DraftKings Showdown

I couldn’t have been more wrong about last week’s Monday Night game. I’ll take my “L” right on the chin. Zac Taylor refused to run the ball in a prime spot and the team looked disinterested. Nevertheless, we move on to Week 9, and have a good one on tap. The Ravens are currently listed as a 1.5-point favorite with a total hovering around 46.5 points. The Ravens have had five straight games decided by five points or less, going 3-2 in that span. The Saints have also played five of six games within one score, save for their dominant 24-0 beating of the Raiders last week. Let’s cash in tonight!

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.

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.

Captain/MVP Plays

Lamar Jackson, Ravens ($18,600 DraftKings, $17,000 FanDuel)

The Ravens may be 5-3 and sitting pretty coming into this one, but Lamar hasn’t been his best this season. Since his two monster performances in Weeks 2-3, Lamar has averaged 16.3 DraftKings points per game. It sounds absurd to say, but I don’t think he is the must-play here that many believe. His upside is second to none, and if he has a ceiling game, you simply aren’t catching up on a showdown slate without him. However, his price is very prohibitive in a matchup that is less than ideal.

The Saints are much more beatable through the air than on the ground, as they rank top 10 in fantasy points allowed to RB. They aren’t too far behind the Ravens at 26th in the NFL against opposing WR. That said, Lamar has an enormous ceiling, and if you are one of those degenerates who plays cash on a showdown slate, he’s a must-play.

Lamar hasn’t rushed for a score since Week 3, and has only five scores to five turnovers in the last five weeks. Call me insane here if you want, as the Saints defense has been susceptible through the air, but a Lamar fade in large-field tournaments could pay off in a massive way. I’m not telling you to fade him, but if you’re doing MME, there are quite a few options that can be had. Hear me out.

Alvin Kamara, Saints ($17,100 DraftKings, $15,500 FanDuel)

You ready for this? Kamara is going to outscore Lamar on MNF. Not in the idiotic way that Domonique Foxworth said PJ Walker would outplay Joe Burrow on Sunday (absolute clown show). But think about this. With Mark Andrews, Gus Edwards and Rashod Bateman all OUT (Edwards is DOUBTFUL), Lamar is going to be the only player the Saints truly have to stop.

Kamara is coming off his best game of the season, and the Ravens have been stout against the run. However, they have been susceptible against pass-catching backs. They have allowed 63 catches (8th-highest) and 365 receiving yards (7th-highest) to opposing RB this season.

Kamara played 72% of the snaps last week, and saw 10 targets in the passing game. He has now seen 9+ targets in three straight weeks. He has a high floor and high ceiling in this one, and could see a high volume in this one especially as the Saints will look to control the clock.

Chris Olave, Saints ($12,900 DraftKings, $13,000 FanDuel)

You all saw what elite receivers have done to this Ravens defense at times this season, and Olave will get his shot here. Baltimore is allowing nearly 40 fantasy points per game to opposing WR, good for 29th in the NFL.

Olave has become the #1 option out wide for Andy Dalton this season, and now it looks like Michael Thomas may have played his last game in a Saints uniform. He has been a target hog, and has reached 100 yards or a touchdown in four of his last five games. He makes for a solid play across the board, and could put up big numbers if the Saints go the aggressive route.

FLEX/AnyFLEX Plays

Isaiah Likely, Ravens ($5,800 DraftKings, $7,500 FanDuel)

I’ve seen some rumblings about fading Likely in this one and not taking the chance in season-long, and I couldn’t disagree more. The Saints do rank #1 in the NFL in fantasy points allowed to opposing TE, but check out this murderer’s row of TE they have faced:

Kyle Pitts

Cameron Brate

Ian Thomas

Irv Smith Jr.

Noah Fant/Will Dissly

Hayden Hurst

Zach Ertz

Foster Moreau

They have yet to allow a TD to the TE position, but that ends tonight. We have seen time and time again how much Lamar and the Ravens rely on their TE, and Likely showed that last week. He posted a 6-77-1 line after Mark Andrews went down with injury. Granted, Tampa Bay has been a sieve on defense against TE, but the point remains. It’s “likely” a good move to lock Likely into your lineups tonight. I’ll be doing the same.

