The Championship Showdown: Elite DFS Strategies for the AFC & NFC Finals

Playoff Showdown: Chiefs, Ravens, Lions, and 49ers Battle for Supremacy in Week 21

As we gear up for the penultimate week of the NFL playoffs, the tension is palpable. With only two games on the slate, every play, every decision, every moment carries an amplified significance. The first clash of titans will see the Kansas City Chiefs, with a 4-point edge, lock horns with the Baltimore Ravens at the iconic M&T Bank Stadium. The over/under is set at a modest 44.5, suggesting a defensive battle could be on the cards. Kickoff is slated for 3:00 PM EST on Sunday, so brace yourself for a thrilling afternoon of gridiron action.

As the sun sets, the action shifts to the west coast where the Detroit Lions will face the formidable San Francisco 49ers at the Levi's Stadium. The 49ers, favored by 7 points, will look to exploit their home-field advantage. With an over/under of 50.5, this game promises to be a high-scoring affair. The Lions will need to bring their A-game to keep their Super Bowl dreams alive. The final whistle of this game, scheduled to start at 6:30 PM EST, will mark the end of an exhilarating day of NFL playoffs. Stay tuned, folks, because this Sunday, it's do or die.

Quarterback Quandaries: Who's Hot and Who's Not

Brock Purdy, 49ers - Projected 22.6 pts

San Francisco's Brock Purdy is the top QB on the slate this week. Despite averaging a modest 13.2 points over his last three games, Purdy is coming off a solid performance against the Packers where he threw for 252 yards and a touchdown without any interceptions. This week, he's up against the Lions, whose pass defense ranks a dismal 30th in the league, allowing an average of 271.2 yards and 1.7 touchdowns per game. Expect Purdy to exploit this weakness and rack up some serious fantasy points.

Jared Goff, Lions - Projected 20.7 pts

On the other side of the field, we have Jared Goff of the Lions. Goff has been averaging a respectable 15.9 points over his last three games and is coming off a strong game against the Buccaneers, where he threw for 287 yards and two touchdowns without any picks. However, he's up against the 49ers this week, whose pass defense is considerably stronger, ranking 13th in the league and allowing an average of 234.1 yards and 1.2 touchdowns per game. Goff will need to bring his A-game to deliver on his projected 20.7 points.

Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs - Projected 20.3 pts

Last but not least, we have the Chiefs' Patrick Mahomes. Mahomes has been averaging 16.7 points over his last three games and is coming off a game against the Bills where he threw for 215 yards and two touchdowns without any interceptions. However, he's up against the Ravens this week, whose pass defense ranks 9th in the league, allowing an average of 220.0 yards and just 1.0 touchdown per game. Mahomes will need to be at his best to meet his projected 20.3 points.

Running Backs Rundown

Christian McCaffrey, 49ers - Projected 28.9 pts

Christian McCaffrey is a force to be reckoned with, averaging a solid 23.3 points over his last three games. His performance against the Packers last week was nothing short of impressive, rushing for 98 yards and scoring two touchdowns on the ground, not to mention his 7 receptions. However, he's up against a formidable opponent this week in the form of the Lions' defense, which ranks third in the league against the run, allowing only 87.6 yards per game and less than one rushing touchdown on average. McCaffrey will need to bring his A-game to overcome this challenge.

Isiah Pacheco, Chiefs - Projected 15.7 pts

Isiah Pacheco has been on a roll, averaging 21.1 points over his last three games. His recent game against the Bills saw him rush for 97 yards and score a touchdown, along with a single reception. This week, he's up against the Ravens' defense, which ranks 11th in the league at defending the run, allowing an average of 102.5 yards per game and just 0.3 rushing touchdowns. Pacheco will need to utilize his skills and agility to make his mark in this matchup.

Jahmyr Gibbs, Lions - Projected 14.8 pts

Jahmyr Gibbs has been consistent, averaging 14.5 points over his last three games. In his last game against the Buccaneers, he rushed for 74 yards and scored a touchdown, along with 4 receptions. This week, he faces the 49ers' defense, which ranks fourth in the league at defending the run, allowing an average of 91.3 yards per game and just 0.5 rushing touchdowns. Gibbs will need to step up his game to make an impact against this tough defense.

Wide Receivers to Watch This Week

Amon-Ra St. Brown, Lions - Projected 26.8 pts

St. Brown has been a consistent performer for the Lions, averaging a solid 20.6 points over his last three games. Coming off a strong performance against Tampa Bay where he racked up 77 yards, 1 receiving TD, and 8 receptions, he's a player to keep an eye on. However, he's up against the 49ers this week, who are no slouches when it comes to defending the pass. They rank 13th in the league, allowing an average of 234.1 yards and 1.2 passing TDs per game. It'll be interesting to see if St. Brown can maintain his momentum against this formidable defense.

