Fantasy Football Wild Card Weekend Expert Picks: Travis Etienne, Jalen Hurts, and More

The NFL playoffs change the fantasy football landscape. Most regular fantasy leagues play through Week 17, and that's enough for many players. The family league with great-aunt Susan probably isn't going hardcore into the postseason.

Many people who are still partaking are playing DFS or special contests either held weekly or for the duration of the playoffs. The definition of “fantasy football” changes this time of year.

That doesn't make the lineup decisions any easier; with fewer players, it actually gets tougher to parse down, especially since most owners have access to every player in a DFS setting.

Luckily, the experts at FantasySP are here to help. Morgan Rode and Daniel Hepner answered five fantasy football questions heading into the weekend of the first round of the NFL playoffs.

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Which quarterback is on your radar as the top pick in fantasy this week?

Morgan: I think Josh Allen leads the way, but to go with a non-star, I really like Brock Purdy this week. Despite a below-average test coming against the Eagles, I see Purdy bouncing back from a down Week 18 showing and helping the 49ers to an upset win.

Daniel: Jalen Hurts has my favorite outlook against San Francisco. Most defenses are tough when we get to the playoffs, but the 49ers were middling at best most of the season, a product of being decimated by injuries. Hurts could also run more in the playoffs now that every game is a must-win, boosting his value from a decent regular season.

Is there a running back who will benefit from his matchup to have a good game?

Morgan: I see Jacksonville's Travis Etienne shining in a good matchup against the Bills. The Jaguars' offense was awesome down the stretch, and I think Etienne delivers big to help the Jaguars defend their home turf.

Daniel: Buffalo is definitely the worst run defense in the playoffs, giving up the third-most yards per rush attempt and the eighth-most fantasy points per game to running backs this year; Carolina was the only other playoff team in the bottom 10 in either (and they were in that group in both). Outside of Etienne against the Bills, I guess the logical place to look is with Kyren Williams against the Panthers. Blake Corum could also be a sneaky low-cost DFS play if you think the Rams will handle Carolina.

How about a wide receiver who is looking at a tough matchup and might be better left out of lineups?

Morgan: Any of the Jacksonville wideouts are risky plays this weekend. Parker Washington joined Brian Thomas and Jakobi Meyers to create a great trio down the stretch, but a tough test against the Bills' secondary lowers their fantasy outlooks. I think Jacksonville might lean more on the run game to top Buffalo, so all three wideouts could struggle to produce.

Daniel: DK Metcalf was suspended for the final two games, but he gets a chance at redemption this season after his team snuck into the playoffs. It's not set up to go well for Pittsburgh's top receiver, as the Texans gave up the seventh-fewest yards per pass attempt and the fourth-fewest fantasy points to wide receivers. Houston might have the best defense in football, and the Steelers' offense is standing on the train tracks.

Do you have a tight end who could surprise owners with a good day?

Morgan: I like Dalton Schultz to shine against the Steelers. That's a favorable matchup, and after Nico Collins, Schultz is the team's top pass catcher, so I see the tight end delivering a good fantasy score.

Daniel: Schultz is the top low-cost option this week, as Pittsburgh offers a great matchup to tight ends. Top guys like George Kittle and Colston Loveland have tough matchups, so my other positive play this week is Dallas Goedert, who has a decent outlook against the 49ers. Much of Goedert's fantasy value this year came from touchdowns, but the 49ers offer a slightly above-average matchup, making Goedert an intriguing play.

What advice do you have for fantasy owners about navigating fantasy football during the NFL playoffs?

Morgan: I still consider matchups when looking into fantasy players, but I tend to trust the season-long numbers a bit more, as that's what teams do in the playoffs when things get tough. Trust the top fantasy players to keep delivering at that level.

Daniel: Most of the best matchups are gone, so we're often left with those top guys as the only feasible options. During the season, we often targeted teams like the Cowboys, Bengals, Titans, and Giants depending on the position in question. Those worst teams are all watching from home in the postseason, so there are very few truly good matchups. Like Morgan said, that leaves us to believe in the best players rather than chasing cheap production.