NFL DFS NFL Wild Card Round RB Coach: Saquon Barkley, Christian McCaffrey, James Cook

Welcome to the NFL DFS Wild Card Weekend RB coach article! In creating my NFL Wild Card Weekend DFS lineups, I’ll continue to use season-long trends and fantasy points allowed data as a guide, but I’ll also be taking the intangibles of a win-or-go-home week into consideration, in deciding who I include and leave out of my DFS lineups this week. The NFL playoffs represent a new season in which every NFL DFS RB and every defense they face gets to start a playoff run with a clean slate. 

NFL DFS Wild Card Weekend RB Coach

We are lucky enough to have six games to watch and bet on this weekend, so let’s take advantage of it and try to win some cash in the new year!!

NFL DFS RB Top-Tier Picks For NFL Wild Card Weekend

Saquon Barkley, RB, Philadelphia Eagles

DraftKings: $7,000 | FanDuel: $8,500 

Barkley is my favorite NFL DFS RB this week. He has a good chance of being the highest scoring NFL DFS RB of the Wild Card Weekend. He takes on the San Francisco 49ers, who were virtually run over by Seattle Seahawks RBs Kenneth Walker III and Zach Charbonnet in Week 18. With Barkley inactive in Week 18, he had the opportunity to heal from the many nagging injuries that he, and virtually all NFL DFS RBs, are bothered by this time of year. Barkley got off to a relatively slow start to the season, but he has averaged 4.8 YPC and also scored three TDs in his final five games of the regular season. Only five teams ran the ball more than the Eagles this season, and that trend should continue for their entire playoff run.  

Christian McCaffrey, RB, San Francisco 49ers

DraftKings: $8,500 | FanDuel: $9,500 

McCaffrey led all NFL DFS RBs in PPR fantasy scoring this season and has a great chance to have a bounce-back game against the Philadelphia Eagles. With the Seattle Seahawks giving up the fourth fewest average PPR points per game to NFL DFS RBs, it came as no surprise that they kept McCaffrey in check in Week 18. This week’s matchup won’t be easy for McCaffrey. He takes on an Eagles team whose defense against RBs has improved as the regular season progressed. They only gave up 3.55 YPC and 3.6 catches per game to the position over the last five games of the season. The Niners and McCaffrey have been downplaying it, but he’s been dealing with an occasional stiff back issue since Week 17. It’s not going to keep him from playing this week, but there’s a chance that it might affect his overall production. Nevertheless, with the 49ers’ season on the line and with McCaffrey being the focal point of their offense, you should absolutely consider using him in DFS this week.

NFL DFS RB Mid-Tier Picks For NFL Wild Card Weekend

James Cook III, RB, Buffalo Bills

DraftKings: $7,400 | FanDuel: $8,400 

After leading the NFL in rushing TDs (16) last season, Cook III led the league in rushing yards (1621) this season. He has what appears to be a very tough matchup against the Jaguars this weekend, but with his continued knack for finding the end zone (he scored 12 rushing TDs this season), I’ll be including him in some of my DFS lineups. He has a good track record in Wild Card playoff games. In three such games, he averaged 4.49 YPC and scored two rushing TDs. Only one team has run the ball more than the Bills this season (50.55% of the time), and they’ve run the ball at an even higher rate (53.85%) over their last three games. Cook III should be able to provide NFL DFS players with double-digit points in both DraftKings and FanDuel platforms.

Travis Etienne Jr., RB, Jacksonville Jaguars

DraftKings: $6,600 | FanDuel: $7,500 

Etienne Jr. averaged 4.8 YPC in his first 11 games of the season, but over his last six games, that average has plummeted to just 3.2 YPC. However, playing the Buffalo Bills in the opening round of the NFL playoffs is a gift that he should be able to take advantage of. The Bills haven’t been able to stop the run all season. They’ve given up the sixth most rushing yards to NFL DFS RBs (1830) and the most rushing TDs (18) to the position this season. Etienne Jr. will likely be a huge part of the Jaguars’ offensive game plan against the Bills and should be a viable lower-cost NFL DFS RB option who has a good chance of giving you a good return on your investment. 

Josh Jacobs, RB, Green Bay Packers

DraftKings: $6,300 | FanDuel: $7,800 

Jacobs, who has dealt with several injuries this season, hasn’t played his normal weekly rate of snaps since Week 15 and justifiably sat out the Packers’ Week 18 matchup against the Minnesota Vikings. According to Jacobs, he is fully healthy ahead of his Wild Card matchup against the division rival Chicago Bears. In his last game against the Bears, Jacobs played just 38.9% of the Packers' offensive snaps, but in his first matchup against them in Week 14, he averaged 4.3 YPC and scored a rushing TD. Jacobs has had good career success in Wild Card weekends. In two such games, he averaged 5.29 YPC and scored a TD. The Bears have given up 4.5 YPC and four total TDs to NFL DFS RBs in their final five games of the season.

Kyren Williams, RB, Los Angeles Rams

DraftKings: $6,300 | FanDuel: $7,900 

Rams head coach Sean McVay was true to his word when he said that his starters would play in Week 18. Williams, who was dealing with an ankle injury, suited up and played 62.7% of the team’s offensive snaps. Blake Corum stealing some carries and vulturing TDs is always a concern when deciding to start Williams. However, Williams has quietly had a very good season. He rushed for 1252 yards (4.8 YPC) and scored a total of 13 TDs. He’s also had good success in the playoffs in the past, averaging 5.06 YPC and scoring a TD in three career playoff games. Corum will certainly play his fair share of snaps this weekend, but Williams is the Rams' NFL DFS RB that I’ll be including in my DFS lineups.

NFL DFS RB Wild Card Weekend Potential Fades Of The Week 

Chicago Bears NFL DFS RBs have what appears to be a good matchup against the Green Bay Packers this weekend. The Pack have given up 4.65 YPC and six rushing TDs to NFL DFS RBs over their last five games. Kyle Monangai has cut into enough of D’Andre Swift’s workload as the season progressed that it has made starting either Bears RB in DFS something to avoid.

New England Patriots RBs TreVeyon Henderson and Rhamondre Stevenson were used as a great 1-2 punch against the Miami Dolphins in Week 18. They’ve got a very tough matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers, who have given up the second fewest PPR fantasy points to NFL DFS RBs this season. Given the fact that we’re not sure who will lead the Patriots’ backfield in any given week, and the tough matchup that Henderson and Stevenson face this week, neither will be in my DFS lineups this Wild Card Weekend.

We’re going to have to closely monitor Los Angeles Chargers RB Omarion Hampton’s progress as his Sunday night matchup against the New England Patriots approaches. He has missed practice time this week due to an ankle injury. As this article is being written, there’s a possibility that the Chargers may need to lean on Kimani Vidal, Jaret Patterson, or Hassan Haskins this week, and their backfield is one that I’ll be avoiding in DFS. 

I think most of us would agree that Houston Texans rookie RB Woody Marks was a bust this season. He eventually became the team’s lead back but didn’t capitalize on the opportunity (3.6 YPC, 5 total TDs on the season). He takes on the Pittsburgh Steelers, who have given up just seven total TDs to NFL DFS RBs this season.