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Expect the Former Heisman Trophy Winner to Continue to Eat Targets
While the Eagles dominated the Giants last week in the divisional round, perhaps the only somewhat negative storyline to come out of Philadelphia this week has been the frustration that AJ Brown appeared to display on the sideline in the victory. The first-year Eagle had just three catches for 22 yards on six targets in the 38-7 win. Granted, in a game with that final score, there was plenty of running from the Eagles, but that didn’t stop DeVonta Smith to tally 10 targets and convert those targets into a 6/61/1 line opposite Brown. Smith has earned at least eight targets in 10 straight games for the Eagles, and given his chemistry with Jalen Hurts that goes back to their time at Alabama, there’s no reason to expect Smith to slow down with the Eagles two wins from the ultimate prize. Sure, Sunday could be a squeaky wheel gets the grease game for Brown, but Smith has been a model of consistency for the Eagles in the passing game and given the price points of each in DFS contests this weekend, we’d much prefer Smith.
Look for This Veteran RB to Make an Impact at Arrowhead
We wrote towards the end of the regular season that Jerick McKinnon was the preferable back to deploy in DFS formats for those interested in investing in the Kansas City backfield. Our premise for that rationale was that veterans are often going to be trusted more in big-game situations than youngsters like Isiah Pacheco, and with Clyde Edwards-Helaire on IR most of the second half of the year, McKinnon became an obvious play. Edwards-Helaire could return on Sunday, but his presence probably shouldn’t be viewed as a threat to McKinnon right now. That might change if Edwards-Helaire gets through the game healthy, the Chiefs win, and he has two more weeks to heal up. However, on Sunday, McKinnon is the KC back to use yet again. McKinnon outsnapped Pacheco 65% to 35% and ran 19 routes to the 11 for Pacheco in the divisional round victory over Jacksonville. The big talking point all week surrounding the AFC Championship game has been the health of Patrick Mahomes who appears to be on track to play one week after suffering a high-ankle sprain. Andy Reid and Eric Bieniemy are not dumb. I expect them to look to scheme up ways to get the ball out of Mahomes’ hands quickly and look for their skill players to make plays after the catch. That could bode well for Kadarius Toney as far as the Chiefs wide receivers are concerned, but it certainly will favor McKinnon who is the preferable back in the passing game for Kansas City and seems to be getting enough carries to garner a fair share of rushing production as well. Even if Mahomes were at 100%, McKinnon would be interesting in this game, but I think his status could make for more dump-offs to McKinnon as well so I’d look to use the veteran running back in the AFC Championship game.
By Greg Frank
@G_Frank6
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