Daily Fantasy Football: FanDuel, DraftKings Optimal 2015 Championship Lineups

These four NFL teams are still playing football for a reason. They're really good, which means no standout matchups exist for daily fantasy football players. 

Nobody with an abysmal offense or defense survives this long, so an unlikely contributor will likely sway several contests during the Championship Game Weekend. Jermaine Kearse, Danny Amendola and Davante Adams determined many divisional-round tournaments, and maybe even Tyler Clutts for a bold daredevil or two.

Who steps up this Sunday? Without any discernible matchups to exploit, leaning on steady stars represents this weekend's best bet. That may not be enough within a gutted player pool, but there are few sleeper gems to unearth after most already broke out.

FanDuel

Position	Player	Opponent	Price
QB	Andrew Luck, IND	@ NE	$9,200
RB	Marshawn Lynch, SEA	vs. GB	$8,600
RB	LeGarrette Blount, NE	vs. IND	$5,400
WR	Brandon LaFell, NE	vs. IND	$7,000
WR	Doug Baldwin, SEA	vs. GB	$6,200
WR	Hakeem Nicks, IND	@ NE	$5,500
TE	Rob Gronkowski, NE	vs. IND	$8,200
K	Adam Vinatieri, IND	@ NE	$4,600
D/ST	Seattle Seahawks	vs. GB	$5,300

There's no easy choice to make at quarterback, but the New England Patriots rank last among the remaining teams with 239.8 passing yards allowed per game. That doesn't include the 292 yards and four touchdowns Joe Flacco accrued against them on Saturday.

Also, the Indianapolis Colts are going to pass the ball. That's what they do. They tried to establish a run game with Daniel Herron, but he turned 23 carries into just 63 yards against the Denver Broncos.

That's far more rushing than the Colts usually try. Pro Football Focus' Mike Clay chronicled their uneven play distribution during the season.

Andrew Luck may throw some interceptions as a result, but he'll compile his usual high-volume yardage with a couple of scores against New England.

At running back, there are two enticing options worth employing on FanDuel and DraftKings. Registering 59 rushing yards against the Carolina Panthers kept Marshawn Lynch's stock at a reasonable rate, and gamers will be thankful for it this weekend.

Starting the season against the Green Bay Packers, Lynch ran for 110 yards and two touchdowns. This is the same stud who finished the season with 1,673 total yards and 17 touchdowns, so he'll have a big day against Green Bay's No. 23 rushing defense.

Recommending a New England rusher seems odd after Saturday, when Tom Brady issued seven handoffs the entire game. ESPN Stats & Info detailed the team abandoning the ground game during the second half.

Baltimore ranked No. 4 against the run and No. 23 against the pass. Against a shakier Indy front seven, Jonas Gray received 37 carries for 201 yards and four scores during the season. Since the practice squad call-up fell out of favor, LeGarrette Blount becomes this week's benefactor of a heavier ground-and-pound approach.

Although the Colts have shut down Andy Dalton and Peyton Manning this postseason, this is also the same defense that gave up six touchdowns to Ben Roethlisberger during the season. Brandon LaFell has averaged 8.8 targets over the past 10 games, so he'll get chances to burn them deep.

There's no top receiver worth the cost, so redirect that money to Rob Gronkowski, who has found the end zone in each of his last four games. Per ESPN.com, the Colts surrendered 59.6 receiving yards per game and 10 touchdowns to tight ends during the season.

Maddie Meyer/Getty Images

Hakeem Nicks paid off as a low-level play last week, so let's go back to the well again. He has collected 49 yards per game over the past five bouts, and Reggie Wayne didn't receive a single target last weekend.

There's no good defensive matchup, so the best defense gets the benefit of the doubt. During Week 1's clash against Green Bay, the Seahawks collected three sacks, a safety and a pick while allowing 16 points.

DraftKings

Position	Player	Opponent	Price
QB	Russell Wilson, SEA	vs. GB	$8,000
RB	Marshawn Lynch, SEA	vs. GB	$7,600
RB	LeGarrette Blount, NE	vs. IND	$4,500
WR	Jordy Nelson, GB	@ SEA	$7,600
WR	Jermaine Kearse, SEA	vs. GB	$3,800
WR	Hakeem Nicks, IND	@ NE	$3,200
TE	Rob Gronkowski, NE	vs. IND	$7,800
FLEX	Shane Vereen, NE	vs. IND	$4,300
DEF	New England Patriots	vs. IND	$3,200

DraftKings is daring you to choose Aaron Rodgers, the cheapest of the four starting quarterbacks at $7,800. With the MVP favorite battling a calf injury on the road against Seattle's NFL-best passing defense, don't take the bait.

Do, however, accept the challenge to play Jordy Nelson—priced at an affordable $7,600—opposing the Legion of Boom. Richard Sherman's shadow has Green Bay's No. 1 wideout priced $100,000 below teammate Randall Cobb, but the top corner sticks to his side rather than following an opposing stud.

When the Packers suffered a 20-point loss to begin the season, Nelson delivered nine catches and 83 yards despite Rodgers' 5.7 yards per pass attempt. Sherman did not get a ball thrown his way all evening, but Nelson told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel's Tyler Dunne that the Packers won't enter Sunday's showdown with a plan to again avoid him.

At full price like FanDuel's $8,900, Nelson isn't worth using. In a week with few star wideouts and none given appealing matchups, don't be afraid of looking his way.

The Russell Wilson-Jermaine Kearse pairing won't pay as massive dividends as Saturday, but they're worth a look. Considering Wilson didn't throw three touchdowns during the entire season, he probably won't do it in consecutive weekends. Yet Wilson has posted 10.8 yards per pass attempt over the past three games, and Kearse has now scored in three straight postseason contests.

Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

Shane Vereen has received 28 carries over the past eight games, but he doesn't need a single handoff to pay off as a DraftKings flex play. Earlier in the season, he amassed four receptions for 59 yards. He's a safer points-per-reception bet than Davante Adams, who constantly vanished after big games this season.

There's not enough cap space for Seattle's defense, so roll with New England and hope Luck tosses some turnovers, even if they're essentially throwing punts like last Sunday's pair of picks. There's no defense anybody can insert with confidence, but everybody has to choose one.

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