Choosing DraftKings DFS bargains in this game is not as simple as it may seem. One of these teams spent last Saturday wiping the floor with “the best defense in the NFL”, the other team was probably watching it on TV (or trying to download the Peacock app). That’s the reward you get for winning 13 games in the regular season. In fact, the Ravens won 6 of their last 7 regular season games, but a Week 18 loss to a Steelers team who were absolutely melted by the Bills could be a worry.
The Texans’ offense and Bobby Slowik’s ability to gameplan for their next opponent have developed with every game. That’s good news because the Texans lost 25-9 when these teams met in Week 1! For the Ravens, they’ve got the Michael Jordan thing going on. If they feel someone has disrespected them it inspires them to hit their peak. But not many people have disrespected the number 1 seed recently, so that’s something to keep an eye on.
Only the Jets conceded fewer TDs to wide receivers than the Texans! But the Ravens do like to run it in, a big Game for Gus Edwards incoming then? Maybe, but the Texans have only conceded 11 rushing touchdowns too!
DraftKings DFS bargains for The Divisional Round Texans At Ravens
The Not Really A Bargain, Well Kind Of A Bargain Pick – Mark Andrews
He’s back and only 3 teams have allowed more points to the tight end position than the Texans. So, Andrews should play a big part in the Ravens’ offense this week. He’s not “technically” a bargain, but if you believe John Harbaugh, he’s going to score more points than anyone not named Lamar Jackson. Andrews will cost $7,600 on this DraftKings DFS slate, but in Week 10 he cost $11,000!
Before his ankle injury in Week 11 Andrews had caught a career-best 73.8% of his targets. And 6 of his 45 catches were touchdown catches. Even though Andrews missed 6 games he still leads the Ravens in touchdown receptions (and that might interest DeMeco Ryans). Baltimore averaged 27.89 points in the 9 games Andrews started this season. Without him they’ve averaged 25.7, so there’s not a huge difference, but still fewer.
The Texans’ defense has allowed 9.57 yards per reception to tight ends this season, so both Andrews and Isaiah Likely could be productive.
The Wiley Old Veteran DraftKings DFS Pick – Robert Woods
Woods hasn’t had as much impact as you would have expected a veteran receiver to have on a roster full of kids. But he is still averaging 10.6 yards per touch this season. He’s averaging over 5 targets per game too. In the first meeting between these teams in Week 1 Woods saw 10 targets and caught 6 of them for 57 yards.
This week he’ll find himself opposite Kyle Hamilton who has been very impressive in his second season. He’s only allowing 54% of passes to be completed and just 4.9 yards per completion! He has only conceded 1 touchdown this season too. But he’s also recorded 3 sacks, so Woods may be the hot receiver if Hamilton blitzes.
Hamilton sprained the MCL in his left knee against the 49ers and missed the final 2 games of the season. So getting straight back into it against a Super Bowl-winning veteran might take a snap or two. Woods is just $3,800 on this week’s DraftKings DFS Captains Showdown slate and he’s caught 10 passes in his last 3 games.
The “He’s About To Go Off” DraftKings DFS Pick – John Metchie III
Metchie III ran a 4.4 second 40-yard dash time while he was at Alabama and while the Baltimore weather doesn’t look conducive to throwing 50 yards bombs downfield that speed could still come in handy. C.J. Stroud just has to get the ball into his hands. And Metchie III has run the ball as well as catching passes in 2023 (only once, but still). Metchie III also demonstrated last week that when defenders respect your speed you don’t even have to use it. He ghosted into space against the Browns pass defense who didn’t want him to beat them to the endzone.
This week Metchie III could be lined up across from Rock Ya-Sin (although it could be Marlon Humphrey if he’s recovered from his calf problem). Ya-Sin has only had to defend 20 passes so far this season and he’s allowed 10 to be caught. He’s allowed 17.7 yards per catch too, so Metchie III will be hoping to see plenty of him. Metchie III will cost just $3,600 on this DraftKings DFS slate.
The Waiting In Reserve Pick – Nelson Agholor
Agholor costs $4,000 on this DraftKings DFS Captains Showdown slate and he has averaged 7.6 DraftKings DFS points in his last 3 games. If Zay Flowers is still bothered by his calf injury (and a temperature forecast to be below zero won’t help that) then Agholor could get quite a lot of game time on Saturday. He was quite prolific in the last 3 games of the regular season, seeing 12 of his 45 targets in December.
If he does see a lot of snaps, he’ll be lining up opposite Desmond King who allowed 83.3% of passes to be completed in the regular season. The receivers he was covering were only targeted 20 times though. King is one of the Texans’ more physical DBs, he’s been sent on the blitz 9 times! Normally his physicality would go against him covering someone as quick as Agholor. But in what promises to be inclement weather the officials might allow a bit of a scrap before they start throwing the flags. Agholor weighs 200lbs though, so he won’t mind a bit of the rough stuff. Flowers is the only Ravens wideout who has caught more TDs than Agholor this season, so he could be a red zone target for Lamar too.
The Big Play DraftKings DFS Pick – Brevin Jordan
He’s one hell of an athlete, but the Ravens are the 10th-best defense against the tight end position. And after last week’s 75-yard sprint away from the Browns defense, he’ll be getting some extra attention from Baltimore defenders. Jordan only costs $2,800 on DraftKings DFS this week though, not bad for someone who scored 14.6 points last week!
Main Photo: [Troy Taormina] – USA Today Sports
