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Fantasy Football Wild Card Weekend FantasySP Expert Picks: Saquon Barkley, Derrick Henry, Jalen McMillan and More

The experts at FantasySP answer a handful of questions in advance of the first round of the playoffs.

Daniel Hepner Jan 11th 8:50 AM EST.

Dec 29, 2024; Tampa, Florida, USA;Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Jalen McMillan (15) runs the ball in for a touchdown  against the Carolina Panthers  during the second half at Raymond James Stadium. Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images
Dec 29, 2024; Tampa, Florida, USA;Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Jalen McMillan (15) runs the ball in for a touchdown against the Carolina Panthers during the second half at Raymond James Stadium. Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images

We have reached the playoffs! It’s a great time because the games start to mean more, but it also means we are quickly headed to the end of football season. Sure, free agency and the draft will come after that, but there’s nothing like having real NFL football on TV.

We need to take advantage while we can, and that means continuing to play fantasy football. Get fully immersed! With options to stay involved, the experts here at FantasySP are here to help.

In preparation for the Wild Card Round of the NFL playoffs, Mark Morales-Smith, Morgan Rode, and Daniel Hepner answered five questions pertaining to the players in action.

In a DFS contest, are you leaning toward one of the top guys or someone more budget-friendly who has a good matchup?

Mark: It always has to be a mix. Not much changes in DFS from the regular season to the playoffs.

Morgan: I agree with Mark to a degree but would also say that I prefer to start players who performed all season instead of trying to bargain hunt.

Daniel: The top guys are the running quarterbacks who regularly score high, like Lamar Jackson, Josh Allen, and others. They will always get their points. It’s tempting to go with the cheaper guys, but it only makes sense if you’re spending big at another position and loading up on the best receivers, for example.

Which running back is going to have a huge week?

Mark: No need to overthink this one. The answer is Saquon Barkley against the Green Bay Packers.

Morgan: I’ll say Derrick Henry. He’s going to be a workhorse in the Ravens’ postseason run, and he should be a fantasy/DFS monster.

Daniel: The Commanders allowed the third-most yards per rush attempt this season. ESPN measured Washington 23rd in run stop win rate and Tampa Bay in the top six in both run and pass blocking. Bucky Irving leads the run game for the Bucs and could be in line for a big day. A bonus in PPR formats, Rachaad White and Irving had 51 and 47 receptions, respectively, and can get another boost that way.

How about a wide receiver who might be under the radar but could make his name in the first round?

Mark: He got hot at the end of the year, but this week has a chance to be Jalen McMillan’s coming out party on the national stage. The rookie could really explode into a household name over the next few weeks.

Morgan: I’ll go with Baltimore’s Rashod Bateman. Zay Flowers isn’t playing, so some other wide receiver will need to step up - Bateman is my guess.

Daniel: In the last three weeks of the regular season, Washington receiver Olamide Zaccheaus combined for 15 catches, 206 yards, and three touchdowns. Tampa Bay was a little worse than average in terms of yards per pass attempt allowed, but they gave up the eighth-most fantasy points per game to wide receivers.

Give us a tight end to stay away from this week.

Mark: Dalton Kincaid. He was a letdown all year, and there is no reason to go back to that well now.

Morgan: I’ll say Will Dissly. The Chargers’ top pass catcher can change from week to week, but Dissly just hasn’t been consistent enough to trust on a big stage and in a tougher matchup.

Daniel: The Eagles gave up the fewest yards per pass attempt and second-least fantasy points per game to tight ends on the season. Green Bay’s Tucker Kraft might be hard-pressed to find any space.

How should fantasy owners approach the playoffs compared to the regular season?

Mark: It depends on the format of what you’re doing. In my playoff league, you get multipliers each round as the playoffs go on. So you want to load up on players who you think will go deep into the playoffs. If you can only pick one player from each team, your QBs should be your Super Bowl predictions too. 

Morgan: As I said in the answer to the first question, I prefer to trust the players who delivered all season instead of trying to hit on the breakout players. Those are the guys who are most often going to deliver in the postseason.

Daniel: The best matchups go away because the worst defensive teams don’t make the playoffs, so stars mean more for the most part, as Morgan just said. Cheaper players are fine in DFS if you can find a bargain or two, but don’t leave yourself without high-level players while trying to get too cute building your lineup.

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