Draft Kings Strategy NFL Playoffs: Best Players For Postseason Wildcard Round

The regular season is over, and in the postseason bargains are not nearly as important as simply having players produce. For the playoffs, I’ll point out nice bargains if they are there, but my focus is only to recommend players I believe will perform in a big way for you. And remember, scoring is IMPORTANT. Here is DraftKings’ scoring system.

Quarterbacks

Drew Brees, Saints ($6,600): Brees is not the most expensive QB on Draft Kings this week, which is surprising, and makes him a value on this platform. While the Vikings do have a strong defense, choosing Brees at home rarely is a bad bet, especially since he has thrown 15 touchdown passes in his last four games. The Saints are red hot, and they’re at home. There isn’t much else to be said.

Tom Brady, Patriots ($5,800): Brady’s season has been underwhelming to say the least, but there is still upside to one of the greatest passers of all time. He’s had bright spots, like a 341-yard, three-touchdown evisceration of Pittsburgh in Week 1, and a 348-yard, three-touchdown demolition of the Redskins in Week 5. Brady’s weaponry is the worst it’s been in a long time, and his accuracy is beginning to fade with age. Still, the Titans defense is weaker vs. the pass than the run, and the Patriots’ best bet to win the game is allowing Brady to dominate play rather than force feeding the likes of Sony Michel and Rex Burkhead.

Running Backs

Derrick Henry, Titans ($8,200): Henry has been monstrously successful this season, and despite a not-so-great matchup with the Patriots, teams have been much more successful attacking them on the ground than through the air. Few RBs have been as consistent week-to-week than Henry, and even fewer have the type of upside he possesses. Henry has three games this year in which he rushed for more than 150 yards and scored multiple touchdowns. He may not explode to that level this week, but he’s as safe as it gets.

Carlos Hyde, Texans ($5,100): Hyde has quietly been an above-average RB this year, consistently receiving a heavy workload and scoring seven touchdowns this season. He rushed for 80 yards or more six times, and posted at least 60 yards 10 times. The upside isn’t really there for a monster performance, but he’s pretty safe in this matchup with Buffalo to turn in low-end RB1 or high-end RB2 production.

Wide Receivers

Michael Thomas, Saints ($9,300): Thomas is the best receiver in football right now, and it’d be a surprise if he is not a Top 3 WR for the Wildcard Round. He’s shown insane consistency all year, and that’s no knock on his upside; Thomas has rattled off nine double-digit catch performances, gone for 89 yards or more 13 times, and saw at least seven targets in every single game of 2019. I’m all about bargains, but running a lineup without him just puts you behind the 8-ball once options thin out.

Adam Thielen, Vikings ($6,200): Thielen was frustration manifested into human form from Week 8 on, but I’m ready to trust Kirk Cousins’ favorite red zone target again. With Minnesota in New Orleans, and facing a Top 5 run defense, they’re going to have to throw the football. Stefon Diggs has established himself as the No. 1 this year, but Thielen is still the man in the end zone. Even if he falls short of Diggs’ targets and yardage, Thielen is a strong bet to score at least one touchdown, and possibly more if this evolves into a shootout. Don’t forget, prior to hurting his hamstring, Thielen had scored four touchdowns in nine quarters.

Cole Beasley, Bills ($5,600): Beasley isn’t the high-octane pass-catcher in this offense, but he’s John Brown’s equal in consistency. Beasley has seen six or more targets 12 times this season, which will be incredibly valuable against Houston’s porous secondary. He’s priced like a WR3 when he has a very good chance to perform like a high-end WR2.

Tight Ends

Dallas Goedert, Eagles ($5,200): There’s an $800 gap between Goedert and Zach Ertz, which would make sense if Ertz were healthier. Those two are Carson Wentz’s best pass-catchers in this game by a mile, so it makes all the sense to roll with the discount on the healthier player. Also, while Goedert spent a big chunk of the year as more of a nuisance who vultured TDs from Ertz, he’s evolved into a player who has seen six or more targets in seven straight games. His yardage floor is still a lot lower than Ertz’s, but TE isn’t a strong position this week. If you aren’t using an Eagle – and Ertz’s availability isn’t guaranteed – then you’re just really rolling the dice.

Darren Fells, Texans ($3,000): If you can’t figure out a way to get Goedert or Ertz in there, Fells is likely the best bet for a touchdown, although he hasn’t found the end zone since Week 13, and posted 31 receiving yards in the three starts following that last score. He has seven touchdowns on the year, and is good for 2-4 targets a week, most of which come in the end zone.