Counterattack - Wild Card Weekend's Top Contrarian Plays
Here are the top contrarian options for the Wild Card weekend:
QB Alex Smith, Chiefs (at Texans)
The Chiefs' 23-13 win against the Steelers on Oct. 25 was the turning point to their season, as they went on to win the last ten games and finish 11-5.
During that span, Smith owned the league's best completion percentage (68.6) while tossing 12 TDs with two INTs on 26 attempts per game.
Smith is known as a game manager, which hinders his DFS value. But this isn't the regular season anymore. Expect Smith to take more chances down the field against the Texans and to come out with a big W in big H.
RB Adrian Peterson, Vikings (vs. Seahawks)
With limited options at RB, there aren't many top-tier options to choose from.
Peterson is the feature back and star player of this offense - and if the Vikings want to beat the Seahawks and its stingy defense on Sunday afternoon, they will need to rely heavily on AP.
The weather is supposed to be numbing cold, with temperatures in the single digits Fahrenheit. Expect both teams to pound the ball up the middle - and for Peterson to be a low-owned player due to his hefty price-tag.
WR Stefon Diggs, Vikings (vs. Seahawks)
If anyone on the Vikings has the ability to decimate the Seahawks 'Legion of Boom', it's Diggs.
The Vikings can only hand the ball to Peterson so many times, and Diggs is a lethal weapon in the pass game, finishing his 2015 campaign with 720 yards on 52 receptions and four TDs - one fewer than team leader Kyle Rudolph.
Diggs averaged 13 yards per catch and had 13 receptions of 20+ yards, making him Minnesota's top deep threat. Despite his low price tag, he will be scarcely owned due to Seattle's stout defense.
TE Travis Kelce, Chiefs (at Texans)
Kelce is the main receiving option in the Chiefs' offense, and his ceiling is high despite Houston's imposing defense.
The Texans ranked 11th best at defending TEs this season - but in Week 1, Kelce scorched them for 106 yards and two touchdowns on six receptions. Roll him up with confidence that he will find the end zone at least once on Saturday afternoon.