NFL DFS Wild Card Weekend Example Lineups: Top Picks for DraftKings & FanDuel Contests
Published: Jan 11, 2025
UPDATED: Saturday, 1/11 at 3:10pm ET
The NFL playoffs are here and it's time to build some winning DFS lineups! If you are playing the two-game Saturday slate, be sure to check out our Saturday-Only DFS Playbook from Jon Impemba. If you are playing the full six-game Wild Card Weekend DFS slate, be sure to check out my DFS Playbook as well as my DFS Dart Board. Both can/should be used whether you're playing the full-slate or even just the three-game Sunday slate.
Please keep in mind, the NFL DFS Example Lineups below are for GPP tournaments only. I do not like or recommend playing a lot of cash games due to the amount of player overlap. Even on a six-game slate that extends from Saturday through Monday, there is so much chalk that it makes it very difficult to build a zero-fat, high-floor lineup without following the same path as so many others. It's not a bad thing. It's just the way things run in the DFS world. The smaller the slates, the heavier the chalk.
**Be sure to check the Playbook and Dart Board for late changes
Best of luck to you this week and let's make some money!
NFL Wild Card Weekend Notes
J.K. Dobbins (ankle) is expected to play in the AFC Wild Card Game against the Texans, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Broncos RB Tyler Badie (back) is questionable for the Wild Card Round against the Bills.
Quentin Johnston (thigh/illness) is expected to play in the AFC Wild Card Game against the Texans, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
DeVonta Smith (back/rest) was removed from the injury report and will play in Wild Card Weekend against the Packers.
Jalen McMillan (finger) was removed from the injury report and will play in the Wild Card Round against the Commanders.
Sterling Shepard (foot) was removed from the injury report and will play in the Wild Card Round against the Commanders.
Romeo Doubs (illness) was removed from the injury report and will play in Wild Card Weekend against the Eagles.
Jamison Crowder (hamstring) is questionable for the Wild Card Round against the Bucs
Cade Otton (knee) is questionable for the Wild Card Round against the Commanders.
NFL Weather: Wild Card Weekend DFS Impact
Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Baltimore Ravens
- Temperatures around 30 degrees with winds around 10mph
NFL Wild Card Weekend GPP Stacks
*Ranked in order of favorite
Washington Commanders: Jayden Daniels, Terry McLaurin, Zach Ertz or Olamide Zaccheaus (Irving coming back)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Baker Mayfield, Jalen McMillan, Mike Evans or Cade Otton/Payne Durham (Robinson coming back)
Minnesota Vikings: Sam Darnold, Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison or T.J. Hockenson (Williams coming back)
Los Angeles Rams: Matthew Stafford, Puka Nacua, Cooper Kupp (Jones or Jefferson coming back)
Baltimore Ravens: Lamar Jackson, Mark Andrews, Rashod Bateman or Isaiah Likely (Harris or Warren coming back)
Buffalo Bills: Josh Allen, Khalil Shakir, Keon Coleman or Amari Cooper or Dalton Kincaid (McLaughlin coming back)
Denver Broncos: Bo Nix, Courtland Sutton, Marvin Mims (Cook coming back)
Los Angeles Chargers: Justin Herbert, Ladd McConkey, Quentin Johnston or Derius Davis or Will Dissly (Mixon coming back)
Philadelphia Eagles: Jalen Hurts, A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith or Saquon Barkley or Dallas Goedert (Jacobs coming back)
Green Bay Packers: Jordan Love, Romeo Doubs, Jayden Reed or Tucker Kraft or Dontayvion Wicks (Barkley coming back)
Houston Texans: C.J. Stroud, Nico Collins, Robert Woods or Dalton Schultz or Diontae Johnson (Dobbins coming back)
Pittsburgh Steelers: Russell Wilson, George Pickens, Pat Freiermuth or Mike Williams or Calvin Austin (Henry coming back)
Top Picks for Wild Card Weekend DraftKings & FanDuel
QB Coach | RB Coach | WR Coach | TE Coach | DST Coach | Watch List | Dart Board
| Pos | Player | Team | Opponent | Salary | Proj. Draft% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| QB | Jayden Daniels | WAS | TB | $8,400 | - |
| RB | Saquon Barkley | PHI | GB | $9,600 | - |
| RB | Jaylen Warren | PIT | BAL | $5,600 | - |
| Pivot | Bucky Irving | TB | WAS | $7,600 | - |
| WR | Terry McLaurin | WAS | TB | $7,700 | - |
| Pivot | Olamide Zaccheaus | CHI | $5,600 | - | |
| WR | Jalen McMillan | TB | WAS | $6,400 | - |
| Pivot | Jordan Addison | MIN | LA | $6,800 | - |
| WR | Rashod Bateman | BAL | PIT | $6,100 | - |
| Pivot | Khalil Shakir | BUF | DEN | $6,200 | - |
| TE | Zach Ertz | WAS | TB | $5,800 | - |
| FLEX | Jaleel McLaughlin | DEN | BUF | $5,500 | - |
| DST | Philadelphia Eagles | PHI | GB | $4,600 | - |
| Pivot | Los Angeles Chargers | LAC | HOU | $4,400 | - |
| $59,700 |
Player News
Dolphins signed No. 13 overall pick DT Kenneth Grant to a four-year contract.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports that Grant will sign his contract today. The former Michigan defensive tackle is expected to fill a major void left by Christian Wilkins, who left for the Raiders in the 2024 offseason. Grant totaled 32 tackles, three sacks, and seven TFLs in his final season at Michigan and excelled at stopping the run while also generating 27 pressures in his final season, per PFF.
Beat reporter John Hendrix reports that free agent WR Donovan Peoples-Jones is among the 16 players that the Saints will host for their rookie minicamp.
Peoples-Jones last played regular season snaps with the Lions back in 2023, when he caught 13-of-24 targets for 155 yards. He is highly unlikely to return to fantasy relevance at this point but could perhaps sign on as a special teams contributor.
Titans signed fourth-round pick WR Elic Ayomanor to a four-year contract.
Ayomanor will now begin learning behind Calvin Ridley. Although Ayomanor is unlikely to find a meaningful role in year one, dynasty managers should note his status as training camp gets underway this summer. The former Stanford receiver flashed big-play ability in his two college seasons.
Buccaneers signed seventh-round pick WR Tez Johnson to a four-year contract.
Johnson will serve as a rotational deep-threat option for Baker Mayfield. His thin frame (5'10/154) simply does not lend itself to the repeated hits one incurs in a full-time role. Johnson did earn 100-plus targets in his two seasons at Oregon, though. His big-play style make him a better fit in best ball for now, pending any major on-field breakthroughs.
Giants waived DT Casey Rogers.
Rogers was a 2024 undrafted free agent and logged 33 defensive snaps for the Giants in his rookie season. He is credited with zero tackles and/or sacks. He may find his way onto another roster as a practice squad option.
Vikings signed third-round pick WR Tai Felton to a four-year contract.
Felton is quietly in play to challenge Vikings No. 3 WR Jalen Nailor in training camp. Nailor (5'11/190) caught 28-of-42 targets for 414 yards and six touchdowns in his first season as a starter last year, with the latter category buoying his fantasy productivity. Felton (6'1/183), meanwhile, caught 96-of-143 targets for 1,119 yards and nine touchdowns while averaging 2.32 yards per route run in his final college season. Fantasy managers should monitor Felton’s training camp reports this summer, as he could have a matchup-based WR5 role if everything falls into place.