Author: Paul Shapiro, Staff Writer
Join AccuScore now using the code SALE50 for $50 off an annual All-Sports premium membership. For all others this is $349, but as you are reading this article, it is only $299... Join Today
you’re playing, here are five Wild Card DFS picks well worth targeting based on their potential this weekend.
Expect Gurley To Go Wild This Weekend
It’s easy to start with the potential MVP of the Fantasy Football season, but Todd Gurley should continue to be money in the bank for his owners when the Rams take on the Falcons in the late game on Saturday.
Todd Gurley and his more than 2,000 all-purpose yards could help you run away with a win during Wild Card weekend. AP Photo/Mark Zaleski
In Weeks 14-16, Gurley averaged more than 120 yards on the ground and 75 yards receiving while racking up eight total touchdowns, leading his fair share of Fantasy owners to a championship. We should expect more of the same against a Falcons defense that was killed through the air by running backs this season, giving up 110 receptions for more than 800 yards. Looking at a running back who had 64 catches for 788 yards and six touchdowns, that’s music to my ears.
Priced at $9,700 and $10K, in DraftKings and FanDuel, respectively, Gurley should be a cornerstone of any lineup and well worth every cent during Wild Card Weekend. Build around Gurley as he, and the Rams, seem to have found something special this season.
Hunt Likely To Remain Hot
Also, from the Saturday set, Kareem Hunt is another back that helped Fantasy owners to a title in 2017. During Weeks 14-16, the Chiefs leaned heavily on Hunt, a likely preview for his usage in the playoffs. His lowest output during those games was 91 rushing yards, four catches for 15 yards and a touchdown, which is likely his floor in Saturday’s matchup against the Titans.
I plan to stack Hunt, and his $8,200 FanDuel and $8,100 DraftKings price tag, with Gurley to make a dynamic running back pairing this weekend. Averaging nearly 83 yards per game on his way to the NFL rushing title, Hunt should key the Chiefs offense playing at home as nine-point favorites.
Expect at least 90 yards and a touchdown, making Hunt a bit of a value play at his price this weekend.
Dial Up Delanie as TE1
In the same game, my sleeper tight end of the weekend plays — Delanie Walker. While most owners will look to bigger names like Zach Ertz, Greg Olsen, or Travis Kelce, I’m pegging Walker as the top tight end this weekend.
His seven targets and nearly four grabs per game make his $4,700 DraftKings and $5,800 FanDuel price on the cheap side compared to his upside. Walker remains a key cog to the Titans’ offense, serving as a safety blanket for Marcus Mariota. And in Mariota’s playoff debut, look for the QB to find his favorite target early and often for at last 65 yards and a touchdown on Saturday.
Buy In On Bortles’ Value
When you look at the quarterbacks under center this weekend, Blake Bortles is likely far down on your rankings list. But with only eight options, Bortles is big time value play coming in at $6,000 on DraftKings and $7,600 on FanDuel.
Just look at what the UCF product did in Weeks 12-16! Believe it or not, but Bortles was a Top-5 QB, putting up 22-plus points in six-point QB TD leagues. He topped 300 yards in three of those five contests and had at least two touchdowns all five games.
It’s make or break for Blake and I think he comes through Sunday, especially at a discounted price compared to other QBs. By banking on Bortles (let’s say 270 yards and two TDs), you can spend those precious few salary cap dollars on premium players at skill positions like WR (see below).
Thomas Will Be Top Wideout
Michael Thomas is a player I won’t go without this weekend. Facing a Carolina defense that he’s already scorched twice — and scored on twice, to go along with 12 catches, 17 targets and 157 yards — Thomas continues to be the go-to target for Drew Brees.
Averaging almost 80 yards a game for the second straight season, Thomas is as close to a sure thing as we get in Fantasy circles. Especially against the Panthers, who gave up the fourth-most Fantasy points to wide receivers this season.
With a stud like Thomas, his price tag of $7,800 in DraftKings and $8,300 in FanDuel should give you at least a point per $1K, and likely more. This being their third matchup, it seems like a no-brainer to expect more of the same from Thomas on Sunday — five catches for 70 yards and a TD — when the two face off in the final game of Wild Card weekend.
