This article is part of our FanDuel Fantasy Football series.
QUARTERBACK
Patrick Mahomes, KC at DEN ($6,000): Mahomes will start Sunday while Alex Smith rests for the playoffs. Several times this season Mahomes was rumored to be ready to take over but that never materialized. This is a tall task going into Denver against Aqib Talib and Chris Harris, which makes Mahomes at the minimum quarterback price best used in GPPs.
RUNNING BACK
Malcolm Brown, LAR vs SF ($4,500): This pick could easily change to Branden Oliver ($4,500) or both should Melvin Gordon (ankle) not play. However, Todd Gurley has already been ruled out, likely making Brown the lead back for the Rams. There's no reason to hold Brown back with Gurley the main guy heading into the playoffs, so 20-plus touches is likely.
Derrick Henry, TEN vs JAC ($5,800): It appears DeMarco Murray will at the least lose carries to Henry and possibly not play at all with a MCL injury. While this is a tough matchup against the Jaguars, Jacksonville is locked into its playoff spot and could rest its starters at some point. Henry averages an elite 4.7 yards per carry and could face a second-string defense much of the game.
WIDE RECEIVER
Geronimo Allison, GB at DET ($4,500): Allison has been ill all week, but he's shot to the top of the depth chart behind Randall Cobb ($5,500) with both Jordy Nelson and Davante Adams out. Darius Slay likely will shadow Cobb, leaving softer coverage on Allison in the Lions' secondary. There's also a good rapport between Brett Hundley and Allison as both have likely worked a lot of reps together as backups during practice.
Josh Doctson, WAS at NYG ($5,800): Doctson had a weird 13-2-61-1 line last week mainly going up against Aqib Talib, which is no small task. This week it'll be a much easier task against the Giants, who have mostly given up on this season. Eli Apple, Janoris Jenkins and Landon Collins are out, making this an exploitable secondary. Doctson has eight red-zone targets in his last five games, turning three into touchdowns.
TIGHT END
Vernon Davis, WAS vs NYG ($5,800): The Giants have more or less quit and Davis is fighting to keep a roster spot despite signing a three-year deal. He's scored twice in his last three games and has been a better option than Jordan Reed. The Giants have allowed the most fantasy points per game (16.5) to the position, putting Davis in a great spot at home.
KICKER
Harrison Butker, KC at DEN ($4,800): If you have faith in Mahomes and believe that Kansas City can move the ball against the Denver defense then it makes sense to use Butker. He averages the most fantasy points of any kicker going this weekend (12.6) and gets a boost kicking in the thin air in Denver. Butker has made 36 of 40 field goals this season and has scored 18, 14 and 17 fantasy points in his last three games.
DEFENSE
New Orleans Saints at Tampa Bay ($4,600): The Saints' defense has done a 180 this season compared to the last few seasons and averages the seventh-most fantasy points on defense/special teams. This game means something as the Saints hope to secure a home playoff game. Jameis Winston has seven fumbles (five lost) and two interceptions in his last four games since returning from injury.
