NFL DFS Expert Survey: Wild Card Weekend - Saturday Slate
Our panel of experts is here to give you their NFL DFS advice for this week’s main slate by answering a handful of questions to help you make crucial lineup-building decisions. Want to know Noto’s three favorite players for cash games? Or headChopper’s favorite correlation? Find out below!
NFL DFS Picks: DraftKings & FanDuel Expert Survey for Wild Card Weekend (Saturday Slate)
Rank your three favorite players for cash games, in order:
| Analyst | Rank 1 | Rank 2 | Rank 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Notorious | Derrick Henry | Joe Mixon | Rashod Bateman |
| Stevietpfl | Derrick Henry | Joe Mixon | Ladd McConkey |
| Krayton | Joe Mixon | Derrick Henry | Ladd McConkey |
| ebeimfohr | Derrick Henry | Joe Mixon | Rashod Bateman |
| ncorfield8k | Joe Mixon | Derrick Henry | Ladd McConkey |
| Davis Mattek | Derrick Henry | Joe Mixon | Rashod Bateman |
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What is your favorite correlation and why?
Notorious: Derrick Henry + Ravens D/ST – The last time these teams squared off (Week 16), Henry had 24 carries for 162 yards. He also added 2 receptions for 27 yards. While he’s not a major part of the passing game, his 7 targets over the last 3 games of the regular season were encouraging. The Steelers run defense hasn’t been nearly as good in the second half of the season, and we know this is the time of the season where Henry really shines. As 10-point favorites at home, he should have a clear path to 25 touches. He pairs nicely with the defense, as the Steelers might be forced to air it out.
Stevietpfl: Justin Herbert + Ladd McConkey – Lamar Jackson is the clear-cut top option at quarterback. With that said, I want to be overweight on Derrick Henry, which leads me to playing more Herbert (I also have no issues with playing Jackson and Henry together). Herbert has thrown for at least 280 yards and 2 touchdowns in 3 straight games. The Chargers have been struggling to run the ball, and they’ve opened the playbook for Herbert. If the Chargers are going to win this game, I think Herbert is going to have a big game. McConkey continues to be his #1 target. He has at least 5 catches for 85+ yards in 4 of his last 5 games. He finished the season with a 29% first-read rate and a 23% target rate. I will also run some double stacks with Herbert, McConkey, and Quentin Johnston.
Krayton: Lamar Jackson + Derrick Henry – I really like the idea of getting both Lamar and Henry in my lineup and capturing as many points as I can from the Ravens. Lamar has the highest upside of any QB, and he ended the regular season leading QBs in fantasy points per game (26). In the two matchups he’s had against the Steelers, he has thrown for 414 yards and 4 TDs. Henry had 162 rushing yards against Pittsburgh back in Week 16, and his rushing upside is elite once again. I will definitely be overweight the field on this combination and then will look to build my lineup from there.
ebeimfohr: Lamar Jackson + Derrick Henry + 2 Ravens Pass Catchers – My favorite way to play the slate is by overloading on the Ravens. They are without Zay Flowers, so we have a boatload of salary-saving options that can get us the raw points from Lamar and Henry plus the best plays from the LAC/HOU game. Mark Andrews and Rashod Bateman should be the go-to guys in the passing game without Zay Flowers, but Isaiah Likely is my favorite GPP option. I hope that the Ravens go to more 2-TE personnel without Zay. I’ll also be going to Tylan Wallace and Nelson Agholor at WR.
ncorfield8k: CJ Stroud + Nico Collins + Diontae Johnson – Diontae Johnson might not have much of a role this weekend. Let me say that up front. But it’s an uncertain situation, and I love that for GPPs. There has been a lot of coach speak about Johnson the past couple weeks, and all of it has been positive. The Chargers defense has allowed the 7th-most schedule-adjusted fantasy points per game to wide receivers over the past five weeks as well as the 11th-most to QBs. It’s a decent matchup, and outside of Collins, the stack is projected for low ownership.
Davis Mattek: Lamar Jackson + Isaiah Likely + any Ravens WR – There is a false narrative around the Ravens that they are not a passing team, despite Lamar leading the league in AYA and being 6th in passing yards. With Zay Flowers out, the passing tree will be condensed. Lamar is the best QB play of the slate, and I want him double-stacked with Likely, Mark Andrews, Rashod Bateman, Nelson Agholor, Tylan Wallace — anyone who breathes really.
Who’s your favorite contrarian play and why?
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About the Author
Robert Brown (aka Epignosis) was having lunch at a sports bar. A football game was on. He remarked to his wife that if he could have a second life, he’d like to be someone who enjoyed watching sports. That enjoyment began when he signed up for a fantasy football league that needed one more player. Since then, he has enjoyed playing NFL, NBA, and (especially) MLB DFS. When not teaching American literature, editing content for RotoGrinders (which he has done since 2019), or making lineups, Epignosis is rocking out or jazzing it up on one of several possible instruments.