NFL Wild Card Weekend starts out with a pair of tantalizing AFC matchups with major Super Bowl indications.
DraftKings is offering a Saturday Wild Card DFS contest for the chance to win $500,000. I’ve gone through all the contests and highlighted a trio of under-the-radar options that can help give you a crucial edge.
Set your DraftKings fantasy football lineups here: NFL $1.5M Saturday Special [$500K to 1st] (Sat)
DraftKings DFS Value Picks
C.J. Stroud ($5,500)
After a historic rookie season, the expected C.J. Stroud ascension never came to fruition in year two. After leading a well-oiled machine of an aerial attack in 2023, Houston’s passing game regressed dramatically, finishing the regular season with a negative EPA per play.
Top targets Stefon Diggs, Tank Dell, and Nico Collins all missed time. The constant reshuffling of pass catchers has hindered any momentum and has forced young and inexperienced options onto the field. The offensive line also ranks toward the bottom of the league in pass blocking. The situation has been catastrophic, but it’s hard to go against Stroud’s talent.
Collins remains in the fold and provides immense relief on the outside. John Metchie III and Xavier Hutchinson were standouts in college, and Dalton Schultz is still an above-average tight end. Diontae Johnson, claimed from waivers a couple of weeks ago, could potentially be an X-factor.
The Chargers have a ferocious defense, but Stroud’s poise shouldn’t be underrated. He still has a sense for the moment and, regardless of team success, has the chance to excel.
Rashod Bateman ($5,000)
A value play staple, Rashod Bateman is equally inconsistent and intriguing. With Todd Monken calling plays, the Baltimore offense is an efficient supernova that is unstoppable. The philosophy revolves around being well-balanced, which means outside of Derrick Henry and Lamar Jackson, the rest of the skill-position players can suffer from prolonged slumps. With usual WR1 Zay Flowers out, Bateman slides into his place and the chance of a breakout increases dramatically.
Bateman struggled in the pair of prior matchups with Pittsburgh, combining for just three receptions across both outings. In his last showing with Flowers out, Bateman tallied 18.6 fantasy points in a dominant effort against Cleveland. He’s a clinical route runner who creates constant separation. The Steelers are weak on the back end, and Bateman is due to flourish against his division rival.
Quentin Johnson ($4,800)
The case for Quentin Johnston is clear: if he can catch the rock, he can do damage. If it sounds simple, it’s because it is. The former first-round pick has not lived up to his draft selection, primarily due to his chronic case of the drops. Johnston has an imposing frame but is best when moving laterally in space.
His last game felt like the script flipped. Johnston corralled 13 of his 14 targets for 186 yards, his best performance as a pro. If he wants to continue to shed the “bust” moniker, lighting it up in the postseason would help destroy that label. Houston’s secondary hasn’t been elite over the last month, and Johnston’s form will be tough to contain.
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All odds provided by DraftKings Sportsbook, lines and odds subject to change.
I am a promoter at DraftKings and am also an avid fan and user (my username is xaiver-aguiar) and may sometimes play on my personal account in the games that I offer advice on. Although I have expressed my personal view on the games and strategies above, they do not necessarily reflect the view(s) of DraftKings and do not constitute a representation that any particular strategy will guarantee success. All customers should use their own skills and judgment in building lineups. I may also deploy different players and strategies than what I recommend above. I am not an employee of DraftKings and do not have access to any non-public information.
