With the regular season in the rearview mirror, the Divisional Round main slate features only four games, severely reducing the available player pool. Despite the smaller field, each game looks exciting with two game totals above 50-points. This adds more fringe players into player pool. With that said, here are this weeks standout plays.
Andrew Luck (@ Kansas City) - $6,200
Despite a convincing win and now playing in the highest totaled game on the slate, Andrew Luck's price fell by $200. Luck also faces a Chiefs defense that has allowed the most passing yards this season (4,721) and the second-most plays to opposing offenses. Coming in with a massive 57-point total, Luck looks like a solid pivot away from Patrick Mahomes.
Ezekiel Elliott (@ Los Angeles Rams) - $9,200
After leading the league in rushing (1,434) and recording another 137 yards in the Wild Card round, Ezekiel Elliott looks like a lock-button play again this week. Elliott has averaged 29.5 touches per game in his last four contests, along with 32 targets. The Rams allowed the sixth-most rushing yards to opposing backs (461), creating a clear path to fantasy success for Zeke. Elliott looks like a strong cash/GPP play again this week.
James White (v Los Angeles Chargers) - $4,900
After leading the league in running back targets (125), James White finished the year quietly, averaging only 5 targets per game in his last four contests. However, the Chargers have funneled production to receiving backs lately, allowing the second-most receiving yards to backs in the last four games of the regular season (259). This trend continued last week, where Kenneth Dixon capitalized for 53 receiving yards. White remains in play for GPPs.
Michael Thomas (v Philadelphia) - $7,900
With arguably the best matchup on the entire slate, Michael Thomas has averaged a stellar 10.5 targets in his last four games. Decimated by injuries, Philadelphia allowed the second-most yards to wide outs in their last four regular season games (778). This trend continued into the playoffs, where Allen Robinson flamed this unit for 143 yards last week. Thomas looks like one of the stronger cash game plays on the slate.
Robert Woods (v Dallas) - $5,900
Likely seeing a price reduction due to a matchup against a stout Dallas defense, Robert Woods could come in with lowered ownership this week. Since Cooper Kupp's mid-season ACL tear, Woods has led the Rams in targets (52), catches (31), and receiving yards (387). Woods has also run 81.9% of his routes from the slot since Kupp's injury, meaning he should avoid the shutdown coverages of Byron Jones and Chidobe Awuzie. Woods provides a high ceiling and leverage for GPPs in this matchup.
Chester Rogers (@ Kansas City) - $3,700
With Ryan Grant dealing with a toe injury, Chester Rogers played on 60.3% of the Colts snaps and saw 5 targets in Wild Card weekend. Rogers also draws a friendly matchup against a Chiefs defense that has allowed the fourth-most yards to wide outs this season (2,782). Coming at a bargain bin price, Rogers allows the mobility to target a few studs on this stacked slate.
Travis Kelce (v Indianapolis) - $7,000
With the tight end position as unreliable as ever, paying up should provide dividends on this slate. Travis Kelce finished the season with the second most targets (148) and receiving yards (1,330) in the NFL at this tight end position. He also draws the best tight end matchup on the slate, after the Colts allowed the most receiving yards to tight ends over the last four weeks of the season (396). Seeing more targets than teammate Tyreek Hill (132) and coming in $400 cheaper, paying up for Kelce looks like a strong play across all game formats.
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