FanDuel Single-Game DFS Football Helper: Wild Card Sunday (Packers at Cowboys)

The No. 2 seed Dallas Cowboys will host the No. 7 seed Green Bay Packers in a much-anticipated NFC matchup on Sunday during Wild Card Weekend. The primary storyline ahead of this contest is Mike McCarthy facing the team he coached from 2006-2018. According to the NFL odds on FanDuel Sportsbook, the Cowboys enter as 7.5-point home favorites, and the over/under is set at 50.5.

For those unfamiliar, single-game slates feature five flex spots with identical scoring to the main slate. However, kickers are included in these contests, and there is an "MVP" roster slot. The MVP receives 1.5 times his total fantasy points, making this spot crucial.

FanDuel Research's Brandon Gdula has done a deep dive on single-game strategy, and numberFire has projections if you select the game from the slate tab. It's worth checking out both before making your lineups.

NFL DFS Single-Game Picks

MVP Candidates

CeeDee Lamb ($16,000) -- CeeDee Lamb solidified himself as one of the premier wide receivers in the NFL this season. The superstar wideout finished the regular season with the seventh-highest target share (30%) among all receivers and a fantastic 2.93 yards per route run (YPRR), via NextGenStats. Since the Cowboys had their bye week in Week 7, Lamb hasn't garnered fewer than nine targets, so volume shouldn't be an issue for Lamb in a game that will be played indoors. Lamb registered the second-most FanDuel points per game (19.74) at the wide receiver position and he'll draw a favorable matchup in the Packers. Green Bay's defense is giving up the third-highest catch rate over expected (CROE) and the sixth-most YPRR (1.58) to receivers among the 12 teams playing on Wild Card Weekend.

Dak Prescott ($15,000) -- There was once a time this season where Dak Prescott was the favorite to win the NFL MVP award. Prescott led the NFL in passing touchdowns just one year after leading the league in interceptions. The franchise signal-caller for the Cowboys also logged the second-most expected points added per drop back (0.17). While Prescott is already one of the best quarterbacks at surveying the field and making reads, the Packers record the fifth-worst sack rate in the NFL. Prescott has registered 270-plus passing yards and multiple touchdowns in eight of his last 11 games, and six of those outings came at home.

Jordan Love ($13,500) -- If the Packers want to have any chance of upsetting the Cowboys on the road, they'll need Jordan Love to have a special performance. In his first season as the starting quarterback in Green Bay, Love tossed the second-most passing touchdowns in the NFL. The matchup isn't an ideal one for the young quarterback, but he's been hot down the stretch. Love has posted at least 17 FanDuel points in eight of his last nine games. Two of those games came against the Carolina Panthers and the Kansas City Chiefs, who were both in the top four in FanDuel points per game allowed to quarterbacks. Lastly, there's a chance Christian Watson returns for the Packers on Sunday following a five-game absence because of a hamstring ailment.

Aaron Jones ($11,500) -- Aaron Jones could be the most important player for the Packers aside from Love in Sunday's showdown. In the final three weeks of the regular season, Jones averaged 21.0 rushing attempts, 119.3 rushing yards, and 14.7 FanDuel points per game. His 18.2 expected FanDuel points in that three-game span also suggest his numbers could have been even better. The Packers leaned on their veteran back down the stretch, and they'll likely do the same versus a Cowboys defense that has shown vulnerabilities against the run. The Cowboys are 30th in success rate allowed on the ground. With A.J. Dillon still not fully practicing, Jones could be in store for another massive workload.

Flex Breakdown

Jayden Reed ($12,000) -- Among a handful of first or second-year skill players the Packers have trotted out on offense this season, rookie Jayden Reed was one of the most impressive ones to watch. Since Week 10, Reed has become a focal point of Green Bay's offense. The versatile wideout is tied for the highest target share (19.3%) and has the third-most YPRR (2.50) on the Packers in the team's last nine contests. On top of that, Reed has notched 13-plus FanDuel points in seven of his last eight appearances. It's an unfavorable matchup for Reed, as the Cowboys have the sixth-best schedule-adjusted pass defense in the NFL, per numberFire's metrics. That being said, the Packers use him in a variety of ways, so he could be a true difference-maker in Sunday's crucial matchup.

Brandin Cooks ($11,000) -- Lamb is the clear No. 1 option for Prescott in the passing game, but Brandin Cooks has continued to grow more comfortable in the offense. The experienced receiver has found the end zone in three consecutive games, and his eight touchdowns have all come in his last 12 contests. After a slow start in the first four weeks of the season, Cooks boasts the second-highest route participation (83.1%), the highest average depth of target (14.4), the third-highest YPRR (1.40), and the third-highest red-zone target share (12.2%) on the Cowboys since Week 5. The Packers also surrender the 19th-most adjusted fantasy points per target (1.41) to wide receivers.

Jake Ferguson ($10,000) -- A lack of touchdowns has led Jake Ferguson to possess a lower salary than Cooks in Sunday's matchup. The young tight end has failed to score a touchdown in five straight games and he's eclipsed 45 receiving yards just twice in that same span. Even with his recent lack of production, Ferguson still concluded the regular season second in target share (16.9%), YPRR (1.56), and red-zone target share (23.1%) in a Cowboys offense that should have no issues moving the ball against the Packers. It also helps that Green Bay's defense is allowing the highest average depth of target (aDOT) to tight ends among the 12 teams playing in the Wild Card Round.

Dontayvion Wicks ($9,000) -- Another first-year receiver who has stepped up for the Packers is Dontayvion Wicks. Even if Watson returns for the Packers on Sunday, Wicks should maintain a role in the offense given his recent production. The rookie fifth-round pick has logged the team's third-highest route participation (66%) and the third-most FanDuel points per game (11.7) in Watson's five-game absence to end the regular season. There's no doubt his 61-yard, two-touchdown performance in the regular-season finale provides a massive boost to his numbers. It's tough to believe he'd be phased out of the offense completely after arguably putting forth his best outing of the season regardless of Watson's status.

Tucker Kraft ($8,000) -- Tucker Kraft is yet another rookie who saw an expanded role down the stretch amid injuries on the Packers. With Watson and fellow rookie Luke Musgrave battling injuries, Kraft had the team's second-highest route participation (79.6%) in the last four weeks among players who played on at least 50% of the snaps. Kraft turned his increased usage into the third-highest target share (16.4%) on the Packers since Week 15. Musgrave returned to the offense in Week 18, but it was Kraft who still played a team-high 90% of the offensive snaps. Both tight ends for the Packers are viable salary-saving options in a potential shootout.

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The above author is a FanDuel employee and is not eligible to compete in public daily fantasy contests or place sports betting wagers on FanDuel. The advice provided by the author does not necessarily represent the views of FanDuel. Taking the author's advice will not guarantee a successful outcome. You should use your own judgment when participating in daily fantasy contests or placing sports wagers.