It’s easy to let your DraftKings FLEX spot be left up to the amount of salary remaining after you fill out the rest of the squad. That’s the ‘flex-by-default’ strategy. The purpose of this Divisional Round DraftKings DFS article is to help you avoid it. You can and should use the FLEX spot to strengthen and diversify your daily league lineups for the Divisional Round of the NFL playoffs.

A couple of thoughts: 1) You don’t have to spend all the salary cap. A better player in a better situation may force you to leave a few hundred salary cap dollars on the table. Force yourself to roster the best lineup, even if it fails to use the whole cap. 2) As a scientist, I like to use players for which I can build a case based on multiple pieces of evidence. I look at things like opportunities, efficiency, opponent and game flow to start my research. I want as many players that are positive in all categories as I can fit. Having an idea of the players I want before I work with salaries helps me with #1 too.

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Divisional Round DraftKings FLEX Options - Daily Fantasy Football Picks

Use this list as your flex cheat sheet; if a player is on here, there’s good reason to roster him in your last spot.

I assume that you have $6,500 or less to work with for this final spot on the roster. I also assume you’ll arrange accordingly so that the player with the latest game start is in the flex in case you should need to swap someone out.

Safe Options - Divisional Round DraftKings Lineup Picks

Dez Bryant $6,600: The Cowboys offense is one thing I really trust this weekend. Green Bay’s secondary led the league in the regular season in fantasy points allowed to wide receivers, giving up 26 touchdowns. Bryant is the playmaker, he’s healthy, and it will be to him that Dallas turns when it matters on Sunday.

Travis Kelce $6,100: As far as pass-catchers go in Kansas City, Kelce is a stand-out. He and Alex Smith connected for six 100+ yard games and four touchdowns during the regular season, and I think that he has usurped Jeremy Maclin as the number one option for the Chiefs pass game. Pittsburgh has been relatively more generous to opposing tight ends than they have to wide receivers, and at home--advantage Kelce.

Devonta Freeman $5,900: Speaking of at home, Freeman is the dominant back when the Falcons are in Atlanta, and he averages 7 FPTs more there than on the road. Even though the matchup is tough, the key to their success has been a balanced pass/rush attack, and Freeman is a participant in both phases of the game. For the price, he’s a very safe play this week.

Upside Options - Divisional Round DraftKings Lineup Picks

Spencer Ware $5,200: We haven’t seen a big Spencer Ware game in some time as injuries derailed his early season dominance. The team turned heavily to Tyreek Hill and Kelce, but don’t count Ware out completely. As I mentioned above, Pittsburgh had one of the top passing defenses in the league this season, but allowed the sixth-most fantasy points to opposing running backs. Ware could be a sneaky play at RB or Flex, and allows you to pay up for receivers in a contrarian lineup.

LeGarrette Blount $5,800: Much of that same philosophy applies to Blount. I think people will be heavily in on Tom Brady and the pass game, given the Vegas total and the way this offense runs, but don’t forget Blount, who not only led the league in touchdowns (18), but was second in carries and eighth in rushing yards. I tend to think of him as a goal line guy, and I do think Brady puts him in that position, but he’s used all over the field, and that should very much be the case again this week vs. Houston. Houston is here on the strength of their defense, but I think New England’s offense prevails here.

Value Options - Divisional Round DraftKings Lineup Picks

Paul Richardson $4,100: Richardson is no longer a sleeper after his dramatic catches in the Wild Card game, but his price still places him squarely in value territory. Russell Wilson makes for one of the best QB plays this week as Atlanta’s defense has been one of the worst in the league this year. If you’re targeting the Seahawks pass game, consider Richardson, who at this price is almost a must play at WR3 or Flex if you want to fit the studs this week. 

Terrance Williams $3,100: Read what I said about Bryant above, and then subtract $3K. Williams has had a steady 4-6 targets per game, and four receiving touchdowns this season. I like the idea of getting a hearty piece of what I think will be a potent Dallas offense at minimum salary.

Mohamed Sanu $4,000: Value this week is all about secondary options on high scoring offenses. While many will shy away from Sanu as Taylor Gabriel ($4,400) returns to health, the truth is that it could be either one who scores on a big play this week to exceed value. When fantasy probabilities are essentially equal, I’ll take the salary discount if it helps me to build up my lineup elsewhere.