NFL DFS Divisional Round – The Sunday Crossword

It's the second of the week of the NFL playoffs—where all the big boys come out to meet the survivors of the previous week. It's also the second week with only four games from which to choose. In the playoffs everyone has a tough matchup, and that sure was evident in the Wildcard round. No entrant into DraftKings' Millionaire Maker GPP hit a perfect ticket. Sure you needed Kirk Cousins and the Kansas City Defense (this week's price $4,000). You needed Jordan Reed and Travis Kelce ($5,100) to play both tight end and flex. However, plenty of people went with these players, and no one at the top predicted that Chris Thompson and Fitzsimmons Toussaint ($4,200) would be the top two running backs.

And this week it gets even better. There is no clear cut top choice at quarterback. Ditto for tight end. Lots of reputable defenses. And there are injuries and tough matchups all up and down the running backs and wide receivers. Heck, that's the playoffs and that's the way it should be. I think this week presents the purest form of the DFS game that we've gotten all year. Percent ownership will be flat all across the board, and differentiation will come naturally. If I were to make a prediction, I'm guessing that David Johnson ($6,000) will be the highest owned player. But we shall see!

The games are played on both Saturday and Sunday and all will count in the contest. Here are some players to consider for your DFS ticket.

QB

Cam Newton ($7,500) – Solid gold all year, but there are no gimmes now

Ben Roethlisberger ($7,000) – Even if he plays, it will be hard to trust him

Russell Wilson ($6,800) – Ran the ball eight times against Carolina the first time

Carson Palmer ($6,500) – Palmer had a mediocre day when the team rolled Green Bay

Peyton Manning ($6,000) – Are you ready to jump back on? Tempted but have to decline

RB

Marshawn Lynch ($6,400) – Failed to launch last week; Is it finally time?

David Johnson ($6,000) – Of the top four most expensive RBs, the only one without a Q by his name

Jonathon Stewart ($5,800) – Like him to play, but has that brutal matchup against Seattle

Charcandrick West ($5,500) – Lot of money for little production last week

James White ($5,200), Brandon Bolden ($3,600), Stephen Jackson ($3,300) – Somebody will score

Fitzgerald Toussaint ($4,200), Jordan Todman ($3,800) – Lot of cheap work here if Williams can't go

Ronnie Hillman ($4,100) – Had his best week two weeks ago

WR

Antonio Brown ($9,800) – This move would take nerve; Could be a moneymaker

Julian Edelman ($7,100) – A favorite of mine, but would like to see it first

Demaryius Thomas ($7,000) – Pittsburgh can be had through the air

Martavis Bryant ($6,000) – Made a lot of winning tickets this year, including last week

Emmanuel Sanders ($5,800) – Absolutely exploded against Pittsburgh the first time

John Brown ($5,200), Michael Floyd ($5,100) – The kind of price you're gonna need; Tough to choose

Albert Wilson ($3,800) – If Maclin ($6,400) can't go

TE

Gronk ($7,500) – The bluest of blue bloods, but not sure he's worth more than the next two guys

Greg Olsen ($6,900) – A matchup problem even for Seattle

Travis Kelce ($5,100) – The best game left in town but Belichick knows it

Heath Miller ($3,200) – Really the only other name left on the board

D

Seattle ($4,100) – Can they bottle up Carolina like they did to Minnesota?

Kansas City ($4,000) – The moneymaker of last week

Denver ($3,900) – Has Pittsburgh lost too much?

My Ticket

Carson Palmer, David Johnson, Ronnie Hillman, Demaryius Thomas, Martavis Bryant, Michael Floyd, Rob Gronkowski, Steven Jackson, Denver Defense

Craig Clark is a Daily Fantasy Sports expert who appears weekly on the Harris Football Podcast (www.HarrisFootball.com). You can follow him on Twitter @pcclark59.