Andy Dalton, Saints ($10,200 DraftKings, $15,000 FanDuel)

Love him or hate him, Dalton has cemented himself as the starter for the Saints (at least for now). He is coming off a two-game stretch where he averaged 295 yards, 3 TD and 1.5 INT per game. He may not be the one you want leading a game-winning drive, and he certainly isn’t the guy you want to rely on in the playoffs. That said, he has been solid under center for New Orleans, and this isn’t a bad spot at all.

The Saints may be getting Jarvis Landry back for this one (keep an eye on his status), but Dalton has built a great rapport with Kamara and Olave. The Saints have only allowed 15 sacks the entire season, which is among the best in the league. Baltimore has gotten after the QB pretty well this season, averaging nearly three sacks per game. Something has to give, and the Saints have turned to a conservative game plan in situations like these. I don’t expect many deep drop backs to put Dalton in harm’s way.

Quick reference here…in Andy Dalton’s last six games against Baltimore, he has 2, 2, 0, 2, 4, and 3 TD passes. Dalton played on some bad teams in that stretch. He has played this team a good deal, and the main threat to him on this showdown slate is Taysom Hill (more on him soon).

Devin Duvernay, Ravens ($6,800 DraftKings, $11,000 FanDuel)

Duvernay’s price is a little much for me on FanDuel, where his tag is a lot closer to the top options I much prefer. However, SOMEONE has to catch the ball on this offense, right? I’m banking heavily on Likely, but Duvernay will undoubtedly be heavily involved here also.

His usage has been sporadic (much like the Baltimore offense), but he has seen work in some creative run plays of late. He has five carries, including a touchdown over his last four games. All of the carries came against Cincinnati and Tampa Bay, and I see this game as being a similar one to those. Duvernay has the added benefit of returning kicks as well. I’m not forcing him in anywhere, but he should be on your radar.

Other Options

Tayson Hill most weeks will be your most genius play or the biggest waste of your time. His price is actually super reasonable here. Taysom’s last four games look like this (DraftKings scoring): 37.08, 4.54, 10.12, 8.28. His floor continues to outweigh his ceiling by a good bit. There may not be another player around this price point with anywhere near his upside. Jameis Winston is healthy now, but he is clearly the backup. Taysom will be involved here.

You ready for this one? Kansas City let us down last night, but the Titans ran a great gameplan to avoid disaster. It’s DEFENSE MONDAY! The Saints defense is honestly not that great. They are still missing Marshon Lattimore, but there are no Ravens WR that worry me. What the Saints HAVE done well is get after the QB. They have at least three sacks in five of their last six games. I’m looking for an edge here, and I see value in the Saints defense.

On the other side of the ball, the Ravens defense is absolutely in play as well. Andy Dalton has a propensity to force throws, and we could easily see a few passes headed the other way. I see more leverage on the field with a Saints play, but I’ll have a few lineups with both as well.

Justin Tucker is still the best. He has a very punchable face, and I can imagine he would be an absolute bore to hang out with, but the dude just makes kicks. He will be popular, and for good reason.

Don’t forget about Kenyan Drake, he will be a popular play here. His pass-catching ability makes him one of the better overall options in this one. Gus Edwards’ status is key here, but he seems very unlikely to play. Cue up the Ravens fans telling you that only their team ever has injuries and losses don’t count if anyone is out…

If DeSean Jackson is activated for this one, he is only $200 on DraftKings. Stick him in a few lineups. You know Lamar will be taking a few shots down the field to one of the best to ever do it (although I think Jackson is my age now?).

Rashid Shaheed has come through for us on a couple showdown slates already…but his price has risen quite a bit. He should still see a look or two down the field, so he will be in my player pool.

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!

Sunday Night Football is here once again, and we have a matchup of the #1 and #2 seeds from last year’s AFC Playoffs. Both teams come into this one at 5-2. Regardless, the Titans are the biggest underdog of the week at 12.5 points. Kansas City has looked exponentially better than the Titans this season, but playing in the cupcake division of the AFC South has the Titans once again propped up much higher than they rightfully should be. Expect

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

Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs ($18,000 DraftKings, $16,500 FanDuel)

This may be stunning to remember, but these Titans dominated Kansas City last season to the tune of a 27-3 beatdown. In fact, Derrick Henry threw a touchdown pass in that one and Mahomes did not. I’d be willing to wager that we don’t see that again.

