As if daily fantasy football wasn't already difficult enough during the NFL regular season, it gets exponentially harder during the playoffs. With a mere four-game slate during Wild Card weekend, it can be challenging to find a lineup that is simply different from the norm, and if you do want to differentiate your picks or find players with lower ownership percentages, you're going to have to risk it with guys who carry significant amounts of downside. Throw in a potentially dreadful offensive game between the Oakland Raiders and Houston Texans (over/under is set at 36.5), and the fantasy forecast becomes even more depressing. As is the case, I'm here to (hopefully) help. You can click through the gallery for my ideal Wild Card round DraftKings lineup, you can get a rundown of value plays by clicking here or you can read here for more DFS analysis, strategy and weekend picks. (Getty)
QB: Matt Moore, Miami Dolphins
Opponent: at Pittsburgh Steelers
Price: $5,100
With Ryan Tannehill (knee) not ready to return, Moore will get another start under center. In three starts thus far, the veteran is completing 63.41 percent of his passes for 224.67 yards per game and an 8:3 TD:INT ratio. He has tallied at least 15.2 DraftKings points in each of those contests, and even if he barely hits that same threshold, he'll still provide solid value at a near minimum price. There's also some upside, as the Dolphins (10-point underdogs) are expected to be playing from behind and could end up throwing the ball a ton. (Getty)
RB: Le'Veon Bell, Pittsburgh Steelers
Opponent: vs. Miami Dolphins
Price: $10,300
When there are only four games on the slate, and thus the reliable RB options are harder to find Carmen Sandiego, you can't afford to pass on Bell. He has a floor (24.4 DraftKings points is the fewest he has gotten in a home game this season) and a ceiling (30-plus DK points in four games, including 54.8 in Week 14) that are both unmatched, and even though the price is steep, you're digging yourself into a potentially deep hole if you fade him. (Getty)
RB: Paul Perkins, New York Giants
Opponent: at Green Bay Packers
Price: $4,100
After tallying 102 yards on 21 carries last week, Perkins is expected to start against the Packers. Ultimately, no matter where he starts the game, he seems locked into a role of 15-plus touches (he has hit that mark in three of the last four games), and there's a good chance the G-Men lean on the run game in an attempt to keep Aaron Rodgers off the field, so he represents good value at this price. Either Perkins or teammate Rashad Jennings ($4,200) are almost must-have players if you want Bell. (Getty)
WR: Doug Baldwin, Seattle Seahawks
Opponent: vs. Detroit Lions
Price: $7,000
Favored by eight with an over/under of 43.5, the Seahawks have a projected team total of 25.75 points, which is reasonable considering they're averaging 28.38 points per game at home this season. Moreover, with the running game looking absolutely putrid for much of the season, and with Detroit ranking 23rd in yards per pass allowed, it's fair to assume much of the Seahawks' production will come through the air. That means good things for Baldwin, the team's No. 1 offensive option who carries top-tier upside (24-plus DraftKings points in four games this season) despite costing far less than the elite WR options. (Getty)
WR: Golden Tate, Detroit Lions
Opponent: at Seattle Seahawks
Price: $6,300
The Lions are 27th in yards per carry, while the Seahawks defense ranks first in the same category. Throw in the fact that the Seahawks are eight-point favorites, and this sets up to be a pass-heavy attack for the Lions. That should lead to a busy day for Tate, who, in the last five games, has tallied double-digit targets four times and hit 20 DraftKings points three times. (Getty)
WR: Jarvis Landry, Miami Dolphins
Opponent: at Pittsburgh Steelers
Price: $5,100
In the three games since Matt Moore took over as starter, Landry has compiled 22 targets, 15 receptions, 213 yards and two touchdowns, surpassing 20 DraftKings points in two of those contests. The slippery slot receiver always represents a solid floor in PPR (DraftKings) formats, but with Moore slinging the ball around, and the game-script pointing towards a high-volume passing game for the Dolphins, Landry's outlook is bright. (Getty)
TE: Will Tye, New York Giants
Opponent: at Green Bay Packers
Price: $2,800
I wouldn't say I'm all that excited about using Tye, but with Bell taking up over 20 percent of the team salary, we've got to save money somewhere, and tight end is a good place to do so, as there are no truly elite options at the position. At $2,800, something in the range of 7-to-10 points would represent good-enough value. Tye has hit that in his last two games, while the Packers have been toasted by Kyle Rudolph (six catches, 53 yards) and Eric Ebron (six catches, 61 yards) over the same span. (Getty)
FLEX: Davante Adams, Green Bay Packers
Opponent: vs. New York Giants
Price: $5,600
Though the Giants secondary has been playing excellent football for much of the season, Adams should get the better matchup on the outside with Jordy Nelson likely to see a lot of Janoris Jenkins. Adams went for five catches, 85 yards and a touchdown when these teams met back in Week 5, and even in a tough matchup, he has compelling upside (five games with 20-plus DraftKings points) for a reasonable price. (Getty)
DEF: Seattle Seahawks
Opponent: vs. Detroit Lions
Price: $3,700
Though the 'Hawks defense hasn't been nearly as good since losing Earl Thomas, this is still an explosive unit with lots of playmakers all over the field. And home, and in the playoffs, they should be especially amped up, and even if they give up some points, I'm willing to bet they force a mistake or two. (Getty)
DraftKings NFL Lineup: Optimal Wild Card Picks & Advice