How to Use Relief Pitching to Win Fantasy Leagues

Here's Who to Drop, Pop, and Shop: Championship Round

Win or lose, you need that JuJu TikTok energy as you head into the championship round.

Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports

For once, if you're stressed about your lineup this week, that's actually a good thing: Itmeans that you've maneuvered your way into the final round of playoffs.

Congrats on making it this far in the most replacement-laden fantasy season we've ever seen.

While making it this far is an achievement unto itself, you can't coast and bench your starters like an NFL first seed playoff team. If anything, this is the most stressful week of them all: one wrong move, and you've lost your Super Bowl (and a hell of a lot of money).

Take home the bag and the bragging rights by making these drops, pops and shops in the final round of playoffs.

Drop

Wayne Gallman

New York Giants running back Wayne Gallman (22) stiff-arms Cleveland Browns defensive end Olivier Vernon (54) in the second half.New York Giants running back Wayne Gallman (22) stiff-arms Cleveland Browns defensive end Olivier Vernon (54) in the second half.Danielle Parhizkaran/NorthJersey.com via Imagn Content Services, LLC

While the Giants record has slowly been getting better as the season goes on, their options at running back seem to be dwindling. Many lost a first round pick with Saquon's early-season ACL tear, then lost backup Devonta Freeman to an ankle injury and COVID precautions. That left Wayne Gallman, Alfred Morris, and Dion Lewis to split carries.

While Gallman has been a must-start since Week 7, this Giants mysteriously sat him in the second half in favor of Alfred Morris. Gallman only got 9 carries for 29 yards, and if there's any question about his production in Week 16 against Baltimore, he may have to sit this one out.


JuJu Smith-Schuster

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster (19) warms up before the game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium.Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster (19) warms up before the game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium.Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports

JuJu is not a bad player, but he's brought about a nasty superstition of sorts that may have cost the Steelers their last two games. See, JuJu decided to dance on the Bills logo for the gram (or in this case, the TikTok), a move that's seen as disrespectful amongst athletes.

@juju Keep it going tonight 🥶🤩🤣 #fyp#nfl#steelers
♬ Adderall (Corvette Corvette) - Popp Hunna


Noting that it gave them extra motivation in their 26-15 win, the Bills made it clear that JuJu's moves brought the Steelers bad juju. Going against the grain, Smith-Schuster decided that "being yourself" was the best thing for the team, and the Bengals definitely targeted him for it: he had one fantasy point this week. Whether Juju dances or not, it may be wise to sit him against a stingy Colts secondary this week for the championship game.

@juju Steelers MNF #fyp video credit : @chase
♬ Adderall (Corvette Corvette) - Popp Hunna


Pop

J.D. McKissic

Washington Football Team running back J.D. McKissic (41) carries the ball as Seattle Seahawks safety Quandre Diggs (37) defends during the second half at FedExField.Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports

With Gibson out and Washington making a play for an NFC East playoff spot, J.D. McKissic has stepped up as someone to pop into the final round of playoffs. He's coming off a revenge game as a former Seahawk with 13 carries for 51 yards and 9 catches for 56 yards and a receiving touchdown. While Washington (narrowly) lost that game, McKissic has emerged as a fantasy winner—and he will likely make you one too after a Week 16 matchup against the Panthers.

Le'Veon Bell

Kansas City Chiefs running back Le'Veon Bell (26) runs the ball against the Miami Dolphins during the first half at Hard Rock Stadium. Kansas City Chiefs running back Le'Veon Bell (26) runs the ball against the Miami Dolphins during the first half at Hard Rock Stadium.Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

Things are finally looking up for this former fantasy first-rounder: after escaping the burning building that is the New York Jets, Bell has been a quiet backup to Clyde Edwards-Helaire on a pass-happy Chiefs offense. However, Edwards-Helaire suffered a hip/leg injury in Week 15, allowing Bell to garner 15 carries for 62 yards and a touchdown.

Bell is currently set to become the Chiefs' bell cow this week with CEH out, creating a tantalizing matchup against a Falcons defense that just gave up over 400 yards.