Moving on to 2022, Mahomes has once again looked like an MVP candidate, posting a 20/5 TD/INT ratio. He is the clear top dog here, and with yet another weapon added to the mix in KaDarius Toney, KC is once again in a great spot.

The Titans are 23rd in the NFL in fantasy points allowed to opposing QB, and Mahomes is as good as any (but you knew that). Don’t overthink this one. Mahomes needs to be a priority on this showdown slate. The loss to Tennessee last season prevented the Chiefs from earning that coveted first-round bye. I’m certain that Mahomes hasn’t forgotten. Get ready for some fireworks.

Derrick Henry, Titans ($16,200 DraftKings, $16,000 FanDuel)

I already mentioned that Henry found the end zone through the air against Kansas City last season. Aside from that, he was unspectacular but solid, totaling 97 yards from scrimmage. That said, Ryan Tannehill has been terrible this season, and is coming into this one as a major question mark. Whether we see Tannehill under center or Malik Willis, Henry will be the focal point of the offense.

His volume is second to none in the NFL, and he has at least THIRTY touches in each of the last three games. Henry may be the safest option at the position on even a main slate. His upside is all dependent on his role in the passing game, and touchdowns. He has multiple scores in two of his last three games, and 30+ receiving yards in three of five.

Pairing Henry and Mahomes will be tough on this slate, but certainly something to consider if we can make it work. Kansas City ranks 26th in the NFL in fantasy points allowed to opposing RB. Enough said. King Henry has only one thing potentially going against him here, and that’s game script. The Titans were blown out once this season, and Henry saw only 13 touches.

JuJu Smith-Schuster, Chiefs ($12,600 DraftKings, $11,500 FanDuel)

JuJu has finally stopped focusing on making his insufferable TikToks and focused on actually playing football. It has paid off in a big way of late, as his 5/113/1 and 7/124/1 lines over the last two games have paced the team.

The Titans are that team that is just good enough against inferior competition to feign competitiveness. Don’t mistake a soft schedule and division for anything but good fortune. This isn’t much more than an average team, and they are very exploitable.

Tennessee ranks 27th in the NFL in fantasy points allowed to opposing WR, serving up nearly 40 PPG. JuJu remains a big play threat, and his rapport with Mahomes seems to be growing by the week. Lock him with some confidence. He will be one of my higher-owned players on this slate.

FLEX/AnyFLEX Plays

Kansas City Defense ($5,800 DraftKings, $9,000 FanDuel)

Listen, the KC defense isn’t a particularly good unit, allowing 31, 29, 24, and 23 points in their last four games. That said, this is a Titans offense has has less than 200 TOTAL passing yards the last two weeks COMBINED. This passing attack is scaring nobody, and even less so if Malik Willis draws the start.

One thing this unit does well is force turnovers, as they have forced eight on the season, including five in their last four games. I just don’t see a path for the Titans to score a lot here unless Derrick Henry runs wild. Whoever is under center for the Titans will be under a lot of pressure and ready to make mistakes. Let’s cash in on the opportunity.

Dontrell Hilliard, Titans ($4,200 DraftKings, $8,000 FanDuel)

I simply cannot in good conscience suggest that you prioritize a single WR from the Titans side. I truly believe the only chance the Titans have in this one is to control the clock by running 10000x again. They had better pray for some defensive stops, or else that strategy is going to be damn near impossible.

Either way, I like Hillard a bit here because of the potential volume, especially if Tannehill doesn’t play. He was productive last week, totaling 95 scrimmage yards on 9 touches. I mentioned the struggles Kansas City has had against the run. If Tannehill sits, I may just lock both Henry and Hilliard and move along.

Travis Kelce, Chiefs ($10,400 DraftKings, $14,500 FanDuel)

What can I say about Kelce aside from the fact that he never seems to be on the main slate when we want him to be. He is the epitome of consistency and upside. He is averaging 21.8 DraftKings points per game, and has 22.2 or more in three of his last four games. I don’t see him as a must-play here by any means, as I do think this game plays much slower than Kansas City is accustomed to. That said, we have seen Kelce dominate even with low volume (7/25 and FOUR touchdowns against the Raiders). Give him a look, if Tennessee keeps this one close, the sky is the limit for Kelce again.

Other Options

Mecole Hardman has become a key part of this terrifying Chiefs offense, and it’s about damn time. He has scored four touchdowns on nine touches over the last two weeks. He will likely be higher owned than he should be based on volume, but the upside is certainly there and he is reasonably priced.

