The Final Four NFL teams remain, with the Conference Championship matchups set to prepare the Super Bowl stage. Just three games of NFL action remain in the season, two of which are taking place on Sunday.
Even still, there are plenty of ways to get in on the action in DraftKings DFS contests. As the Denver Broncos take on the New England Patriots and the Los Angeles Rams face the Seattle Seahawks, the DFS contest lobby remains full.
As you seek to maximize your DFS lineups, here is a look at a few players in line to outperform their price point to help give you an edge across this weekend’s slate. This article presents my top DFS lineup and the logic behind each selection.
Set your DraftKings fantasy football lineups here: NFL $2.25M Fantasy Football Millionaire [$1M to 1st]
Quarterback
Matthew Stafford ($6,300)
Matthew Stafford will be looking to put a bow on a potential MVP season by carving a path to the second Super Bowl appearance of his career. The future Hall of Fame QB capped off a regular season in which he completed 65.0% of his pass attempts for a league-leading 4,707 passing yards, 46 passing touchdowns, and just eight interceptions. Stafford averaged 22.0 fantasy points per game based on DraftKings scoring, which trailed only Josh Allen for the most among quarterbacks. He followed this up with a 26.2 point fantasy output in the opening round of the playoffs, but struggled last week against the Bears. Stafford finished with 10.2 fantasy points on DraftKings scoring, completing just 47.6% of his pass attempts and failing to throw a touchdown.
Expect a different story this week as the Rams prepare to match up with this Seahawks team. While Seattle offers a strong defense that ranks first in points allowed and sixth in yards conceded, there are no easy matchups at this stage of the playoffs. Stafford is artful in his ability to attack on short passes and get the ball out of his hands at a rapid rate. The Rams have plenty of playmakers around him and count on this continuing to be a major part of their attack. The Rams are more dependent on Stafford for their team’s success than any of the remaining playoff teams. He is just two wins away from adding a massive bullet point to his football resume. Count on Stafford meeting the moment and delivering for the Rams at a level well worth the $6,300 price point.
Other Considerations: Drake Maye ($6,000), Sam Darnold ($5,500), Jarrett Stidham ($4,500)
Running Back
Kenneth Walker III ($6,200)
The Seattle Seahawks received some tough injury news that Zach Charbonnet suffered a torn ACL in last week’s victory and will not be available for the remainder of the playoff run. Charbonnet had carved out a healthy role in the offense for himself, tallying 184 rush attempts for 730 yards and 12 touchdowns throughout the regular season. He had established himself as the red zone back, and Seattle will need to make up for his role in the offense.
Kenneth Walker III has proven plenty capable in his own right at the running back spot. The 25-year-old has served as the more dynamic running back between the tackles, rushing for 221 rushing attempts for 1,027 rushing yards, 282 receiving yards, and five total touchdowns on the season. Walker III averaged 11.6 fantasy points per game on the season, which ranks 28th among running backs. This was while Charbonnet added 11.5 fantasy points per game of his own, which ranked 30th.
Following Charbonnet’s injury last week, Walker tallied a rushing total of 19 carries for 116 yards and three touchdowns in the blowout victory over the 49ers. This came to a monstrous total of 38.5 fantasy points on DraftKings scoring. Especially considering Sam Darnold continues to battle an oblique injury, count on Seattle being content keeping the ball on the ground and leaning on their rushing attack. Los Angeles also ranked 12th in rushing yards allowed and 19th in net yards per rushing attempt across the regular season, while allowing 243 rushing yards and three touchdowns in the postseason. Count on Walker III seeing plenty of opportunities with the ball and outperforming this $6,200 price point, with there being a chance he ends up the week’s top fantasy producer.
RJ Harvey ($5,900)
The entire Broncos’ rushing attack will shift notably this week following the injury to Bo Nix. Jarrett Stidham is a massive question mark at the quarterback spot, who has not started a game or thrown a meaningful pass since 2023. But the Broncos have found an identity leaning on their strong defense for success and just doing enough offensively to get the win. One way Denver will look to make Stidham’s life easier is by utilizing RJ Harvey in the passing game. The rookie has carved out a clear role for himself in this Broncos’ offense. He tallied 146 rushing attempts for 540 yards and seven touchdowns, as well as 47 receptions for 356 receiving yards and five scores through the air in the regular season. Harvey averaged 12.2 fantasy points per game across the regular season, which ranked 26th among running backs.
Harvey has carried this effort into the postseason, recording six rush attempts and five receptions for 66 yards from scrimmage. While his 11.6 fantasy points based on DraftKings scoring do not blow you away, this was sixth among running backs. Count on the Broncos making an even clearer effort to lean on Harvey in the short passing and screen game, given the context of the quarterback play, as he continues to play a role in the rushing attack. The Broncos’ offense will be a bit of an overall mystery, but count on Harvey being involved.
Other Considerations: Kyren Williams ($6,500), Rhamondre Stevenson ($6,000), TreVeyon Henderson ($5,500), Jaleel McLaughline ($4,400)
Wide Receivers
Puka Nacua ($9,000)
The Los Angeles Rams have had one of the most dynamic offenses in the NFL this season, with Puka Nacua a driving reason why. The 24-year-old made a strong case for why he should be considered the best wide receiver in football. Nacua tallied an NFL-leading 129 receptions for 1,715 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns through the air. He led the NFL with 107.2 receiving yards per game and added a rushing score on the ground as well. His 24.6 fantasy points per game led all wide receivers on DraftKings scoring by nearly two entire points.
