The NFL Playoffs march into the Divsional Round, where you can choose between three different slates. I prefer the 2-day slate, but you can play the Saturday NFL DFS slate or the one for Sunday. Those two are 2-game slates, which is why opting for the full weekend slate is more appealing.
Whatever you do, we’ve go you covered. If you’re not sure who to play or which values are viable, I’ll point out the main cash/core plays to roster, as well as my favorite contrarian picks. This isn’t a slate where we need to worry a lot about salary, but this breakdown should set you up for success.
Top Sunday NFL DFS Picks
| Position | Cash/Core Play | GPP Pick |
| Quarterback | Matthew Stafford | Caleb Williams |
| Running Back | Kyren Williams | TreVeyon Henderson |
| Wide Receiver | Puka Nacua/Christian Kirk | Rome Odunze/Jayden Higgins |
| Tight End | Colston Loveland | Hunter Henry |
| Defense | Texans/Patriots | Rams/Bears |
It’s a two-game slate, so a lot of the good plays seem pretty obvious. I’d definitely start with the Rams vs. Bears game, which has a higher total and offers shootout potential.
Stafford tossed 46 scores during the regular season and stayed hot last week against the Panthers. He faces a weak Bears defense that can create turnovers, but otherwise can get torched pretty easily.
Kyren Williams is the safest RB play of the slate. I think there is merit in stacking the Rams passing game and then trying to get away from him in tourneys, but everyone on L.A. can eat in this spot. Henderson is a GPP play if there ever was one. He is a home run hitter in a brutal spot, but the Pats are at home and the only way to really beat Houston is to get lucky with some big plays.
Puka and Kirk feel like auto plays. You can consider leveraging both with guys like Davante and Higgins/Noel (assuming Nico is out), but they also simply look like strong plays. Bears as comebacks to Rams stacks make sense. Loveland and Burden will be owned, so consider potentially overlooked options like Rome and Moore.
Loveland is an easy play at a bad tight end position. He’s a total mismatch for anyone, including the Rams. He could always have a bad game, so Cole Kmet is leverage within Chicago stacks, or you can save $1k and play Hunter Henry. You can also double stack tight end to get different and just pair them.
I’m not super excited to play any other tight ends. Parkinson/Higbee for the Rams are viable, but good luck picking the right one. I’d probably just play the one who gets less ownership.
Defensively, I’d just roll with the team that fits your build. Or maybe eat some salary if it comes to it. CHI is a dark horse tourney play just because they do force turnovers and the Rams will be mega owned. The Rams are a solid defense in a high total game, so they are also shaping up as a solid GPP option.
Houston is my favorite option here, and New England is right there with them in the game with a gross total and two very good defenses.
My NFL DFS Core for Sunday
- Puka Nacua
- Christian Kirk
- Colston Loveland
Stafford and Kyren are my top QB and RB, but if I am entering multiple lineups I will refrain from going all-in on them. I think starting a very large number of lineups with Puka/Kirk/Loveland is a strong start.
I don’t at all mind eating other chalk pieces, but outside of this three-man and Stafford/Kyren, I’d definitely work to get very different. And as I broke down in the video, depending on where ownership is, I think stacking Caleb and an unowned Bears WR within this core is a fun way to go about this tiny slate.
Remember, two-game slates demand perfection. You can’t miss out on good chalk, and you’ll need to hit on your values. This breakdown should nudge you in the right direction, but I definitely prefer the full weekend slate over either 2-game slate.
Good luck!
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