When setting your weekly NFL DFS lineups, it can be just as helpful to have an idea of whom you DON’T want to include as whom you do. Every Friday we’ll highlight a few players that you might want to fade. When a player appears here, it mainly refers to fading him in cash games. If you play in a lot of large field, multi-entry tournaments, you might consider just being underweight on these players relative to the field rather than not using them at all.
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Players I’m fading for the Divisional Round Weekend include:
Brandon Aiyuk, San Francisco 49ers at LA
I’ve said all week that I think the 49ers’ pass game is due for a bump, but that means I like the savings you get with Garoppolo, and that I think George Kittle is going to be busy. I suspect Deebo Samuel will continue to make his mark in both phases of the game, but I can’t go so far as to trust Aiyuk. Remember, this game does have a lower point total, and when rostering secondary receivers on the cheap, my preference is to target those with the most potential offense, e.g. Kansas City and Cincinnati.
Tyler Higbee, LA Rams vs. San Francisco
I don’t really have anything negative to say about Higbee, I’m just sticking with Travis Kelce and Kittle this week. Using Higbee in a multi-entry tournament in order to diversify your lineups and get exposure to any potential touchdown is fine. His target share is decent, and he did score in both of the regular season matchups with the 49ers (Week 18 was his best game of the season). His most likely outcome is a 5-8 fantasy point game (half-PPR scoring).
Clyde Edwards-Helarire, Kansas City Chiefs vs. Cincinnati
The Chiefs backfield may well make an impact on Sunday, but figuring out where the best value is…I don’t like guessing games in DFS. CEH was more efficient than McKinnon on the ground last weekend, but McKinnon saw a lot more work and was effective in the pass game. There’s a non-zero chance that Darrel Williams is added to the possible mix this week (he’s fully practiced), further clouding the situation. Running back is tough this weekend, but I think your safest plays are Mixon and Mitchell.
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Players I like, but who are expected to have high ownership this weekend include: Patrick Mahomes, Joe Burrow, Travis Kelce, Ja’Marr Chase, Tyreek Hill, Cooper Kupp, Joe Mixon, Eli Mitchell. You might consider deviating away from this player pool and pivoting in large GPPs if you’re after a more unique lineup.
