Fantasy Football: Who to start/sit in your daily fantasy league for the AFC/NFC Championship games

For some, the Fantasy Football season is over. For some, like Pittsburgh Steelers fans, watching other teams play football just isn’t as fun.

But for those who play daily Fantasy Football, it can not only allow you to continue your Fantasy Football obsession a few more weeks, but can also make watching the games even more enjoyable as you root for your team to perform well, and possibly win you some money if you get into those type of leagues.

For those who have never used FanDuel before, you are given a salary, and each player has a cost attached to him. This prevents you from loading your roster, but having to find some gems that don’t cost as much money.

With some sites like FanDuel, you find a truncated roster with a ‘multiplier’ (a player who gives your team 1.5x the points), but for this article we are talking about your standard roster consisting of a QB, RB, RB, WR, WR, WR, TE, FLEX, DEF.

Let’s get down to it, considering there are only two games, and not as many players to choose from compared to a regular season week of action:

QB

Start: Drew Brees

The weather in Arrowhead isn’t going to be pretty, and there is a chance it could hinder the performance of both Tom Brady and Patrick Mahomes. While Mahomes is tempting, his inexperience also has me shying away from him in this position. I’ll go with Brees in the dome against a Rams defense which has given up a lot through the air.

FanDuel Cost: $8,800

RB1

Start: Damien Williams

Speaking of the weather in Kansas City, this should be prime territory for the Chiefs to run the football. Williams has been extremely solid since Kareem Hunt was dismissed from the team, and is a cheaper option than Todd Gurley and Alvin Kamara. Williams is coming off a 23-point performance in the Divisional round of the AFC Playoffs.

FanDuel Cost: $7,200

RB2

Start: James White

James White or Sony Michel is a tough debate when talking about Fantasy Football. Michel is coming off a huge game in the divisional round where he scored three touchdowns, but I like White’s versatility in this AFC Championship game.

FanDuel Cost: $7,700

WR1

Start: Michael Thomas

I want to handcuff Brees and his favorite target in this game because the Saints are now developing plays specifically for Thomas. I once shied away from Thomas in this situations, but he has made enough plays on a consistent basis for me to trust him in this big situation. He costs a lot, but is worth it.

FanDuel Cost: $8,800

WR2

Start: Brandin Cooks

Cooks is one of Jared Goff’s favorite targets, and also one of his most reliable. Cooks averages 13.5 fantasy points per game (FPPG), and is a cheaper option compared to some other aerial threats.

FanDuel Cost: $6,900

WR3

Start: Sammy Watkins

Continuing to manage my cap, I am going to go with Watkins in the WR3 slot in hope the Patriots sell out to stop Tyreek Hill and leave Watkins with plenty of one-on-one matchups. If he gets me double-digit points I will be ecstatic.

FanDuel Cost: $5,600

TE

Start: Rob Gronkowski

Again, you have to manage your money, and while ‘Gronk’ hasn’t done much this postseason, I’ll take him for a much cheaper than usual cost, in hopes the Patriots are just biding their time until they unleash ‘The Gronk’.

FanDuel Cost: $5,600

FLEX

Start: Ted Ginn Jr.

At this point, you make do with what you have, and with only a few bucks remaining I chose to go with one of Brees’ targets in hopes of doubling my point totals with any completion heading Ginn’s way. If he hits pay dirt, awesome. If not, anything Ginn can give me, and my team, is a bonus.

FanDuel Cost: $5,300

DEF

Start: Patriots

At this point I have spent the majority of my money on skill players, and will take the experience of a Bill Belichick defense, mainly because they are the cheapest option.

FanDuel Cost: $4,000