Robert Woods

Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Robert Woods (17) moves the ball against New York Jets inside linebacker Neville Hewitt (46) during the fourth quarter at SoFi Stadium. Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Robert Woods (17) moves the ball against New York Jets inside linebacker Neville Hewitt (46) during the fourth quarter at SoFi Stadium.Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports

Woods is the 11th overall fantasy receiver, so if he's on your roster, he's probably part of why you're here. But it's worth noting that the Rams are coming off a humiliating loss to the Jets as they face a bitter divisional rival in the Seattle Seahawks. Although Woods logged only 5 catches for 33 yards in their last Seahawks showdown, teams are motivated to come back from big losses—even more so against division rivals. As the Rams hunt for a playoff slot, expect Woods to get Top 10 numbers against a giving Seahawks secondary.

Shop

Jalen Hurts

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (2) against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium.Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (2) against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium.Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

The only thing hurting this week are Carson's chances of ever returning for the Eagles: Jalen Hurts impressed in a 300+ yard debut, replete with three magnificent touchdowns. There's not much else to say besides Jalen proved he's the real deal (for this season, at least).

If you can get Hurts, get him before he faces a still-decimated Cowboys secondary. If you can't, pick up fellow comeback kid Marcus Mariota in case Carr doesn't start.

Greg Ward

Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Greg Ward (84) celebrates a touchdown against the Arizona Cardinals during the first half at State Farm Stadium.Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Greg Ward (84) celebrates a touchdown against the Arizona Cardinals during the first half at State Farm Stadium.Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

A beneficiary of this rejuvenated offense, Ward was a popular end zone target this week with two touchdowns and 15 fantasy points. Although he only caught 4 catches for 15 yards, he's caught three touchdowns over the past three games. The good news is that he's already building chemistry with Hurts, and as a green quarterback, Hurts will likely get the ball to someone he obviously trusts. Ward remains a touchdown-dependent flex, but he could be worth it in a weak Week 16 game against the Cowboys.

Tony Pollard

Dallas Cowboys running back Tony Pollard (20) runs the ball against San Francisco 49ers in the first quarter at AT&T Stadium.Dallas Cowboys running back Tony Pollard (20) runs the ball against San Francisco 49ers in the first quarter at AT&T Stadium.Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

It seems like every quality backup running back has been rostered at this point, with the peculiar exception of Tony Pollard. Available in over half of ESPN leagues, Pollard racked up 28 fantasy points with 69 rushing yards, 63 receiving yards, and two rushing touchdowns.

Since the Cowboys are playing the Eagles in Week 16, this stands to be a good fantasy matchup for both teams if they can continue to move their offenses in Week 15 fashion.

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Find Out How FanDuel Keeps The Fun Going As We Head Into The Summer

With Football and March Madness in our rear-view window, you must think that there is nothing good to bet on these days. However, there’s so much going on right now that even we are having a hard time keeping up!

So, we sent our sports editors to chase down all of the best sports to bet on to help you out.

First things first, you’ll want to make an account with FanDuel Sportsbook — a legitimate and easy way to put your money where your mouth is and bet on just about every sport, including:

  • NFL
  • NBA
  • MLB
  • NHL
  • UFC
  • and the PGA Tour

With FanDuel, enter your name, credit card, and social security number — that’s to ensure you're not a coach or player. Then you’re good to start placing bets with the most user-friendly sports betting app out there. You’ll find an easy-to-navigate interface and in-depth tutorials on every type of bet you can make. Plus, they are always offering amazing promotions. Right now, they are offering new users their No Sweat $1,000 promotion. This means you will get up to $1,000 back in Bonus Bets if you lose your first bet!

Here’s what’s heatin’ up:

Basketball: NBA Player Combos

A popular strategy is betting on whether a player will score a certain amount of points, grab a certain amount of rebounds, or dish out a certain amount of assists. For instance, say you bet that LeBron James will hit a PRA (total Points, Rebounds, and Assists in the game) over 44.5. Therefore, if his PRA is 45, you win your bet, but if it is 44, you lose.

Pro Tip: Combine multiple bets on one game with bets on another game for a chance at an even bigger payday using FanDuels Same Game Parlay Features!

Hockey: Total Shots On Goal

A “shot on goal” in hockey refers to a statistic that counts any shot that hits the net or the goalie. So, bet on the number of shots an NHL player will attempt “on goal” in the game. When a player takes a shot and is completely off — missing the net — or the goalkeeper — entirely — this won’t count toward a shot on goal. Did you know there are no regulation-draw markets in pro hockey? A hockey game is held in 3 periods. But when teams are tied at the end of the 3rd period, the winner is decided in overtime or in a shoot-out — which often leads to a nail-biting finish.

