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One of the most difficult parts of playing daily fantasy during the NFL Playoffs is the time it takes to research matchup trends. My goal over the next few weeks is to reduce the amount of homework readers need to make smart lineup choices.
Over the course of two articles each week, I will provide at least one matchup nugget for each team at each of the key fantasy positions. Each selection will be written from a defensive perspective. In other words, look for the Steelers' section for a trend working for or against Josh Allen this week.
Bills (vs. PIT)
QB - Buffalo has not allowed more than 215 yards passing in four straight. Only one passer (Patrick Mahomes, Week 14) has exceeded that mark against the Bills since Week 9.
RB - The most PPR fantasy points Buffalo allowed to an individual running back during its 6-1 finish to the regular season was 18.3 to Breece Hall in Week 11. No other back topped 13.1 and only four total reached double figures after Hall.
Chiefs (vs. MIA)
QB - Tua Tagovailoa's 193 yards passing in Week 9 (versus Kansas City) was his second-lowest total of the season. The Chiefs did not allow a 300-yard passer all season; Jalen Hurts (in Super Bowl LVII) is the only one to top that mark against this defense since Week 7 of the 2022 season.
RB - Kansas City allowed at least 18.7 fantasy points to an individual running back four times in eight post-bye contests. Despite that, the Chiefs surrendered only 10 total touchdowns to the position all season.
Be sure to check out our DFS Lineup Optimizer to settle on the right lineup for Wild Card Weekend.
Texans (vs. CLE)
QB - Houston did not give up a touchdown to a quarterback in three of its final four games. (Joe Flacco was the lone exception, throwing for three scores versus the Texans in Week 16.) However, the Texans did give up the most rushing scores to the position (seven).
RB - Jonathan Taylor (Week 18, 188 yards) was the only running back to run for more than 88 yards against Houston in 2023. Before the season finale, the most rushing yards the Texans had permitted to an individual since Week 9 was 62.
Browns (@ HOU)
QB - Only four quarterbacks completed at least 20 throws against Cleveland during the 2023 regular season. While the Browns surrendered 10 of their 23 touchdown passes over the final five weeks of the season, they also recorded nine of their 18 interceptions in that span.
RB - Cleveland surrendered at least 17.2 fantasy points to a running back five times in its final eight regular-season games, including each of its last two. Prior to Week 11, only one back scored more than 14.2.
Dolphins (@ KC)
QB - Miami yielded only 185 yards passing to Mahomes in Week 9. However, the Dolphins have yielded at least 300 yards passing to three of the last five quarterbacks it has faced.
RB - Baltimore's running back tandem of Justice Hill (22.2) and Gus Edwards (12.8) were the only backs to reach double figures against Miami over the final four weeks of the regular season. They were also the only backs to surpass 40 rushing yards versus the Dolphins in that span.
Steelers (@ BUF)
QB - Pittsburgh has allowed no rushing TDs allowed to quarterbacks this season. Only three topped 22 yards rushing.
RB - During its three-game winning streak to end the season, Pittsburgh allowed no running back group to rush for more than 66 yards. In their three-game skid leading up to the winning streak, the Steelers yielded an average of 122.7 rushing yards to running backs.
Cowboys (vs. GB)
QB - Geno Smith (in Week 13) is the only quarterback to account for more than one touchdown against Dallas since Week 10.
RB - Dallas gave up at least 12 fantasy points to a running back in each of its final four contests of the regular season - one less than the number it surrendered over the first 13 games.
Lions (vs. LAR)
QB - Detroit has surrendered an average of 291.7 yards passing to quarterbacks since its Week 9 bye.
RB - No running back rushed for more than 69 yards versus Detroit all season. Only three topped 100 total yards.
Bucs (vs. PHI)
QB - Six quarterbacks have thrown for at least 324 yards against Tampa Bay this season, although Desmond Ridder was the last one to do so in Week 14. The Buccaneers were also one of five teams to give up at least six rushing scores to the position during the regular season.
RB - Tampa Bay finished in a tie with the Rams for the fewest total touchdowns allowed to the running back position this season (seven). The Bucs also finished in a tie for first (with the Falcons and Ravens) for the fewest rushing TDs allowed to running backs (five).
Eagles (@ TB)
QB - Philadelphia faced seven playoff teams this season. In the eight games against those teams (played Dallas twice), Baker Mayfield (10 points in Week 3) and Tagovailoa (12.3 points in Week 7) were the only ones who failed to throw for at least two touchdowns or score at least 16.9 fantasy points.
RB - Philadelphia allowed eight running backs to score 16 or more fantasy points during the regular season. All but one of those performances occurred over the last seven contests.
Rams (@ DET)
QB - Despite facing Jacoby Brissett, Sam Howell, Derek Carr, Tyrod Taylor and Sam Darnold over the last four weeks, Los Angeles allowed an average of 263 passing yards and two passing touchdowns to close the regular season.
RB - Elijah Mitchell's rushing TD in Week 18 was the first one Los Angeles gave up to a running back since Aaron Jones scored against Los Angeles in Week 9. Additionally, no running back has topped 14.2 fantasy points against the Rams since their Week 10 bye.
Packers (@ DAL)
QB - Green Bay ranked second in the league in most rushing yards allowed to quarterbacks this season (407). However, Mayfield (in Week 15) was the only signal-caller to account for more than two scores against the Packers.
RB - After giving up at least 140 yards on the ground over a five-game stretch from Week 10 to Week 14, Green Bay did not surrender 100 rushing yards in any of its final four games.
