Browns vs. Texans: Daily Fantasy Sleepers, Lineup Picks for FanDuel, DraftKings

The first game of the NFL's wild-card weekend has the potential to be the most exciting of the six contests.

The Cleveland Browns and Houston Texans do not have to worry about any inclement weather, like the other two AFC matchups, inside NRG Stadium.

Joe Flacco and C.J. Stroud should be two of the most popular daily fantasy football picks for Saturday's two-game contests and full weekend contests.

Stroud possesses a higher salary than Flacco on DraftKings, while the Cleveland quarterback is a slightly more expensive pick on FanDuel.

Stroud should have plenty of backers because of his Week 18 performance against the Indianapolis Colts, but Flacco may be the better lineup pick at quarterback because of his playoff experience.

If you choose Flacco, a lineup stack with Amari Cooper and David Njoku is mandatory because of their high target rates with the Super Bowl champion at quarterback.

Nico Collins will receive a lot of DFS attention from the Houston roster, but he may not be the best pass-catcher for this specific matchup.

Take Joe Flacco over C.J. Stroud

Cooper Neill/Getty Images

CLEVELAND, OH - DECEMBER 28: Joe Flacco #15 of the Cleveland Browns drops back to pass against the New York Jets at Cleveland Browns Stadium on December 28, 2023 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images)

Flacco is the better DFS pick at quarterback in the Browns-Texans matchup.

The Cleveland quarterback owns an extensive postseason resume and he just tore up the Texans defense in Week 16.

Flacco threw for 368 yards and three touchdowns in the 36-22 victory in which Stroud missed due to injury.

Flacco connected with Cooper and Njoku on 17 occasions in that victory. The Cleveland trio will be one of the most popular lineup stacks across all six wild-card games.

A Flacco-Cooper-Njoku stack has the potential to thrive again in Houston against a Texans defense that allowed over 340 total yards in three of its last five games.

Stroud faces a tougher matchup versus a Cleveland unit that conceded under 200 passing yards in three of its last four contests.

Browns defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz will throw all sorts of blitzes and coverages at Stroud in his first playoff start. That could hinder his stat line at least at the start of the contest.

Stroud could solve the Cleveland defense easily and match Flacco, but going into the matchup, Cleveland has the edge at quarterback and that should sway your DFS decisions.

Look to Dalton Schultz as Top Sleeper

Leslie Plaza Johnson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

HOUSTON, TX - DECEMBER 24: Cleveland Browns linebacker Sione Takitaki (44) dives to tackle Houston Texans tight end Dalton Schultz (86) in the second quarter during the NFL game between the Cleveland Browns and Houston Texans at NRG Stadium on December 24, 2023 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Leslie Plaza Johnson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Dalton Schultz should play a massive role in Houston's offense.

Schultz enters Saturday's game as the fourth-best pass-catching option on either roster behind Collins, Cooper and Njoku, so he may be off some DFS radars.

The former Dallas Cowboys tight end finished the regular season with the second-most receptions and third-most receiving yards on the Texans roster.

If the Browns defense pressures Stroud right away, Schultz will be a vital check-down option for Stroud.

Schultz found success against the Cleveland defense with Case Keenum under center in Week 16. He had eight catches on 11 targets for 61 yards.

Schultz, who had five catches for 42 yards last week, may not put up a massive yardage total, but he could be valuable because of his receptions total.

He carries a cheaper salary than the other three notable pass-catchers in this matchup and should be a solid DFS roster piece no matter which side you choose to stack.

Kareem Hunt, Brevin Jordan Are Touchdown Threats

Nick Cammett/Getty Images

CLEVELAND, OHIO - DECEMBER 28: Running back Kareem Hunt #27 scores a touchdown in the first half against the New York Jets at Cleveland Browns Stadium on December 28, 2023 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images)

Kareem Hunt and Brevin Jordan should be fascinating names to DFS players because of their touchdown potential.

Hunt led the Browns with nine rushing touchdowns, which is five more than Jerome Ford totaled.

Ford may earn more carries, but it is clear that Hunt is the red-zone back. Hunt could also chip in some points with a few receptions. He had 15 catches on 21 targets and earned five first downs with his receptions in the regular season.

Jordan will not outperform Schultz at tight end, but he is a reliable red-zone target for Stroud because of his size.

Jordan scored twice this season, with the last score coming in the Week 17 win over the Tennessee Titans.

He was on the field for 48 percent of Houston's offensive snaps last week and he owns more targets and receptions than John Metchie and Xavier Hutchinson, who have filled the wide receiver spots with Tank Dell and Noah Brown out injured.

Brown is listed as questionable for Saturday, and he could be important in certain situations, but look for Stroud to target Jordan at least once in the red zone because of his size.

Jordan is the ultimate high-risk candidate for DFS contests, but if he scores, he will be well worth the selection.

Eligibility restrictions apply. See draftkings.com for details.

Eligibility restrictions apply. See fanduel.com for details.