Sunday’s Best NFL DFS Core Plays: GPP Building Blocks – Wild Card Weekend

Welcome to my NFL Daily Fantasy Sports guide for the Wild Card weekend games. With it being a short slate I went with a cheat sheet approach. By now, we all know the good teams and the bad teams (which there aren’t many left). The plays below are essentially ranking matchup + salary and upside.

If they are on this page. I like them.

Quarterback Rankings (in order) 

• Josh Allen
• Justin Herbert 
• Jayden Daniels
• Baker Mayfield

Running Backs 

Best Spend Ups (In order)

• Saquon Barkley: Best Running back in 2024 + best on paper RB matchup of the week
• Derrick Henry: Best if you don’t play him with Lamar Jackson, who I am fading.
• Joe Mixon

Best Mid Range (In order)

• Bucky Irving 
• J.K. Dobbins
• Aaron Jones 

Best GPP Value:

• Austin Ekeler
• Rachaad White: Bucky Pivot

Wide Receiver 

Best Spend ups ( I would think you want one of the three)

• Justin Jefferson
• Nico Collins
• Puka Nacua

Ladd McConkey

The Texans are without a true slot corner. I cannot be certain, but if I am judging by who has played the most slot snaps on the Texans, Jeff Okudah should cover the majority of slot snaps. If that is the case, the Chargers slot receiver, Ladd McConkey, would have by far the best primary matchup of the slate. Okudah allows 5.68 YPRC. The next worst cover corner on the slate only allows 1.32 YPRC. If Okudah does not cover the slot (which isn’t a huge stretch) then he should see more Quentin Johnston, making him a very good GPP play. 

Khalil Shakir

He runs out of the slot, meaning he will avoid Pat Surtain. Surtain will be on the outside eliminating either Mack Hollins or Keon Coleman. Shakir has the second-best matchup on paper, volume, and salary considered, on the slate for me.

Terry McLaurin

Tampa has been a secondary we have attacked all season. They allow 37.3 fantasy points per game to the position, which is the 4^th worst left in the playoffs (MIN, DET, and BAL are the worst ton the season). I want to attack the outside of the field against the Buccaneers. I am hopeful that the Commander’s top targeted receiver gets the ball for Jaylen Daniels when he is covered by Josh Hayes, who is bottom three on the slate in YPRC.

Jalen McMillan

He has arrived and pulls the best matchup for any TB pass catcher.  

Others:

• DeVonta Smith
• Cooper Kupp: I don’t want him with Puka
• Rashod Bateman: Potentially more looks with Flowers out, which means PIT covers him as the WR1. It is not an easy spot, but the price is nice. 
• Courtland Sutton: WR1, at a WR2 price in potential trailing script. 
• Devaughn Vele: Matchup is great, volume is not. 
• Tylan Wallace: Speedster who could benefit from Zay Flowers being ruled out at min-price. Large risk.

Tight End Rankings

• TJ Hockenson: Best on-paper matchup, $4,200
• Mark Anders
• Zach Ertz
• Isaiah Likely

Again, I will update this article if anything changes. Be sure to come back and check for the most up-to-date plays.