The NFL Playoffs are here! If you’re not quite ready to leave the thrill of the fantasy chase behind (no pun intended), there are still daily contests to be played, as well as playoff fantasy leagues. I’ve released my playoff league rankings and will be updating my weekly rankings throughout the playoffs. We’ll also be previewing each individual game’s fantasy prospects. Tonight’s game features two teams who started the season against each other. For one of them, this game will be the bookend at the close of their season. The NFC Wild Card Monday Night game between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Dallas Cowboys is only the fourth time a team with a losing record has hosted a playoff game. The game airs on ABC and ESPN at 8:15 pm EST this Monday, January 16.

Note: All point totals and rankings are PPR unless otherwise noted. DFS values are DraftKings Showdown ranks. Odds and betting information are courtesy Quarter4.

NFC Wild Card Monday Night Game Preview: Cowboys’ Offense

If anyone out there knows which Dallas Cowboys team is the real one, please let the rest of us know. Is it the team that beat the Eagles 40-34, or the team that lost to the Jaguars 40-34? The team that had two separate four game winning streaks, or the team that lost to rookie quarterback Sam Howell and the mighty Commanders with the division on the line? Honestly, I’m not sure anyone knows, least of all Mike McCarthy or the roster. Just when we think Dallas is about to cement themselves as an upper-echelon contender, they remind us that they are, in fact, still the same Cowboys we all love and/or hate. The Cowboys do enter this game favored to win their first road playoff game since 1992, however.

Fantasy Playoff League Outlook

It doesn’t sit right with me, but I have to say I do expect Dallas to pull this one out. Maybe it’s against my better judgement. After all, Dak Prescott (QB19) averaged more than a turnover per game and has not been sharp since returning from an injury suffered the last time he played in Tampa. But a victory here means you get multiple games from the Cowboys on your playoff fantasy roster, so I see good things if that’s your case. I like Tony Pollard (RB8) and Ezekiel Elliott (RB22), in that order, to each return RB1 value. Prescott is a low-end QB1 option. CeeDee Lamb (WR5) and Dalton Schultz (TE10) also should finish as top-tier starters at their positions.

The rest of the Cowboy wideouts are all kind of jumbled up as WR2/FLEX options. T.Y. Hilton has actually looked pretty good in silver, blue, and white and is an ascendant threat. Michael Gallup (WR65) and Noah Brown (WR58) have both dipped in fantasy value since the addition of Hilton. While I like both Jake Ferguson and Peyton Hendershot, they’ll need to bide their time while Schultz is present. They both should not be on playoff fantasy rosters. The Dallas DST (DST2) is, of course, as fine an option as you’ll find, as is Brett Maher (K3).

DFS Outlook

As the only game in town, all options are expensive here, so keep that in mind when you see the values on tonight’s players. In DraftKings’ Showdown mode, you’ll be paying 1.5 times the player’s salary in the “Captain” position, but you’ll also receive a commensurate bonus for that player’s score. The Buccaneers are a good fantasy defense, but offer a good matchup for the Cowboys’ wideouts and tight ends. Therefore, I like CeeDee Lamb ($10,600/$15,900) in the Captain’s slot for this game. He’s also the most expensive player on the docket, however, so choose wisely after him. I’d plug in Schultz ($6,400) behind him. You could, if you want to take big swings, also use one of the Cowboys’ backup tight ends. They both come cheap at just $200. Between them, I like Ferguson a bit more.

Prescott ($10,400) is another useable option and could be paired with Lamb. If going that route, I’d honestly still use Lamb as my Captain. Pollard ($8,000) and Elliott ($7,800) aren’t far apart in cost, but Tampa Bay is a tough running back matchup. I’d probably lean Pollard for his receiving usage, but with Elliott having scored in nine of the last ten weeks, you can certainly argue for him at the slightly cheaper cost. Dallas’s DST ($4,800) is the more expensive option, so you’ll have to skimp elsewhere if you use them. I’m steering clear of Gallup or Brown, but could be persuaded to take a shot on Hilton at $3,000.

NFC Wild Card Monday Night Game Preview: Buccaneers’ Offense

The Bucs somehow find themselves back in the playoffs with Tom Terrific. With Tom Brady (QB12) breaking his own record for pass completions in a season and Leonard Fournette (RB12) having one of the least efficient season of any top-50 fantasy running back, Tampa established themselves as a pass-first, ask questions later team. Lucky for fantasy managers, there are myriad options in the Tampa pass game.

Fantasy Playoff League Outlook

I don’t see Brady putting together a miracle run this time out, so I have the Buccaneers ranked lower for playoff fantasy league purposes. The prolific nature of their pass game is hard to resist, though. I still see Brady as a useable starting quarterback in this format who could return great value if you luck out and get more than one game from him. Fournette, Mike Evans (WR17) and Chris Godwin (WR18) could return RB/WR2 values, even with only one game. Prescott’s turnover numbers make the DST (DST21) tempting, but better left off postseason rosters. Stay away from Tampa Bay’s tight ends in this format. They’re not consistent enough to return value.

DFS Outlook

The Cowboys are a powerhouse on defense, but they actually offer a very favorable matchup for fantasy wideouts. That puts Evans ($9,600) and Godwin ($9,200) squarely in play as top options. I may even consider Evans as a Captain, but that may be recency bias creeping in. Remember, that three-score game was two weeks ago. If you want to spend elsewhere, you could still get a piece of the Tampa pass game action with Russell Gage at $5,200. That could free up enough to squeeze both quarterbacks into your lineup. Brady will cost you $15,000 to be your Captain, but that’s where I’m putting him if I have him on one of my DFS rosters (which I do).

Dallas also offers a favorable matchup at kicker, and they’re in play in Showdown format. Ryan Succop will cost you $200 more than Maher, but the matchup and scoring potential mean he may be a better option than several other, more-expensive options at other positions (we’re looking at you, non-Lamb Dallas receivers.) The Cowboys are a terrible running back matchup, so Fournette makes me nervous at $7,200. Rachaad White ($5,400) just doesn’t see enough work with Fournette in the lineup to warrant consideration. And remember what we said about Tampa’s tight ends two paragraphs ago? It still holds. Awful matchup. Ignore ’em.

Betting Lines (Courtesy of Quarter4):

Favorite: Cowboys (-5.5)

Over/Under: 47.5

Notable Props: CeeDee Lamb receiving yards (86.8); Mike Evans receiving yards (83.9); Tom Brady pass attempts (43.8); Dak Prescott interceptions thrown (0.9)

Best of Luck!

Here’s hoping your playoff fantasy contests go well and you get to live the lesser dream for awhile. Remember to check Belly Up Fantasy Sports for more fantasy analysis and entertaining insight. Rankings, game previews, and betting advice will help you cash in this postseason! As always, more great NFL coverage is available on the main Belly Up site, as well as fun, informative content on the Belly Up Podcast Network. Got something to say? Leave a comment below, follow me on Twitter @SttChaseFFB, and catch me on the Belly Up Fantasy Live podcast each week.