Defense Analysis: NFL Wild Card Round

Cash Games Play

The white-hot Seahawks are the chalk play this week, and it shouldn't be all that close. They squashed their division rivals, the Cardinals, 36 to 6 in the regular season finale and allowed just 232 total yards while forcing three turnovers. Since their Week 9 bye, Seattle has held five of seven opponents to under 14 points, and three of those opponents were held to single-digit scoring. One of the trio of teams held to single-digit scoring was the Vikings in Week 13. They thoroughly manhandled their Wild Card Round hosts and won 38 to 7 while holding them to an almost unfathomable 125 yards of offense.

Seattle might have been slow to get out of the gate this year, but at the end of the season, they finished leading the league in scoring defense. There's also not much bend with this group, as they ranked tied for second in yards allowed per play. The Vikings offense is built around Adrian Peterson and the run, and that's not good for the team in purple since the Seahawks allowed a league-low 81.5 yards rushing per game. The Seahawks are the biggest betting favorites this week, and the offense is capable of awarding the defense a big lead that should turn into fantasy points scored through sacks and interceptions. Don't over think your defense selection in cash games, and recognize the Seahawks have a ceiling worth budgeting salary for in GPPs, too.

Ownership Estimates:

FanDuel

Cash: 50-60%

GPP: 35-45%

DraftKings

Cash: 55-65%

GPP: 40-50%