Soccer: Total Shots

Bet on the number of shots a soccer player will attempt “on goal” over the course of the game. Just like in hockey, if a player takes a bum shot it’s not counted toward a “shot on goal” or your bet. But there have been some surprising goals that can make you a few bucks.

Golf: Over/Under Birdies

A bet we see a lot lately is “whether a player will achieve “over X / under X” birdies. A birdie is a term for a score of one under par. This is when a player’s golf ball hits the green — close to the hole — in fewer shots than it usually takes to complete the hole. Here’s a hot tip: So, bet on exceptional golfers who you think can complete all 18 holes in under 72 shots, especially at Augusta National!


Baseball: NRFI

Believe it or not, the MLB is home to one of the most popular betting props - the NRFI, the MVP bet for our time. It stands for "No Run First Inning".

With the NRFI, you don't have to waste four hours anxiously waiting to see who the winner is. Instead, you only need six quick outs at the beginning of the game, with 89 percent of the game still remaining.

Simply put, it’s revolutionized how people view baseball. For such a brief time-investment, NRFI transforms the most sleepy sport in the world into the most intense and electric betting out there. It’ll keep you on the edge of your seat and give you a hit of instant gratification when you win!

Just because March Madness is behind us doesn’t mean your sports betting fun is on pause until ‘24.

Make FanDuel Sportsbook your place of the year, no matter the sport or the game.

fanduel sportsbook

Find Out How FanDuel Keeps The Fun Going Even After March Madness

So March Madness is over, and either you won big or died trying. Whatever the case may be, now that the hoopla of the tournament is behind us, you may be thinking that there’s nothing exciting to bet on before the ramp-up to the NBA Playoffs. However, there’s so much more going on post-March Madness than you might realize.

So, we sent our sports editors to chase down all of the best sports to bet on now that the winning team has been crowned.

First things first, you’ll want to make an account with FanDuel Sportsbook — a legitimate and easy way to put your money where your mouth is and bet on just about every sport, including:

  • NFL
  • NBA
  • MLB
  • NHL
  • UFC
  • and the PGA Tour

With FanDuel, enter your name, credit card, and social security number — that’s to ensure you're not a coach or player. Then you’re good to start placing bets with the most user-friendly sports betting app out there. You’ll find an easy-to-navigate interface and in-depth tutorials on every type of bet you can make. Plus, they are always offering amazing promotions. Right now, when new users bet $5, they get $150 in Bonus Bets, win or lose!

It’s post-March Madness- Here’s what’s heatin’ up:

Basketball: NBA Player Combos

A popular strategy is betting on whether a player will score a certain amount of points, grab a certain amount of rebounds, or dish out a certain amount of assists. For instance, say you bet that LeBron James will hit a PRA (total Points, Rebounds, and Assists in the game) over 44.5. Therefore, if his PRA is 45, you win your bet, but if it is 44, you lose.

Pro Tip: Combine multiple bets on one game with bets on another game for a chance at an even bigger payday using FanDuels Same Game Parlay Features!

Hockey: Total Shots On Goal

A “shot on goal” in hockey refers to a statistic that counts any shot that hits the net or the goalie. So, bet on the number of shots an NHL player will attempt “on goal” in the game. When a player takes a shot and is completely off — missing the net — or the goalkeeper — entirely — this won’t count toward a shot on goal. Did you know there are no regulation-draw markets in pro hockey? A hockey game is held in 3 periods. But when teams are tied at the end of the 3rd period, the winner is decided in overtime or in a shoot-out — which often leads to a nail-biting finish.

Soccer: Total Shots

Bet on the number of shots a soccer player will attempt “on goal” over the course of the game. Just like in hockey, if a player takes a bum shot it’s not counted toward a “shot on goal” or your bet. But there have been some surprising goals that can make you a few bucks.

Golf: Over/Under Birdies

A bet we see a lot lately is “whether a player will achieve “over X / under X” birdies. A birdie is a term for a score of one under par. This is when a player’s golf ball hits the green — close to the hole — in fewer shots than it usually takes to complete the hole. Here’s a hot tip: So, bet on exceptional golfers who you think can complete all 18 holes in under 72 shots, especially at Augusta National!


Baseball: NRFI

Believe it or not, the MLB is home to one of the most popular betting props - the NRFI, the MVP bet for our time. It stands for "No Run First Inning".

With the NRFI, you don't have to waste four hours anxiously waiting to see who the winner is. Instead, you only need six quick outs at the beginning of the game, with 89 percent of the game still remaining.

