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Conference Championship DFS Fantasy Football Lineup: Patrick Mahomes, Saquon Barkley, Terry McLaurin, Travis Kelce and More

Morgan puts together a DFS fantasy football lineup for the NFL conference championships.

Morgan Rode Jan 25th 9:56 AM EST.

Jan 18, 2025; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) runs the ball against the Houston Texans during the fourth quarter of a 2025 AFC divisional round game at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images
Jan 18, 2025; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) runs the ball against the Houston Texans during the fourth quarter of a 2025 AFC divisional round game at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images

Nothing beats regular season fantasy football leagues, but putting together DFS lineups in the postseason is a way to add some fun and intrigue to games you’re probably going to be watching anyway.

I decided to throw together a lineup on DraftKings. Let’s run through my selections, in order of price (starting with the most expensive options).

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Running Back - Saquon Barkley ($8,600)

Barkley was the first player I added to my lineup - I want to build around the best fantasy player left, and that’s Barkley.

Barkley has been a fantasy star all season, averaging 24.9 fantasy points per week on DraftKings. He scored 17.3 points in the Wild Card Round (without a touchdown) and then went off for 42.2 points in the Divisional Round.

As if you need more reason to get Barkley in your lineup, he starred against the Commanders during the regular season. In the first meeting, Barkley scored 36.8 fantasy points. In game two, he had 30 points.

Start your DFS lineup with Barkley and build around him.

Wide Receiver - Terry McLaurin ($6,700)

I grabbed McLaurin as my top receiver. He is my No. 1 fantasy option this week, just like Barkley was my top back.

McLaurin has had a good fantasy season, and I think he’s been overlooked by many. He’s averaging 17.1 fantasy points per week on DraftKings.

In the Wild Card Round, McLaurin scored 21.9 fantasy points. Last week, he scored 18.7 more points. He just continues to deliver solid results, and has scored in seven of the past eight games.

In the first regular season meeting with Philly, McLaurin had just two fantasy points after catching one of his two targets for 10 yards. He was much better in the second game, tallying 17 points - he caught a touchdown in that contest.

Philly is a tough defensive matchup, but I like the way the Commanders’ offense is moving the ball and think they find more success on Sunday. I think McLaurin is heavily targeted, and it will lead to a good fantasy showing.

Credit: Imagn Images
Credit: Imagn Images

Tight End - Travis Kelce ($6,000)

I think Kelce is the clear No. 1 fantasy tight end in this round, so I made it a priority to get him in my starting lineup.

Kelce had a down regular season by his standards, but still scored 13.4 points per week on DraftKings. Last week, Kelce caught seven of his eight targets for 117 yards and a touchdown, which is good for 27.7 fantasy points.

He simply takes his game to another level in the postseason, and I expect him to star again this weekend. Kelce only scored 2.8 fantasy points in the regular season matchup against Buffalo, but I wouldn’t read too much into that performance. Trust in the playoff history Kelce has and get the top fantasy tight end in your lineup.

Quarterback - Patrick Mahomes ($4,000)

I have Mahomes as my No. 3 fantasy quarterback for this weekend, but the only thing really separating him from Josh Allen (No. 1) or Jayden Daniels (No. 2) is rushing ability.

I think the fantasy QB spot is going to be pretty bunched up by the end of the week, so I have no issue taking Mahomes in DFS. Allen and Daniels just have higher fantasy ceilings, so that’s why they are ranked higher.

Mahomes averaged 18.6 fantasy points per week on DraftKings. He scored just 12.48 points in the Divisional Round, but had been better down the stretch. In the week 11 battle with Buffalo, Mahomes scored 17.84 fantasy points, and that was with two interceptions, something Mahomes has avoided since that game.

At home and with a chance at another Super Bowl appearance on the line, I expect Mahomes to deliver at least average fantasy results, and there’s a chance he could finish as the top guy too.

Wide Receiver - Khalil Shakir ($5,700)

I went with Shakir as my No. 2 wideout. That’s also where I have him ranked for this week.

He’s averaging 12.5 fantasy points per week and scored 12.1 and 12.7 in the team’s first two postseason games. Shakir tallied 15 points in the regular season clash with the Chiefs.

I’m probably higher on Shakir than most this week, but with his recent success and regular season showing against KC, I have no problem putting him in my DFS lineup.

Running Back - Kareem Hunt ($5,400)

After Barkley, I really do not like any of the other fantasy running backs this week. With that in mind, I went after a back with the most favorable defensive matchup and took Hunt, who I have ranked fourth for the week.

He’s averaging 12.4 fantasy points per week on DraftKings and tallied 11.6 points in last week’s playoff game. He only scored six points against Buffalo in the regular season, but he was pretty solid at 60 yards on 14 carries - he wasn’t targeted in the passing game.

With not a lot of good/great fantasy running back options this week, I want to take a player with some higher upside. I view Hunt as one because of his touchdown potential. He’s scored in three straight games, which can help him make up for a so-so game as a runner or pass catcher.

I don’t love that he’s losing touches to Isiah Pacheco, but I still think Hunt is a pretty solid option for this week. This could be my make-or-break DFS player this week.

FLEX - Dallas Goedert ($4,500)

I don’t love the idea of having two tight ends in my lineup, but he was the best option available, and used up my remaining salary available too.

Goedert is my No. 2 tight end, so I’m not that bummed out about it.

He’s averaged 10.9 fantasy points per game on the season. In the Wild Card Round, Goedert had 14.7 points. The tight end tallied 9.6 points last week without the benefit of a touchdown.

Goedert played in one regular season game against the Commanders this season, scoring 11.1 points, again without the benefit of a touchdown.

With not a lot of good pass-catching options this week, I’m OK using the FLEX spot on Goedert.

Wide Receiver - Dyami Brown ($4,400)

Brown has turned things on since reaching the postseason, and I have ranked sixth this week among wideouts as a result.

After averaging 5.8 fantasy points per week on DraftKings during the regular season, Brown has been in double figures in both postseason games. He went for 19.9 fantasy points in the Wild Card Round (scoring once), and then had 15.8 points without the help of a touchdown.

He had just 1.4 fantasy points in the team’s first regular season meeting with Philadelphia. Brown scored 8.6 points in the second matchup.

I’m taking Brown more for what he’s done in the postseason so far. He’s an affordable option, and has upside to really outperform his salary.

D/ST - Commanders ($2,700)

I took the Commanders mostly because they were the cheapest D/ST available, but I also don’t think there’s a big difference in these defenses this week.

The Commanders’ D/ST has averaged 5.8 fantasy points per week on DraftKings. They scored four points in the Wild Card Round and then 17 a week ago when they had five takeaways.

Washington’s D/ST scored seven points in the second meeting against Philly and two in the first clash. I see this as a lower-scoring game, and I think the Commanders’ D/ST will make enough big plays to score a few points.

I think the Eagles’ offense is the least likely to go off this weekend, so that’s another reason why I’m in on the Commanders.

#bets

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