Start ’Em, Sit ’Em Kickers and Team Defenses Fantasy Football Divisional Round: Ravens Ready to Rumble

With a week to rest, Baltimore will be better prepared to stop the Texans than Cleveland was.

Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em is the ultimate look at the best and worst matchups based on a PPR scoring system in fantasy football. This column will not cover the elite players in the NFL like Patrick Mahomes, Christian McCaffrey or Justin Jefferson. Instead, I'll look at the players you have questions about who could exceed or fail to meet expectations at each position. For all of your final fantasy lineup decisions, be sure to check out my weekly player rankings which will be updated daily throughout the 2023 NFL season.

Divisional Round Start ’Em, Sit ’Em: QUARTERBACKS | RUNNING BACKS | WIDE RECEIVERS | TIGHT ENDS | KICKERS & TEAM DEFENSES

Divisional Round Start ’Em: Defenses

Start of the Week

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Ravens defense vs. Houston Texans (Sat. 4:30 p.m. ET, ESPN): The Ravens defense is particularly tough at home, allowing fewer than 18 points per game while ranking first in sacks recorded among home teams. Also, while C.J. Stroud is playing at a high level, he’s still a rookie in the first road playoff game of his career.

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Start ’Em

49ers defense vs. Green Bay Packers (Sat. 8:15 p.m. ET, Fox): The Niners are fresh off a bye and should be more than formidable at home, where their defense has allowed just 290.1 total yards per game. The recent success of Jordan Love is a concern, but I’m still taking the NFC’s top seed to produce on both sides of the ball.

DFS Bargains (DraftKings)

Lions defense vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers ($3,300)
Bills defense vs. Kansas City Chiefs ($2,800)

Divisional Round Sit ‘Em: Defenses

Sit of the Week

Packers defense at San Francisco 49ers (Sat. 8:15 p.m. ET, Fox): The Packers defense was solid against the Dallas Cowboys last week from a fantasy standpoint, but I’m not chasing the points against the 49ers. Their offense has averaged 424.1 total yards at home, and it committed just 18 giveaways overall on the season.

Sit ‘Em

Texans defense at Baltimore Ravens (Sat. 4:30 p.m. ET, ESPN): The Texans defense was profitable in fantasy leagues last week, but I’d fade this unit when it faces Lamar Jackson and the Ravens. Their offense has averaged over 30 points and 391.3 total yards at home this season, so Houston could have a problem.

DFS Fades (DraftKings)

Texans defense at Ravens ($2,900)
Packers defense at 49ers ($2,600)

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Divisional Round Start ‘Em: Kickers

Start of the Week

Justin Tucker vs. Houston Texans (Sat. 4:30 p.m. ET, ESPN): When you don’t have many kickers to choose from, why not choose one of the best? Tucker has a great matchup against the Texans, who have allowed nine or more fantasy points to kickers four times on the road this season. Tucker should remain productive.

Start ‘Em

Ka’imi Fairbairn at Baltimore Ravens (Sat. 4:30 p.m. ET, ESPN): Fairbairn might be seen as an afterthought based on this week’s matchup in Baltimore. However, their defense has allowed five kickers to score at least nine fantasy points against them at home this season. That makes Fairbairn a sneaky play this weekend.

Divisional Round Sit ‘Em: Kickers

Sit of the Week

Harrison Butker at Buffalo Bills (6:30 p.m. ET, CBS): Butker has been held to single digits in seven of his last nine games, and a tough road matchup in Buffalo makes him a player to avoid. Only one kicker has scored double digits against the Bills at home, including Chris Boswell who scored just five points last week.

Sit ‘Em

Jake Moody vs. Green Bay Packers (Sat. 8:15 p.m. ET, Fox): Moody hasn’t put up great totals lately, and he’s been particularly bad at home. In fact, he’s scored single digits in all but one of his games in Santa Clara this season. The Packers have also allowed just 22 combined points to kickers in their last five road games.

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