Start/Sits for NFL Conference Championship Games 1/26/2025

As the NFL playoffs reach the Conference Championship round this weekend, fantasy football enthusiasts participating in daily fantasy sports or playoff leagues face crucial start/sit decisions. Below is an analysis of key players to consider for your lineups.

Game 1: Washington Commanders at Philadelphia Eagles

Over/Under for this game is set at 47.5 and the Eagles are favored by 6 points. Weather should not play a significant part during this game, unlike it did last week in Philly.

Start: Saquon Barkley (RB Eagles)

Start him every week at this point. Barkley has been a dynamic force behind the Eagles’ strong offensive line. In the two games these teams played each other during the regular season, Barkley put up 36.8 and 30.0 fantasy points. With Hurts banged up, the Eagles will rely heavily on their ground game, and that goes through Barkley.

Start: Jayden Daniels (QB Commanders)

The Commanders will have a difficult time running the ball in this matchup (see below), so that means they will need Daniels to deliver a big game if they have any chance at advancing to the Super Bowl. In the two games Daniels played the Eagles, he put up 14.4 and 36.4 fantasy points. I would expect somewhere in between these two numbers come Sunday.

Sit: Brian Robinson Jr. (RB Commanders)

The Eagles run defense is no joke. They rank in the top 5 in the league and that will be no different this weekend. Yes, Robinson Jr. was able to punch it in twice last week on goal line carries. That will not be the case this weekend. In the previous two matchups, Robinson had 4.1 and 14.2 fantasy points. I don’t see him running for more than 40 yards in this matchup, and if he punches one in that gives you a total of 10 fantasy points. I will be looking elsewhere.

Sit: Terry McLaurin (WR Commanders)

McLaurin will be shadowed by the Eagles top corner in this one, which will limit his production. The Eagles defense is about stopping the “big play,” and that is exactly what McLaurin specializes in. In the previous two games these teams played, McLaurin had 17 and 2 fantasy points. In week 16 when he had the 17 fantasy points, the Eagles had little to play for. Expect it to be a tough day here for McLaurin in a very meaningful game.

Game 2: Buffalo Bills at Kansas City Chiefs

The over/under on this game is set at 48.5 with the Chiefs favored by 2 points. I expect this game to go over that total. It will be cold, but nothing that should slow this game down.

Start: All Quarterbacks

If the past is any indication on how this game will unfold, we should expect a shootout with fireworks. In the past I have said bench Patrick Mahomes because he has not been the same qb of years past. That changes on Sunday. Mahomes is 6k on Draftkings and Allen is $7500. Based off price, I would lean taking Mahomes and focus on allocating your money elsewhere for your lineup.

Start: Travis Kelce (TE Chiefs)

Playoff Travis Kelce is something to believe in. He is Mahomes’ number 1 guy, and I will be pairing these two in most of my daily lineups. In their previous matchup Kelce only put up 2.8 fantasy points. However, as the season has wore on, Kelce has been starting to click once again with Mahomes. He put up 27 fantasy points last week, and expect another 8 plus targets his way again this week.

Sit: All Running Backs

The Chiefs running backs are still operating by committee and the Chiefs boast one of the leagues best run defense. If I have to pick a running back to start on the Chiefs, it would be Hunt. He is still getting the goal line carries and last week he outpaced Pacheco 8 to 5 in carries. On the other side of the ball, Cook did put up 19.7 fantasy points the last time these two played, but that was also on 9 carries for 20 yards.

Bargains

Austin Ekeler (RB Commanders)

If I am fading all running backs in the Bills and Chiefs game, we must find a running back to pair with Barkley. Enter Ekeler. He is listed at $5300 on Draftkings, and the Commanders will be throwing the ball in this game. Give me another 4 catches for 40 plus yards and a couple of carries and I’m satisfied.

Dyami Brown (WR Commanders)

Brown has made the most of his chances these last couple of weeks with 19.9 and 15.8 fantasy points respectively. The Commanders will need playmakers in this game, and expect Brown to get his chances.

Remember to monitor injury reports and any late-breaking news leading up to the game. As of now, there are no major injuries to report.