Rashee Rice, Chiefs - Projected 18.7 pts

Rice has been a reliable contributor for the Chiefs, with an average of 17.8 points over his last three games. In his last outing against Buffalo, he managed 47 yards with 4 receptions, although he didn't make it into the end zone. This week, he's up against the Ravens, who have a strong pass defense that ranks 9th in the league. They allow an average of 220.0 yards and 1.0 passing TDs per game. Rice will need to bring his A-game to make an impact this week.

Deebo Samuel, 49ers - Projected 17.1 pts

Samuel has had a bit of a slump recently, averaging just 10.7 points over his last three games. His last game against Green Bay saw him catch for only 24 yards with 2 receptions. However, he has a chance to bounce back this week against the Lions, who have one of the worst pass defenses in the league. They rank 30th, allowing an average of 271.2 yards and 1.7 passing TDs per game. This could be the perfect opportunity for Samuel to get back on track.

Top Tight End Titans of the Week

Travis Kelce, Chiefs - Projected 16.5 pts

Travis Kelce of the Chiefs is a force to be reckoned with. This guy has been averaging a solid 14.4 points over his last three games, proving that he's not just a flash in the pan. In his last game against the Bills, Kelce snagged 5 receptions for a total of 75 yards, and added 2 touchdowns to his tally. This week, he's up against the Ravens, a team that's ranked 9th in the league in pass defense, allowing only 220.0 yards per game and just a single passing touchdown. But if anyone can crack this defense, it's Kelce. He's projected to score 16.5 points, and we're betting he'll deliver.

George Kittle, 49ers - Projected 13.6 pts

Next up, we've got George Kittle of the 49ers. Kittle has been on fire, averaging 14.5 points over his last three games. In his recent clash with the Packers, Kittle caught 4 passes for a total of 81 yards, and added a touchdown to his name. This week, he's facing the Lions, a team that's struggling to defend the pass. They're ranked 30th in the league, allowing a whopping 271.2 yards per game and 1.7 passing touchdowns. This could be a field day for Kittle, who's projected to score 13.6 points. If the Lions can't tighten up their defense, Kittle could be in for a big day.

Fantasy Point Mismatches

Let's kick things off by looking at the fantasy point mismatches. The 49ers, who are currently ranking #4 in generating fantasy points with an impressive 99.9/game, are set to face the Lions. The Lions, unfortunately, are struggling on the defensive end, ranking #23 in giving up fantasy points at 89.1/game. This could be a golden opportunity for the 49ers to rack up some serious fantasy points. On the flip side, the Lions are roaring on offense, ranking #1 at generating fantasy points with an outstanding 101.1/game. They're up against the 49ers who are ranked #10 at giving them up at 79.1/game. This clash could potentially be a fantasy point bonanza.

Passing Yards Mismatches

Moving on to passing yards mismatches, the 49ers are again in the spotlight. They rank #3 at passing yards with 272.9/game and are up against the Lions who are struggling at the #30 spot, giving up 271.2/game. This could be a field day for the 49ers' passing game. Meanwhile, the Lions are not far behind, ranking #4 at passing yards with 269.4/game. They're facing the 49ers who are ranked #13 at giving them up at 234.1/game. This could be a high-flying aerial showdown.

Rushing Yards Mismatches

When it comes to rushing yards mismatches, the Ravens are leading the pack. They rank #1 at rushing yards with a whopping 163.8/game and are up against the Chiefs who are ranked #17 at giving them up at 114.7/game. This could be a ground and pound kind of game for the Ravens. The 49ers also show promise in the rushing department, ranking #3 at rushing yards with 139.7/game, and they're facing the Lions who are ranked #3 at giving them up at 87.6/game. This could be a tough battle in the trenches.

Sacking The Quarterback Mismatches

Finally, let's talk about sacking the quarterback mismatches. The Chiefs are a force to be reckoned with, ranking #2 at sacking the QB with 3.1/game. They're up against the Ravens who are ranked #14 at protecting the QB, allowing 2.4/game. This could be a long day for the Ravens' QB. On the other hand, the Ravens are not to be underestimated, ranking #1 at sacking the QB with 3.4/game. They're facing the Chiefs who are ranked #2 at protecting the QB, allowing only 1.5/game. This could be a game of cat and mouse between the QBs and the defensive lines.