With just two games in the NFL this weekend, the line between a great and terrible DFS lineup is very thin.  But if you break down the matchups and pay attention to a few key trends, there are a couple players who could net you a lot of cash this week.  Here are my Draft Kings plays for the Championship Round of the NFL Playoffs this week,

 

QUARTERBACK

Tom Brady (Patriots) -- $7900 - The obvious trend here is that Tom Brady always brings his “A game” against Peyton Manning.  The other fact is that nobody outside of the New England area is going to be playing Brady this week.  I expect this game to be close and for Brady to go tit for tat with the guy who broke his record this season.

 

RUNNING BACKS

Marshawn Lynch (Seahawks) -- $7900 – I am playing the chalk here and I will tell you why:  Pass interference penalties.  The Seahawks draw more pass interference penalties per pass attempt at home than any other team in the league (1/6).  The 49ers corners are as aggressive as it gets and will get called frequently I am sure this week.  Lynch will have 2+ rushing TD’s this week.

 

Frank Gore (49ers) -- $5200 – If you want to get cute and use Kendall Hunter here I wouldn’t completely disagree with that.  But the Seahawks defense is way worse against the run than the pass.  If the film was enough to stop Drew Brees and the Saints from attempting passes last week, the 49ers will use ground and pound this week as well.

 

WIDE RECEIVERS

Julian Edelman (Patriots) -- $6900 – Since the playoffs began I have felt most comfortable with Edelman as any other receiver.  Though he didn’t have a big game last week he is without question Brady’s favorite and thus a must start this week.

 

Eric Decker (Broncos) -- $6500 – Maybe it’s the insanely creepy pictures he and his pregnant wife took but I am feeling Decker this week.  The Pats will focus on shutting down former teammate Wes Welker and that leaves plenty of room for Decker to have a big game.

 

 

TIGHT END

Vernon Davis (49ers) -- $5000 – This is the easiest play of the weekend for me.  The 49ers will not be able to throw the ball to the outside and thus will look to attack the middle of the field with Vernon Davis.

 

 

FLEX

Golden Tate (Seahawks) -- $4400 – It’s always the guy nobody expects who comes through when it counts.  This week most players will be using Doug Baldwin for $3000 or getting cute with JerMaine Kearse for $3600.  Tate is Russell Wilson’s most frequent target and is precisely the guy we should be using out of that miserable WR corps.

 

KICKER

Steven Hauschka (Seahawks) -- $3200 – Without question Hauschka is the best kicker to use this weekend.  This game will most likely be decided by field goals and Hauschka could kick five of them on Sunday.

 

DEFENSE/SPECIAL TEAMS

New England Patriots -- $2600 – Leave it to Bill Belichick to thwart Peyton Manning once again this week.  Not using the Patriots defense this week is like not using Kryptonite gloves when boxing Superman.  Oh, and they are the cheapest defense on the board this week as well making this an even better play.