Justin Elick 
The Eagles are favored by about a touchdown in what is a highly anticipated matchup in the very competitive NFC East. While it isn’t confirmed yet, it seems very unlikely that Dak Prescott returns for this one. I see Dallas having a tough time through the air here, but there are some values to take advantage of here as well. Let’s dig in.
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 ($17,700 DraftKings, $17,500 FanDuel)
If it weren’t for some guy named Josh Allen, Hurts may be the top fantasy QB in the NFL. The Cowboys defense has been tremendous this season, allowing just under 12 fantasy points per game to opposing QB. That doesn’t concern me at all on a Showdown slate.
The crazy thing is that Hurts has ZERO touchdown passes in three of five games this season, but his ability to find the end zone on the ground makes that a moot point. In fact, ONLY Nick Chubb (7) has more rushing scores this season than Hurts’ six. Of course the matchup is less than ideal, but Hurts is a fantasy machine. He is very near a must-play on a showdown slate like this one. Don’t overthink it. I’ll help you find some value.
Dallas Goedert, Eagles ($10,200 DraftKings, $11,000 FanDuel)
If you’re looking to differentiate your lineups, then Dallas could fit the bill against Dallas in the bonus spot. He has been a target hog of late, and has caught 13 of 15 targets in his last two games for 167 yards. He has 60+ yards in all but one game this season, and has built a solid rapport with Hurts. Dallas has been tough against TE, but they have been tough across the board. Give him a look in all formats.
Tony Pollard, Cowboys ($12,000 DraftKings, $9,000 FanDuel)
FREE TONY POLLARD! He once again was the best back for the Cowboys, but once again saw less opportunity than Jerry Jones’ BFF Ezekiel Elliott. The pure stubbornness of the Cowboys is the only thing holding Pollard back from a monster breakout.
The Eagles rank 14th in fantasy points allowed to opposing RB, and he is clearly the more explosive back here. He has 86+ yards in two of his last three games, and I have very little faith in Cooper Rush here. The Cowboys will need to establish the run to keep this one close, and you all know that I have more faith in Pollard than the ghost of Zeke.
FLEX/AnyFLEX Plays
AJ Brown, Eagles ($15,900 DraftKings, $13,500 FanDuel)
Only Cooper Kupp has a higher PFF matchup grade than Brown (97) this week, and his upside is still massive, despite the perceived difficult matchup. Trevon Diggs is only as good as his interceptions, and I truly believe that Brown beats him one-on-one more often than not. I think the Eagles make a statement in this one, and Brown has become one of the best in the game. He is averaging nine targets per game, and needs to be in consideration for this one. However, I prefer…
DeVonta Smith, Eagles ($7,400 DraftKings, $12,000 FanDuel)
Smith may just be a lock for me on DraftKings in this one. His price is reasonable, and there is a real chance that he could end up being one of the top scorers in this game. His inconsistent stat lines may force some ownership elsewhere, but the truth of the matter is that he has seen 11+ targets in two of his last three games. Get yourself some shares!
CeeDee Lamb, Cowboys ($9,800 DraftKings, $13,000 FanDuel)
Lamb looks like he is trending the right direction in this one. That said, I’m not overly excited about him here. The talent is elite, of course, but the matchup is not. He will see plenty of Darius Slay, and he has absolutely dominated this season. I tend to side with the savvy veteran over youth here. If Dak Prescott were playing, it would be a different story. Truth be told, I’m not high on Dallas at all in this one. You will want some exposure to Lamb, as the Cowboys will need his production to keep this one close. Just don’t expect a ceiling game. I certainly am not.
Other Options
Cooper Rush has exceeded 12.4 DraftKings points just once this season. I won’t be playing him at all here. The Cowboys have done a great job of keeping him out of positions where he has to force throws, but that may change here. The Eagles defense is aggressive, and I NEED some Philly defense in this one.
Miles Sanders is a great play here, as he has been very game-script dependent for his production. If you believe the Eagles win this one handily (I do), then Sanders could be in for a massive day.
Price and matchup considered, I prefer Michael Gallup to Lamb here. He is cheap, and could be the beneficiary of Slay working on Lamb much of the evening.
Brett Maher has been ELITE this season, making 13/14 FG attempts. Dallas has and will continue to struggle finishing drives with Rush under center. He is a fantastic play across the board, and his counterpart Jake Elliott looks nice as well. I don’t mind throwing both kickers in here to jam in some top-tier guys.
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!
