Jared Contestabile 
Two teams with similar records face off on Sunday Night Football this week. The Chargers come into this one with a 5-3 record, while the 49ers come in at 4-4. The Chargers are listed as 7.5-point underdogs this week, as injuries have continued to hit them hard. There is plenty of value and upside to be had in this one, so let’s find a way to cash in on the showdown slate!
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.
Captain/MVP Plays
Christian McCaffrey, 49ers ($17,400 DraftKings, $17,00 FanDuel)
The Chargers continue to be a sieve against the run, ranking 31st in the NFL in fantasy points allowed to opposing RB. Christian McCaffrey is arguably the best on the planet, and coming off one of the best performances of his career. He totaled three touchdowns, including one each through the air, on the ground, and a passing score.
Elijah Mitchell has been activated from the IL (more on him later), but that doesn’t hold McCaffrey back much. He will remain the bellcow for this offense, and has an absolutely monstrous ceiling, especially in a prime matchup like this one.
Joshua Palmer, Chargers ($11,700 DraftKings, $10,500 FanDuel)
With both Keenan Allen and Mike Williams OUT for this one, Palmer will once again be the lead dog out wide for Justin Herbert. He has seen 22 targets over the last two weeks, and parlayed those opportunities into 163 yards. Austin Ekeler has stolen most of the touchdowns, but this may be a week where the passing attack finds more success.
The 49ers are the best in the NFL against the run, but rank just 19th in fantasy points allowed to opposing WR. I always talk about volume being king, and Palmer will once again see elite volume this week. With a large point spread for this one, the Chargers will likely be throwing until the final whistle. Palmer is fairly priced for a top option, and needs to be a priority in your builds.
Austin Ekeler, Chargers ($16,800 DraftKings, $16,500 FanDuel)
Speaking of volume, Ekeler is second-to-none among RB with his pass-catching opportunities. He has seen THIRTY-SIX targets over the last three weeks, and should be busy again in this one. While the 49ers are elite against the run, Ekeler hasn’t been a particularly efficient runner this season anyway. He is averaging just 53 rushing yards per game. His value is in the passing game, and the Chargers offense goes as he goes.
He has scored 10 touchdowns in his last five games, and the Chargers will need every bit of production they can get out of him in this one.
FLEX/AnyFLEX Plays
Deebo Samuel, 49ers ($8,800 DraftKings, $13,500 FanDuel)
Deebo was the elite playmaker in this 49er offense for a long time, but now that distinction may just belong to CMC. That said, a ton of attention has moved away from Deebo and to McCaffrey now, which is a benefit in a few ways.
He still has 20 opportunities over the last two weeks since the acquisition of CMC, so his role in this offense is still concrete. The Chargers are 13th in the NFL in fantasy points allowed to opposing WR. We all know Deebo can contribute across the board. Let’s hope we can get him at lower ownership here.
Justin Herbert, Chargers ($10,600 DraftKings, $15,000 FanDuel)
All the information I included above has led me to Herbert, and should lead you there as well. The Chargers are still down their top two pass catchers, but Herbert WILL be slinging it. He has attempted 57, 51, and 43 passes the last two weeks.
The matchup is far from ideal, but the Chargers are right on the bubble in the AFC Playoff picture as well. They need every win they can get, and can’t afford to get complacent. Only Tampa Bay throws the ball at a higher rate than the Chargers. Herbert may need to ice his arm after this one.
Gerald Everett, Chargers ($6,200 DraftKings, $9,000 FanDuel)
Should I talk about the Chargers’ volume of passing again? Nah. But I will talk about how Everett has averaged eight targets per game over his last three contests. He hasn’t found the end zone since Week 4, but not for lack of opportunity. On a full slate, I wouldn’t be particularly high on him here. But on a showdown slate, we need exposure to a guy who could see near double-digit targets.
Other Options
I teased it above, but you absolutely need to consider Elijah Mitchell at just $200 on DraftKings. He looks to be ready to slot in right behind Christian McCaffrey, and I already talked about what a great matchup this is. He is a lock for me on DK.
One of the most fun nicknames in the NFL is “Dicker the Kicker”. Cameron Dicker has made all eight of his kicks this season (4 FG, 4 PAT). The Chargers have struggled to finish drives, especially without two of their top weapons. That could lead to more opportunities for Dicker.
DeAndre Carter is another cheap option that has seen some work in this Charger offense. He is averaging six targets per game over his last three…and he is dirt cheap.
Another cheap option here is Isaiah Spiller. The 49ers are a bad matchup for running backs, but he should spell Ekeler at times. He out-snapped Sony Michel last week. His floor is zero, but should be very low owned.
Everyone’s favorite touchdown vulture has become a factor in the 49ers passing game. Kyle Juszczyk has had nine catches for 94 yards over the last three games. He’s another cheap filler for you.
Make sure to join our Discord to jump into our conversations with the team and share your successes (I am “Myrtle Beach Mermen”, if you understand the reference, we will get along right away! We have a TON of great tools for you to check out, make sure you’re taking advantage! You can find projections here and try out the optimizer here.
Good luck on Sunday Night! Make sure to follow me on Twitter @BigItaly42 if you aren’t already, and let’s meet at the top of the leaderboards!
