Jared Contestabile 
Vegas isn’t expecting this Monday Night Football contest to be close (Philly is favored by 11), but I’m excited about this one. I can see a path to a competitive game here, and while that isn’t the likeliest of scenarios, it can happen. Taylor Heinecke is under center for this one, not perennial loser Carson Wentz. Washington’s offense is MUCH less offensive (get it?) with Taylor at the helm. Let’s smash this one!
DraftKings and FanDuel each have a slightly different setup for Showdown slates, with DraftKings using a “Captain” spot. Captain earns you 1.5X points, BUT also costs you 1.5X in salary. FanDuel uses an “MVP”, which is ALSO 1.5X points, but salaries are the same, regardless of position. DraftKings uses 5 FLEX spots, and FanDuel uses 4 “AnyFLEX” spots to fill out your roster.
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Captain/MVP Plays
Jalen Hurts, Eagles ($18,300 DraftKings, $17,500 FanDuel)
The top player in this game is also the top option in the bonus spot. No analysis is necessary, but I’ll send some your way anyway. Hurts has been the model of consistency this season, posting 21+ DraftKings points in six of eight games. His low this season? 16.9 against Dallas. Not too shabby.
This matchup will be a good deal easier for him than that one was. He already served up a beatdown on this defense in Week 3, completing 22/35 passes for 340 yards and a trio of scores. The 30.9 DraftKings points he posted in that contest was his second-highest on the season thus far.
Washington has allowed 16 touchdown passes already in 2022. Hurts has an elite floor and ceiling, and the Eagles are favored by 11 here. What more can you ask for?
Curtis Samuel, Commanders ($9,900 DraftKings, $9,000 FanDuel)
Yes, Terry McLaurin is more of a deep threat. Yes, his upside is higher. Samuel’s salary is far too cheap for this matchup. The Eagles have been stout defensively this season, but are middle of the pack (18th) against the pass. Samuel has the luxury of being involved in the running game as well, which raises his floor and ceiling together.
He has 10 rushes and 16 targets over the last three games, and Washington will need to get creative to keep this one close. I’m expecting Samuel to be the recipient of some of those creative plays. Jahan Dotson is returning here (more on him later), but I’m still a fan of the former Buckeye as a leverage play in the bonus spot.
AJ Brown, Eagles ($15,900 DraftKings, $14,500 FanDuel)
Brown is one of only a handful of WR who have an argument to be the among the best in the game. He is a matchup nightmare, and already posted a 5/85/1 line on 10 targets in the first matchup. Brown has found the end zone five times in the last three weeks, totaling 282 yards and 24 targets.
He is the clear top option for the Eagles, and DeVonta Smith has been very inconsistent. I prefer Hurts here, and will make him my priority, but Brown needs to be considered also. Smith had his best game of the season against Washington in Week 3. I expect ownership to reflect that monster 8/169/1 game more than it rightfully should.
FLEX/AnyFLEX Plays
Joey Slye, Commanders ($3,800 DraftKings, $9,000 FanDuel)
There are few slates where I want to make a kicker a priority, but this is one of them. There is almost no wind in the forecast, and the Commanders struggle to finish drives. Slye should be a mainstay in your lineups even if you expect the Washington offense to truly keep pace with the Eagles tonight.
Jahan Dotson, Commanders ($5,000 DraftKings, $8,000 FanDuel)
Dotson is finally back, and I’m stoked to play him here. I expect him to be featured in the offense, and Heinecke to be throwing a lot. The Eagles are huge favorites and are tougher against the run. Dotson was fantastic in his four games thus far, posting 13+ DraftKings points in three of four. That game just so happened to come against these same Eagles, but once again, that game came with Carson Wentz ruining everything.
DeVonta Smith, Eagles ($8,000 DraftKings, $11,000 FanDuel)
I mentioned above about ownership funneling toward Smith as a result of his monster game Week 3 in the first meeting. That doesn’t mean I don’t want a part of Smith here. When Smith and Hurts get into a groove, watch out. He has had two games with 11+ targets this season. If this game ends up a shootout (there is a real chance, you heard it here first), a Hurts/Brown/Smith stack could pay huge dividends.
Other Options
I’m never going to talk you out of playing Terry McLaurin, and he has a high ceiling as well. If the Eagles score at will, all the passing options for Washington could go off.
I’m not opposed to Jake Elliott here, but I lean more toward Slye. Elliott has made more than one field goal exactly ONE time this season. I’ll pass.
Miles Sanders will likely see volume as he does, but I’m generally not a fan of his upside with Hurts being so aggressive near the goal line.
Listen, Taylor Heinecke is a pretty decent QB. I think he has a solid game here, and needs to be in some of your lineups.
If you’re looking for a home run play, mine here is Dyami Brown. He will likely play very few snaps, but he could see a deep shot or two in the right spot.
Antonio Gibson isn’t a bad play here, but he isn’t a player I’m excited about. He doesn’t have much of a ceiling, and I hate the matchup. I’ll stick with the pass-catchers.
Good luck on Monday Night! Make sure to follow me on Twitter if you aren’t already, and let’s meet at the top of the leaderboards!
