It’s the divisional round, and we have four big games that are expected to be close. I can make a case for any of these teams moving on and winning the Super Bowl. As for DFS, the slate is short, meaning there’s little room for error. I’m going go over the games and share my thoughts on how I think they’ll play out. You can follow me on X @TrustinTrevor21, and you can find my DFS plays for both FanDuel and DraftKings here at DrRoto.com on Saturday.
Divisional Round NFL DFS Game Previews
Saturday, January 17
Buffalo Bills at Denver Broncos 4:30 p.m. EST
The division round starts in Denver, where the Bills are coming off a big road win in Jacksonville, while the Broncos enjoyed their bye week. I find it a little strange that the Bills are a point-and-a-half favorite, but I think QB Josh Allen accounts for that. Still, that is huge disrespect for the No. 1 seed Broncos.
The key for the Bills will be the running game. Can RB James Cook find running lanes to open up the passing game? Denver is excellent against the run and pass, and I doubt a Bills receiver can step up in this situation. WR Khalil Shakir can be moved around and would be the receiver of choice, but I don’t expect the production he had last week against Jacksonville. It’s risky to play him because he doesn’t score touchdowns, and we are relying solely on volume and yardage.
TE Dalton Kincaid may be the best choice because tight ends have had good games against the Broncos. I hate fading QB Josh Allen because of his upside, but for him to take down slates, he has to do it with his legs, and I’m afraid the Broncos defense is going to be too fast for him to get outside the pocket and run. I don’t see the Bills scoring a ton of points through the air, and if you think they’re going to win, I would focus on Cook and that defense. Also, Kincaid will be worth a shot because it may not take much to be the highest scoring tight end on the slate.
The key for Denver will be the same. Can they run the football against a Bills run defense that has been leaky? Unfortunately for Denver, they haven’t been able to run the ball despite giving RB RJ Harvey a ton of volume. Something has to give, but I don’t think Harvey will put up a huge game on the ground because Buffalo has been much better against the run as of late. He could have a solid game and add a little bit in the passing game, but he’s going to need to score a touchdown to be in the winning lineups. As for the passing game, QB Bo Nix is up against a solid Bills’ pass defense, but they will give up a big play or two. Who is going to be that receiver who steps up? WR Courtland Sutton should get the most volume, but some teams give him blanket coverage, which means the ball could be spread around to a group of receivers who usually don’t score more than 10 points.
In conclusion, I think this will be a low-scoring nail-biter, giving the edge to the Broncos at home. I’m not expecting huge passing numbers, which makes me more interested in the running backs than the passing game, but I always have to be aware of Josh Allen’s upside as a QB who can score touchdowns. I will have very little ownership from this game.