This has carried into the postseason, with Nacua recording 15 receptions for 167 yards and two total touchdowns. He has generated 48.7 fantasy points across the pair of playoff games and will remain an offensive staple in the matchup against the Seahawks. Nacua is diverse enough in his skillset to be used in short yardage situations as well as downfield shots. Sean McVay will surely have schemed up the best possible way to attack this Seattle Seahawks defense and count on Nacua remaining a key part of this.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba ($8,000)
Another player in the conversation for the best wide receiver in the NFL is Jaxon Smith-Njigba. The Ohio State product pulled in 119 receptions for an NFL-best 1,793 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns of his own. He trailed only Nacua across the regular season with 22.8 fantasy points per game on DraftKings scoring. Smith-Njigba has not exactly tallied this same level of production in the postseason, with just three receptions for 19 yards in the previous playoff victory. He did tally a touchdown reception and finished with 10.9 fantasy points on DraftKings scoring, however.
Especially given the oblique issue to Sam Darnold, Seattle was completely content keeping the ball on the ground and not airing it out much. This was especially the case with the game script playing out in their favor, after Rashid Shaheed took the opening kickoff back for a touchdown, and they were able to build a lead from there. Expect a different story as the Seahawks face the high-powered Rams’ attack. For what it is worth, Darnold looked completely fine throwing the ball when he was asked to and will need to at a much greater rate this week. Count on Smith-Njigba to be worth paying the premium against a Rams team that ranked 19th in passing yards and 19th in passing touchdowns conceded.
Kayshon Boutte ($4,500)
It has been an impressive season for Kayshon Boutte, who has fully found his footing in this Patriots offense. The LSU product tallied 33 receptions for 551 receiving yards and six touchdowns across the regular season. His 9.1 fantasy points per game on DraftKings scoring ranked 53rd among wide receivers. But Boutte has shown no signs of slowing down in the postseason, tallying 141 receiving yards and a touchdown through his first two games played.
Looking at this matchup, the Patriots will face a tough Broncos defense that ranked seventh in total passing yards conceded, fourth in passing touchdowns allowed, and first in net yards allowed per passing play. A driving force of this is Patrick Surtain II being one of the best cornerbacks in football. Expect Surtain II to be tasked with matching up with Stefon Diggs throughout and for the to be a fundamental part of the Broncos’ scheme. While Diggs will still see some opportunities, expect New England to be content looking for other options given the matchup. Boutte will see his offensive role scaled up and has proven ready for the challenge. Drake Maye has shown some significant trust in Boutte of late and count on this carrying into the biggest matchup of the season.
Other Considerations: Davante Adams ($6,000), Stefon Diggs ($5,800), Courtland Sutton ($5,700), Mack Hollins ($3,900)
Tight End
Evan Engram ($3,300)
Tight ends can be a backup quarterback’s best friend, and expect this to be the case for Jarrett Stidham this week. Evan Engram is a talented pass catcher at the tight end position. The two-time Pro Bowler has tallied 50 receptions for 461 yards and one touchdown this season. He was limited to one reception on three targets in the opening postseason matchup. However, Engram has had some impressive postseason flashes before, and this is a matchup in which he should have a clearer path to production. During the two postseason games he played with the Jaguars in 2022, Engram tallied 12 receptions for 124 receiving yards and a touchdown. He will be facing a Patriots defense that has allowed an average of 5.7 receptions for 57.0 receiving yards to tight ends and six touchdowns to the position this year. The lack of recent film of Stidham makes the Broncs’ offense difficult to project, but the organization is doing everything possible to inject him with confidence. Short passes to the tight end over the middle are another clear chance to do so, and expect Engram to be involved in the offensive attack throughout.
Other Considerations: Hunter Henry ($4,800), Colby Parkinson ($3,500), Terrance Ferguson ($2,700)
Flex
Rashid Shaheed ($4,100)
The Seattle Seahawks made a midseason trade to bring in Rashid Shaheed to solidify their win-now intentions. They were rewarded by this by the former Saints’ standout taking the opening kickoff back for a touchdown. While his special teams ability is an obvious bonus, Shaheed is still plenty capable of making an impact in the standard offense. He tallied 59 receptions for 687 receiving yards and two touchdowns this season. 15 receptions for 188 of these yards came across his final nine games with Seattle. While Shaheed is a boom-or-bust type of player, it is these types of risks that can win you the contest. The Los Angeles defense can be vulnerable at times and allowed 26 passing touchdowns on the season. Expect the Seahawks to be ready to dig deep into their playbook and put the ball in the hands of their top playmakers. They traded for Shaheed for these types of games, and don’t be shocked if he ends up a difference maker in the NFC battle.
Defense & Special Teams
Denver Broncos ($2,500)
The New England Patriots enter as the most expensive defense due to the matchup with Jarrett Stidham at $3,500. But I am saving $1,000 for other positions by taking the other side of this matchup. Without being too disrespectful to Bo Nix, who largely has been really good this year, the Broncos gameplan does not change much without him. They will lean on their defense for success, look to control the pace of play, and make a clear effort not to turn the ball over. Expect this to put the defense in a strong position for a solid fantasy output. On the other side of things, Drake Maye came up short in this category just last week. C.J. Stroud is seeing the majority of the criticism after the Texans came up short, but Maye also turned the ball over three times, and the team maintained control of two additional fumbles. Conditions were surely a factor, but the Broncos’ defense is opportunistic and will punish Maye if he makes similar mistakes. Expect the game script to play into the favor of a solid fantasy output and for the Broncos to make the plays when they are there to give the team every chance to win.
Other Considerations: Patriots ($3,500), Seahawks ($3,300), Rams ($2,800)
