Sunday Night Showdown Strategy: Minnesota Vikings at Detroit Lions

The final regular season week of the NFL season continues with a bang as the Vikings take on the Lions at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan. In this article, I’ll share my top DFS showdown picks and strategies for DraftKings and FanDuel, helping you build winning lineups.

For a deeper dive into general showdown rules, make sure to check out David Jones’s “Daily Fantasy Football Showdown: Strategy for Building Winning Lineups” article. It’s essential reading for anyone crafting MME lineups, as player salary and team dynamics can impact each game’s approach.

Link: https://windailysports.com/daily-fantasy-football-showdown-strategy/

Note on Quarterbacks:

I will not write up the quarterbacks because the wide receiver and tight end section tend to cover the matchups. The QB rankings are at the bottom of the article. 

Minnesota Vikings

Running Backs

• Detroit is giving up 19.1 DK per game (5th Fewest).
• They have allowed 1057 rushing yards (2nd Fewest).
• They have allowed 558 receiving yards (13th Most).

Aaron Jones is the leading back for the Vikings. In the first meeting against the Lions, Jones had 14 carries for 93 yards and a touchdown as well as three receptions for 23 yards. Jones has struggled the last two games against Seattle and Green Bay, failing to reach 70 rushing yards in both games. On paper, this Lion’s run defense should be able to contain Jones as they are top 5 in fantasy points and rushing yards allowed to running backs. The Lions have held the last two starting running backs they have faced to under 40 rushing yards. With how good the Lions are, I am not prioritizing Jones for Showdown as I feel there are better options elsewhere to target.

I am also not using either of the backup running backs, Cam Akers or Ty Chandler. Unless you are maxing out an MME, you should not include either in your player pool.

Tier 1:Aaron Jones

Fade: Cam Akers, Ty Chandler

Wide Receiver

• The Lions have allowed 3040 yards to opposing wide receivers (Most).
• They are giving up 40.3 DK (2nd Most).

This is the spot where I want to attack the defense of Detroit. The Lions’ secondary has struggled with the injuries on the defensive line, they are allowing the most receiving yards. The main threat for the Vikings is Justin Jefferson, he is the Viking’s number one wide receiver and has the best matchup against the Lion’s Terrion Arnold. Arnold has allowed the most fantasy points and yards to opposing wider receivers and is going up against the Vikings leader in both of thosecategories. I am locking in Jefferson in every format and in every position on both sites.

The other weapon that the Vikings have in the wide receiver room is Jordan Addison. Addison has four straight games with five or more receptions and has hit that number in five of his last six. In that four-game span, he has 26 receptions for 300 yards and five touchdowns. He gets a tough matchup against Brian Branch who has been the best corner for Detroit. The matchup does make him less of a priority for me, but I would still have a lot of Addison in my lineups.

Jalen Nailor is the only other Viking wider receiver that has seen significant targets. With how bad the Lions are against the pass and his price being low I would definitely take a shot with Nailor.

Tier 1: Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison

Tier 2: Jalen Nailor

Tight End

• The Lions have given 640 receiving yards to tight ends (5th Fewest).
• They are giving up 9.2 DK (2nd Fewest).

Outside of a couple of games this season Hockenson has not been able to recreate his success from previous seasons since returning from injury. I am not using too much of him or any other tight end from the Vikings as the Lions are allowing the fifth-fewest receiving yards to tight ends. He is not a complete fade for me in SE and 3max but I will be below his ownership.

Tier 1: TJ Hockenson

Punt/Fade: Josh Oliver, Johnny Mundt 

Detroit Lions

Running Back

• Minnesota is giving up 18.3 DK per game (3rd Fewest).
• They have allowed 1168 rushing yards (4th Fewest).
• They have allowed 433 receiving yards (6th Fewest).

With no David Montgomery, the backfield belongs to Jahmyr Gibbs. In the two games since Montgomery’s injury, Gibbs has played 60% of the total snaps, with Craig Reynolds playing the second most with only 25% with some of that coming in garbage time against the 49ers on Monday Night. Gibbs is the highest-priced player on DraftKings and the fourth-highest on FanDuel. Like Justin Jefferson, Gibbs is a lock for me for Showdown. 

The Vikings are one of the best teams against running backs, but in the first meeting, Gibbs had 150 total yards and two touchdowns. He is going to have opportunities to take either a run or a pass to the end zone, all he needs is one to pay for his high price. 

Tier 1: Jahmyr Gibbs

FADE/Punt: Craig Reynolds

Wide Receiver

• The Vikings have given up 2978 receiving yards to wide receivers (2nd Most).
• They are giving up 42.5 DK to receivers (Most).

Just like with the Lions the Viking’s pass defense is their weakness. While Jameson Williams has been the most productive wide receiver on the Lions over the past two weeks, with 229 total yards and three touchdowns, and he is very much in play tonight, I prefer Amon-Ra St.Brown over him for Showdown. In the first meeting, Amon-Ra led the team with eight receptions and 112 yards. Murphy should put up a good challenge for Amon-Ra but I think the Lions receiver will ultimately get the better of him as the game goes on.

Tim Patrick and the returning Kalif Raymond should both be on the field throughout the game, but I prefer the other two wide receivers over them as well as Gibbs. Both will be in some of my lineups but I am prioritizing other spots over them.

Tier 1: Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams

Tier 2: Tim Patrick

Punt: Kalif Raymond

Tight End

• The Vikings have given up 817 receiving yards to tight ends (16th Fewest).
• They are allowing 11.4 DK per game (13th Fewest).

Of the two starting tight ends in this game, Sam LaPorta would be the one I use more of. He is having a down year similar to Hockenson but the Vikings are giving up more points and yards to opposing tight ends. LaPorta has started to turn his season around the last few weeks as he has 22 receptions for 272 yards and two touchdowns, one in each of the last two games. I still prefer Gibbs, Amon-Ra, and Williams over him from the Lions but at his price, he is worth rostering.

Tier 1: Sam LaPorta

Tier 2: Brock Wright

FanDuel MVP and DraftKings CPT Picks—SNF Showdown 

I want a high-usage player at MVP on FanDuel like a quarterback or a workhorse running back. You need the highest-scoring player, not the best value. The salaries do not change from flex to MVP on FanDuel, so the value at the MVP is not a priority. Take the points up top. 

On DraftKings, you look for the best “value” in the mid to high price range. 

FanDuel

DraftKings

Flex Tier 1:

• Justin Jefferson
• Amon-Ra St. Brown
• Jahmyr Gibbs
• Jordan Addison
• Jameson Williams
• Jared Goff
• Aaron Jones
• Sam Darnold
• Jalen Nailor
• Will Reichard
• Jake Bates
• Sam LaPorta
• TJ Hockenson

Flex Tier 2/Punts:

• Vikings D/ST
• Lions D/ST
• Tim Patrick
• Cam Akers
• Craig Reynolds
• Ty Chandler
• Brock Wright
• Johnny Mundt
• Josh Oliver
• Kalif Raymond

Favorite prop for the game: Jahmyr Gibbs Over 33.5 Receiving Yards (-115) and 40+ (+125)