seven games (including last week's wild card game). However, he's seen consistent targets in that span (5.6 per game), and Seattle has thrown to him at least eight times in three games this year. Green Bay is middle of the pack at defending TEs, with their stats inflated by studs like George Kittle (6-129-1), Darren Waller (7-126-2), and Kelce (4-63-1), but if Seattle throws to Hollister more than six times, he can post big numbers, too.

D/ST Seattle Seahawks @ Packers ($2,600). We're mostly punting D/ST, as there are no favorable matchups at this point in this playoffs. You can make a strong case for the Vikings at $2,700 or Packers at $2,800, but that would require changes in our lineup, which ultimately isn't worth it. In Weeks 10-15, Seattle totaled nine sacks, 16 takeaways, and two defensive TDs -- and that included games against the 49ers, Vikings, and Rams. Seattle still has enough talent on its roster to make a few big plays despite the tough matchup. 

Matt Lutovsky

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Matt Lutovsky has been a writer and editor for The Sporting News since 2007, primarily writing about fantasy sports, betting, and gaming.