Sunday Playoff Preview
The Divisional Round continues Sunday with a pair of games. FullTime Fantasy‘s Sunday Playoff Preview breaks down the slate from a fantasy football and sports betting perspective.
And just because the fantasy regular season has ended doesn’t mean the fun is over. FFWC Playoff Fantasy Football is a great way to extend the fantasy fun and win amazing prizes!
Los Angeles Rams (11-7) at Philadelphia Eagles (14-3)
Time: 3:00 Eastern
Line: Eagles -6
Total: 44
Money Line: Rams +233, Eagles -273
Rams Offense
The Rams pulled off the “home” upset last week in Arizona, but traveling into freezing Philadelphia is different. Stafford has been significantly better since getting Puka Nacua back into the lineups. However, a forecast of sub-freezing temperatures and a 70% chance of snow doesn’t bode well. Therefore, Stafford’s RDA* projections aren’t favorable.
Matthew Stafford outdoors in the rain or snow:
1-8
54.6 completion %
14 TD
11 INT
76.0 rating(via @TBagleySports)
— SPORTSRADIO 94WIP (@SportsRadioWIP) January 16, 2025
Only Kansas City allowed fewer fantasy points to running backs than Philadelphia. However, Kyren Williams remains a good play due to his position-leading snap-share. Additionally, Williams is a three-down back and a dependable short-yardage option with a nose for the stripe.
Puka Nacua caught 9-of-13 targets for 117 scoreless yards against the Eagles in Week 12. He remains the focal point of LA’s offense but should expect more intense coverage from an improving Philly secondary. However, with the volume potential is this game as the Rams’ only reliable pass-catcher, Nacua tops our RDA* projections.
Back in the day, Cooper Kupp was that dependable, volume-driven option in LA’s offense. However, his efficiency eroded to the point that Kupp barely factored into the Rams’ offense over the past month. With a tough matchup and adverse conditions, I wouldn’t bet on a rebound here.
Demarcus Robinson will be the main WR3 and offers some DFS appeal.
At tight end, Tyler Higbee is rounding into shape. Higbee was the TE13 in the final three regular-season weeks. Additionally, he reeled in all five of his targets for 58 yards in the Wild Card win. Conversely, this is a tough matchup for Higbee, as the Eagles allowed just 9.3 fantasy points per game to the position–second-fewest in the league.
Eagles Offense
Jalen Hurts essentially missed Philadelphia’s final three regular-season contests and looked rusty last week. That said, no Eagles fans are complaining about a 22-10 victory. That same formula worked in Week 12 when Hurts and the Eagles beat the Rams 37-20 despite modest numbers from Hurts. Also, weather could force the Eagles to a more ground-based approach. Especially considering they posted 314 rushing yards against this opponent in Week 12.
Saquon Barkley was the main catalyst of that thrashing, running for 255 yards and two touchdowns. We’re projecting about half of that production in the rematch. However, Barkley still tops our Week 20 RDA* projections.
Despite destroying the Rams on the ground, A.J. Brown still caught six balls for 109 yards and a TD in his previous outing with the Rams. Brown remains an elite option against a secondary that ceded 20 touchdowns to wideouts in 2024.
DeVonta Smith missed Week 12 but has been heating up. Smith has topped 50 yards in four consecutive games, including a pair of outings with 100-plus and three combined TDs. In a game where weather could hamper downfield attempts, Smith’s underneath role could be key.
Dallas Goedert is a sneaky pick to have a big game. The Rams allowed 15.2 fantasy points per game to opposing tight ends–the third-highest mark in the NFL.
Baltimore Ravens (13-5) at Buffalo Bills (14-4)
Time: 6:30 Eastern
Line: Ravens -1
Total: 51..5
Money Line: Bills -106, Ravens -114
Ravens Offense
Sunday’s Main Event takes place in the late window, as the Bills and Ravens square off to earn a trip to next week’s AFC title game. Buffalo has not won in the Divisional round since 2020 and will be home underdogs to a Ravens squad that humbled them 35-10 back in Week 4.
In that game, Lamar Jackson only threw for 156 yards and two scores. However, he ran for 54 and another score en route to a weekly QB6 finish. The forecast calls for 13 degrees with a 50/50 shot at snow but that won’t necessarily be a hindrance to Jackson and company. Vegas set a line of 278.5 total yards with a lean on three total scores.
Fantasy’s overall RB1, Derrick Henry ran for 199 and scored two total touchdowns in Week 4 against this defense. The Bills have shored up that run D since September but still surrendered the sixth-most fantasy points to the position. Henry is -200 to revisit the end zone in this game a yardage prop of 106.5 yards.
While the rushing attack is locked in, things are more uncertain through the air. Mainly because of the health of Zay Flowers, who missed the Wild Card game with a knee injury. Flowers hasn’t practiced all week and is doubtful to play. Even if he does, he would be limited. Our RDA* projections are modest, mainly because of the baked-in risk.
Rashod Bateman will see an increase in targets and remains the best bet to score. However, his volume is fairly modest, so Bateman is rather TD-dependent. Still, the Bills were below-average defending wideouts, and the 51.5-point total indicates a solid game script.
All other Baltimore wideouts are relegated to low-cost DFS dart throws.
Mark Andrews is our TE3 for the week, projected to score 11.9 PPR points. Additionally, the Ravens will also use Isaiah Likely liberally in place of the aforementioned ancillary wide receivers. Likely didn’t do much against Buffalo (1/26/0) previously, but has a Vegas yardage prop of 36.5.
Bills Offense
After a brutal start, Baltimore’s pass defense has greatly improved. Josh Allen can supplement that with plenty of rushing production, but the Ravens have allowed the fifth-fewest rushing yards to quarterbacks. This seems like a tough spot for the underdog Bills, but we ain’t scared. Allen remains our top-ranked QB for the slate.
The strength of the Baltimore D lies in the trenches. The Ravens allowed the fewest rushing yards in the league. James Cook was held to 39 yards in Week 4. However, Cook has scored 11 touchdowns in his last nine games, including several from short-yardage. We give Cook a 64 percent chance of scoring, putting him in RB5 range.
Ray Davis is still in the concussion protocol, making him very questionable. That should lead to more opportunities for Ty Johnson, who is already chipping in significant reps on passing downs.
RDA* projections for Khalil Shakir put him in top-10 range for the week. While Baltimore’s secondary has improved, they still allowed the seventh-most fantasy points to wide receivers in 2024. Also, had a solid showing against them in Week 4, catching four balls for 62 yards.
Keon Coleman is erratic and did nothing last week. However, he was in on 58 percent of Buffalo snaps. compared to 34 percent for Amari Cooper. Mack Hollins out-snapped both both isn’t as involved in the target pecking order.
The Ravens were slightly below average against tight ends. Dalton Kincaid caught five balls for 47 yards against the Ravens earlier this season. Meanwhile, Dawson Knox was in on 60 percent of Buffalo’s snaps last week but did not post one game all season with double-digit fantasy points. He’s a Sunday Playoff Preview fade.
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