Simply put, it’s revolutionized how people view baseball. For such a brief time-investment, NRFI transforms the most sleepy sport in the world into the most intense and electric betting out there. It’ll keep you on the edge of your seat and give you a hit of instant gratification when you win!

Just because March Madness is behind us doesn’t mean your sports betting fun is on pause until ‘24.

Make FanDuel Sportsbook your place of the year, no matter the sport or the game.

fanduel sportsbook

Find Out How FanDuel Keeps The Fun Going Even After March Madness

So March Madness is over, and either you won big or died trying. Whatever the case may be, now that the hoopla of the tournament is behind us, you may be thinking that there’s nothing exciting to bet on before the ramp-up to the NBA Playoffs. However, there’s so much more going on post-March Madness than you might realize.

So, we sent our sports editors to chase down all of the best sports to bet on now that the winning team has been crowned.

First things first, you’ll want to make an account with FanDuel Sportsbook — a legitimate and easy way to put your money where your mouth is and bet on just about every sport, including:

  • NFL
  • NBA
  • MLB
  • NHL
  • UFC
  • and the PGA Tour

With FanDuel, enter your name, credit card, and social security number — that’s to ensure you're not a coach or player. Then you’re good to start placing bets with the most user-friendly sports betting app out there. You’ll find an easy-to-navigate interface and in-depth tutorials on every type of bet you can make. Plus, they are always offering amazing promotions. Right now, when new users bet $5, they get $150 in Bonus Bets, win or lose!

It’s post-March Madness- Here’s what’s heatin’ up:

Basketball: NBA Player Combos

A popular strategy is betting on whether a player will score a certain amount of points, grab a certain amount of rebounds, or dish out a certain amount of assists. For instance, say you bet that LeBron James will hit a PRA (total Points, Rebounds, and Assists in the game) over 44.5. Therefore, if his PRA is 45, you win your bet, but if it is 44, you lose.

Pro Tip: Combine multiple bets on one game with bets on another game for a chance at an even bigger payday using FanDuels Same Game Parlay Features!

Hockey: Total Shots On Goal

A “shot on goal” in hockey refers to a statistic that counts any shot that hits the net or the goalie. So, bet on the number of shots an NHL player will attempt “on goal” in the game. When a player takes a shot and is completely off — missing the net — or the goalkeeper — entirely — this won’t count toward a shot on goal. Did you know there are no regulation-draw markets in pro hockey? A hockey game is held in 3 periods. But when teams are tied at the end of the 3rd period, the winner is decided in overtime or in a shoot-out — which often leads to a nail-biting finish.

Soccer: Total Shots

Bet on the number of shots a soccer player will attempt “on goal” over the course of the game. Just like in hockey, if a player takes a bum shot it’s not counted toward a “shot on goal” or your bet. But there have been some surprising goals that can make you a few bucks.

Golf: Over/Under Birdies

A bet we see a lot lately is “whether a player will achieve “over X / under X” birdies. A birdie is a term for a score of one under par. This is when a player’s golf ball hits the green — close to the hole — in fewer shots than it usually takes to complete the hole. Here’s a hot tip: So, bet on exceptional golfers who you think can complete all 18 holes in under 72 shots, especially at Augusta National!


Baseball: NRFI

Believe it or not, the MLB is home to one of the most popular betting props - the NRFI, the MVP bet for our time. It stands for "No Run First Inning".

With the NRFI, you don't have to waste four hours anxiously waiting to see who the winner is. Instead, you only need six quick outs at the beginning of the game, with 89 percent of the game still remaining.

Simply put, it’s revolutionized how people view baseball. For such a brief time-investment, NRFI transforms the most sleepy sport in the world into the most intense and electric betting out there. It’ll keep you on the edge of your seat and give you a hit of instant gratification when you win!

Just because March Madness is behind us doesn’t mean your sports betting fun is on pause until ‘24.

Make FanDuel Sportsbook your place of the year, no matter the sport or the game.

fanduel sportsbook

Terms & Conditions: 21+ and present in CO, IA, IL, IN, MI, NJ, PA, TN, VA or WV. New users only. Must wager in designated offer market. $10 first deposit required. $150 max bonus. See full terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call: 1-800-522-4700 (CO), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-270-7117 for confidential help (MI), 1-800-GAMBLER (NJ, PA, IL, VA), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN), or visit www.1800gambler.net (WV).