DFS Cash Game Plays: Wild Card Weekend
DFS Cash Game Plays: Wild Card Weekend
The NFL Wild Card Weekend DFS slate is ready for us to attack, but first, let's think about how to react to last week's DFS slate. With 18 weeks of data under our belts and just 12 teams playing, it's hard not to overreact to what we saw on the field, particularly as injuries and outlier performances pile up. Let other people chase the outcome stats, and we will instead focus on usage and opportunity.
We will go through each position at a variety of salary levels to see who are the best plays in cash games on DraftKings and FanDuel. For these purposes, a cash game is any contest that pays out more than one-third of the field. While these are also viable GPP options, we are primarily looking for a safe floor combined with high usage that can lead to ceiling games.
DFS Tools
Previous Week's Results
Results in select DraftKings contests:
- NFL MASSIVE $25 Double Up [Single Entry] - 1804/2758
- NFL GIANT $5 Double Up [Single Entry] - 2747/4957
- NFL GIANT $5 Double Up [Single Entry] - 2134/3448
- NFL GIANT $5 Double Up [Single Entry] - 1547/2298
- NFL $5 Double Up [Single Entry] - 99/124
- NFL GIANT $2 Double Up [Single Entry] - 1643/2873
- NFL GIANT $10 Double Up [Single Entry] - 2184/3448
- NFL GIANT $10 Double Up [Single Entry] - 1544/2298
Winning percentage in Single Entry contests - 0%
Cash line in DraftKings Massive $25 Double-Up contest - 160.94
This was my cash game lineup for all contests in Week 18:
I won't spend too much time on Week 18, because there were essentially two popular and chalky builds. This one is the build that didn't make the cash line, while the most popular lineup (subbing out Moore, Gray, and CIN for Chris Olave, Jake Mundt, and LAC) ran a long train and chopped most double-up pots. Sometimes you're on the right side of a 2-v-2, and sometimes you're not.
Be sure you're following me on X (@CableBoxScore) for any updates I make to my player pool as we get closer to lock. I will update that account every weekend with additional players as other news emerges.
Scoring Differences Between DraftKings and FanDuel
A quick primer on DraftKings versus FanDuel scoring for DFS if you are unfamiliar with their platforms.
- On DraftKings, you are selecting nine spots with a total of $50,000 to spend. FanDuel has nine spots with $60,000 to spend, so salaries are slightly higher.
- DraftKings is full PPR scoring, while FanDuel is half-PPR.
- DraftKings deducts one point for a fumble lost and an interception. FanDuel is minus two points for a lost fumble and minus one for an interception.
- DraftKings awards three-point bonuses for 300-yard passing games, 100-yard rushing games, and 100-yard receiving games. FanDuel does not award bonuses.
With those differences in mind, let's look at which players make good selections in Week 18.
Quarterback
Jalen Hurts (DK: $7,700, FD: $9,000) might not even make the cut this week if we can't be assured that the finger injury he suffered in Week 18 is healed, but he does have a great matchup against Tamp Bay for a discounted salary on DK. The Bucs allowed the second-most passing yards to quarterbacks this season, and they allowed the second-most rushing touchdowns to the position. Guess which two things Jalen Hurts does well? This game has sneaky shootout potential, so Hurts will be called on often to make big plays.
Ryan Kirksey
Ryan is a 20-year veteran of fantasy baseball, football, and basketball leagues. He has been writing about fantasy sports, sports betting, and DFS since 2018 and is a member of the FSWA and IBWAA. A native of Houston, he is a die-hard fan of the Astros, Rockets, and - reluctantly - the Texans. When he is not buried under sports analysis and TV show recaps, he works full-time in higher education and can be found pursuing his other passions: drinking coffee and writing about comic book investment and speculation.