Four Elite to Avoid - Wild Card Edition
Here are four top players you should avoid heading into Wild Card weekend:
QB Ben Roethlisberger, Steelers (at Bengals)
Roethlisberger got two cracks at the Bengals in the regular season, racking up 544 combined passing yards. Unfortunately for him, he managed only a single touchdown pass to go with four interceptions.
The three-pick performance in Week 8 could be chalked up to rust as he had not played for four weeks. But he was a solid DFS play every week between the two games and in two of the three after.
While Cincinnati has its own problems at QB, it has been able to hold Roethlisberger in check - thanks in large part to FS Reggie Nelson, who has intercepted Roethlisberger three times. This is not the ideal matchup for Big Ben, especially since he's thrown two INTs in each of his last three games.
RB Adrian Peterson, Vikings (vs. Seahawks)
The NFL rushing leader should not find his way into your DFS lineup on Wild Card weekend. Peterson carries the loftiest price tag among running backs, but faces the toughest defense against the run.
Peterson only ran for 18 yards on eight carries in the Vikings Week 13 loss to Seattle. That's the third fewest in his career. It's easy to get caught up in his skills, but you're better off saving at RB in order to spend up elsewhere.
WR Antonio Brown, Steelers (at Bengals)
Like Roethlisberger, the Bengals contained Brown successfully over the team's two matches. Brown is undeniably amazing. He is not the most expensive WR by accident. He can take over a game and be a net positive in DFS even when Roethlisberger is not.
Two of his weakest games have come against Cincinnati. The volume is there, as he caught 13 passes for a combined 134 yards in those games. But he's hauled in only a single TD over that time. That's not bad if his salary is in the mid or low range, but that's not the case. He could still explode, but it's one of the least friendly matchups he's had.
TE Travis Kelce, Chiefs (at Texans)
Kelce is merely the worst among solid options and you wouldn't be faulted if you roster him. But there are warning signs.
He made only a single catch in Week 17, though he had been nursing a groin injury. He'll likely be featured more steadily against the Texans. He only caught five touchdowns on the season and two of them came all the way back in Week 1. Just so happened that was also on the road against Houston.
Otherwise, Houston did fairly well containing tight ends. Besides Kelce, the other options either were more consistent TD contributors or come at more wallet-friendly price tags.