The NFL Playoffs are officially in full swing! Hopefully your favorite team will emerge victorious this Wild Card Weekend, but if your squad isn’t in action, DraftKings DFS contests are a great way to still have a rooting interest for the postseason.
There’s only three games on Sunday’s Wild Card slate, so six teams’ players are represented in the available pool for DFS lineups. Here’s three must-start options.
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RB Bucky Irving, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, $7,000
This is the playoffs, so there aren’t any bad teams remaining on the schedule. However, the Buccaneers’ matchup with the Commanders is a tasty one for opposing running backs. Washington ranked 30th among all NFL teams in rush yards allowed per contest with an average slightly over 137. The next-closest playoff team is the Los Angeles Rams at 22nd.
Enter Bucky Irving. The rookie halfback leapfrogged incumbent Rachaad White on the depth chart this season thanks to his impressive efficiency, garnering 1,122 rushing yards with an average of 5.4 yards per carry. He also has pass-catching upside with 2.8 receptions per game and an additional 392 receiving yards.
With over 1,500 yards from scrimmage and eight total touchdowns on the year, Irving continuously showcased his talent. He averaged 15.0 DKFP this season, and now in a soft matchup, he’s positioned for an impressive performance in his first-ever NFL Playoffs appearance.
QB Jayden Daniels, Washington Commanders, $7,500
On the flip side of that Tampa Bay-Washington matchup is Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels. The former Heisman Trophy-winner is every bit of the franchise signal-caller who was promised during the draft back in April.
Daniels has shown an uncanny ability to shred defenses, particularly in clutch moments when the pressure is on. He threw for over 3,500 yards and 25 touchdowns this season, also running for an additional 891 yards and six scores on the ground. He’s the ideal dual-threat playmaker for the modern NFL offense.
In what will also be his first career playoff game, Daniels faces a Tampa Bay defense which ranked 30th league-wide in passing yards allowed per contest. Giving up an average of over 240 yards each week, they’re an ideal matchup for the rookie quarterback to put on an offensive masterclass.
RB Saquon Barkley, Philadelphia Eagles, $8,500
Saquon is the most expensive salary on the DFS slate, and the Packers’ rush defense ranks seventh-best this season with just over 99 yards allowed on the ground per contest. With that said, I don’t care about either of those things — this is a talent pick, yes, but it’s also a vibes selection.
Barkley rushed for over 2,000 yards this season, is a threat in the passing game, and receives a bell cow’s share of backfield work. The guy is absolutely incredible, and even in a tough matchup he will remain the engine which powers the Eagles’ offensive attack. He’s worth playing for these reasons alone, but there’s a little bit more to this pick.
The guy spent his whole career on the Giants and only suited up for two playoff games in six years with the team. This is his first legitimate shot at a Super Bowl, and he’ll start the conquest in front of the rabid Philadelphia faithful. The vibes are just right for the NFL’s best halfback to explode in this spot on the national stage.
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