Chris Godwin, Sam LaPorta, Amon-Ra St. Brown, and Others

Sunday’s Divisional Round action will open with a potentially explosive game between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Detroit Lions at Ford Field. With it being the only indoor game of the weekend and featuring two defenses prone to mistakes, we could be in for a high-scoring contest, which is always good when making DFS picks.

With the assistance of projections from the free PFN NFL DFS Lineup Optimizer, let’s examine the top NFL DFS picks for the third game of the weekend.

Who are the Top NFL DFS Picks for Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Detroit Lions?

Baker Mayfield, QB

This game in Ford Field screams shoot out, and we saw Baker Mayfield at his very best last weekend, which bodes well. The Buccaneers’ QB put up a 30-point performance against the Philadelphia Eagles, and now they get another pass-friendly matchup.

The Lions’ defense has allowed an average of 18.62 fantasy points per game to QBs this season. In the last four weeks of the regular season, only four defenses were worse against opposing QBs, none of which remain in the playoffs.

Last week, Los Angeles Rams QB Matthew Stafford posted a 25.68 fantasy point performance, which Mayfield has a real chance to match.

Mayfield, as your captain, is somewhat intriguing, but it feels like his ceiling is realistically capped around that 25-point mark. Is that enough ceiling to pay the extra salary to make him a captain?

Jared Goff, QB

I included Lions QB Jared Goff here simply because this game feels like a pass-heavy encounter. Both defenses have been pretty solid against RBs this season, so we could see Goff needing to air it out for the Lions to win back-to-back home playoff games.

MORE: NFL Playoff Bracket

Over the course of the season, the Buccaneers’ defense allowed an average of 17.3 fantasy points to opposing QBs. They also struggled down the stretch with opposing QBs such as Jordan Love. I would not pick Goff over Mayfield, especially with the Lions QB costing more.

Rachaad White, RB

This matchup sees two of the best defenses against opposing RBs go head-to-head. That really benefits those DFS players who do their research and look heavily into matchups.

Rachaad White gets LOOSE to extend the #Buccaneers lead! 💨#GoBucs

pic.twitter.com/qkn4ShgnWQ

— Pro Football Network (@PFN365) December 10, 2023

The temptation here will be to try and get both Rachaad White and one of Lions RBs David Montgomery or Jahmyr Gibbs into your lineup, but you should consider avoiding them all if you can. Tampa Bay is the third-toughest defense against opposing backs, and the Lions are the number one.

If I were picking just one, I would lean on White, where I have that comfort level that he is the lead back, and there is no real competition. In the Detroit backfield, you have a tough matchup and uncertainty over whether we will see more of Gibbs or Montgomery.

Amon-Ra St. Brown, WR

Even as the most expensive player on the slate, WR Amon-Ra St. Brown remains in contention here. While there are other weapons in the Lions’ passing game, St. Brown is Mr. Consistent. He is a marginally better value on DraftKings, where you have the PPR scoring, but not by much.

The last five weeks have seen St. Brown score 20+ points on DraftKings, and it almost feels like you can lock in those points. He arguably has as much upside as any other player, which makes him an intriguing option in the captain spot. The problem is that it sucks up so much of your capital doing that.

I will be trying to ensure I have St. Brown in most of my lineups this week, with the biggest question being as a captain or a Flex.

Chris Godwin, WR

I love the matchup this week for the Buccaneers WRs, and Chris Godwin stands out as a premium option here. He has now gone six-straight games scoring 10 or more points on DraftKings, while also having that mid-20s ceiling. He is almost the perfect option at a salary that is significantly lower than the more volatile Mike Evans.

Godwin stands out to me as the perfect captain choice this week. He can lock you in a solid double-digit score, does not have the same floor of Evens, but has that outside potential to get you into the mid-20s before you start adding multipliers.

The Lions’ defense allowed an average of 39.86 fantasy points to opposing WRs this year, and Godwin could be a dream this week in a PPR format. Maybe Godwin could be this week’s Puka Nacua?

Trey Palmer, WR

Essentially playing on the same rationale with this pick as with Godwin in terms of the Lions’ pass defense, Palmer is my lower-priced high-upside gamble. He really needs to find the end zone to fully pay off, but also, prior to last week, he had five or more targets in his previous three games.

MORE: NFL Divisional Round Fantasy Football Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em Picks

There is enough here to make me excited about the prospect of Palmer being that contest winner. He could easily give you a double-digit return for a price that does not break the bank.

Jameson Williams, WR

The big-play potential of Jameson Williams is so enticing, and I cannot quit on it. Last week it was Josh Reynolds who had a good game alongside St. Brown. Previously, we have seen it be Kalif Raymond, but this week, it could be Williams. The price point is really nice, and it only takes one big play for a huge return.

We have seen with Williams this season that he can return fantasy value with limited targets. I like the play here better in the half-PPR format of FanDuel, but as a lower-priced dart throw, it is an intriguing option on both sites.

Sam LaPorta, TE

Sam LaPorta is on a streak of three double-digit scores in DraftKings and six such games in the last eight weeks. His price is really nice on both sites, and he is a major threat both in terms of targets and touchdowns.

Despite uncertainty this week over his health, LaPorta should be good to go against the Buccaneers, with close to 100% availability. It is also nice that he is getting a matchup against a Buccaneers’ defense that has allowed an average of 14.73 fantasy points per game to the TE position.

With the fantasy football season behind us, why not start preparing for your rookie drafts with our dynasty rookie rankings? Additionally, as you look to improve your team heading into 2024, our dynasty trade calculator can help you find the perfect deal to boost your championship chances.