Harrison Butker could be the Titans’ best friend if they are able to get some stops, and he could be yours as well if this one stays low-scoring. “ButtKicker” has actually missed two of his five attempts this season, but his track record speaks for itself. He likely won’t carry much ownership due to the Chiefs propensity to score touchdowns.

If you absolutely have to play some Titans WR (which I’m prioritizing more if Tannehill plays), Robert Woods would be the guy. I can’t imagine the frustration from a guy like him going from the Rams to the Titans, but the talent is still there. Kansas City has been one of the worst in the NFL against opposing WR, but a good deal of those stats have been garbage time. We also don’t care when the points come…we just want to see GREEN at the end of the night.

If you believe this one turns into a blowout, you need to prioritize Isiah Pacheco. In both games Kansas City has carried a big lead late, he has seen extra work, averaging 10+ carries per game in those spots.

Austin Hooper isn’t a bad punt play at all here, I prefer him to Geoff Swain by a good bit.

Keep an eye on the status of Tannehill as the day progresses, and let’s cash in on Sunday Night!

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!

For our next showdown slate, we have the Bills and the Packers. Both teams were considered Super Bowl contenders coming into 2022, and one has looked like it. Aaron Rodgers and the Packers may just be smoking ayahuasca weekly. This team is an absolute mess right now, and this matchup certainly doesn’t inspire any confidence. The Bills are a monster favorite of around 10 points in this one, with a total hovering around 47 points. Let’s get ourselves in a good spot to cash in on the Sunday Night 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

Josh Allen, Bills ($18,300 DraftKings, $17,500 FanDuel)

How can we start an article including the Bills on a showdown slate without Allen being the first target? While him being the best real-life QB in the NFL is very much up for debate, he is clearly the top fantasy QB once again.

Allen is averaging 31.8 DraftKings points per contest, and the matchup couldn’t be more irrelevant. The Packers actually have allowed the 6th-least fantasy points to opposing QBs. This is a showdown slate, and Allen is the best player on the field. His WORST performance in 2022 is 24.58 DraftKings points. No analysis necessary. Allen is a borderline must-play as always.

Aaron Jones, Packers ($15,600 DraftKings, $14,000 FanDuel)

I have little interest in paying for Aaron Rodgers in this one…I will be prioritizing Allen across the board. That said, while the Packers offense struggled last week, Jones thrived. He hauled in nine of 10 targets last week, and managed 28.6 DraftKings points despite only rushing for 23 yards.

His floor/ceiling combo is amplified by game script, and if Vegas is even close on this one, the Pack will be playing from behind. We all know Davante Adams is long gone, and now Allen Lazard is on the shelf. Jones is the only offensive player in this offense I feel you can truly trust.

Jones saw a season-high 74% of snaps last week against Washington, and his involvement in this offense is absolutely key. The Bills are #5 in the NFL in fantasy points allowed to opposing RB. I’m banking more on Jones’ involvement in the passing game than the running game here. The Packers are in complete shambles offensively.

Gabe Davis, Bills ($12,600 DraftKings, $12,500 FanDuel)

Listen, Stefon Diggs could absolutely post a monster game here. He will have to deal with Jaire Alexander for much of the game, which is far from ideal. I still believe that he will produce here, but it may be hard to pay off his salary. I’ll be pivoting to Davis for the most part.

He has been a revelation for the Bills dating back to last season, and has made the most of his targets. Over the last two weeks, he has turned 12 targets into 6/145/3. The Packers allow the 7th-least fantasy points per game to opposing WR. That said, the Bills are one of, if not THE best passing attack in the NFL.

Davis will undoubtedly see some shots down the field from Allen. He will be a feature in many of my lineups on the Sunday showdown slate.

FLEX/AnyFLEX Plays

Devin Singletary, Bills ($7,200 DraftKings, $12,000 FanDuel)

Singletary has quietly become a very reliable part of this Bills’ offense. He has played on 86%+ of snaps in two of the last three weeks, and has found some success. His upside is certainly capped by the threat of Josh Allen taking goal-line work, but volume should be on his side here.

Singletary had 21 touches last week against Kansas City. While that is his only time this season with 20+ touches, the volume potential is there. I expect the Bills to roll in this one, which would likely lead to Singletary seeing additional work. Fire him up!

Romeo Doubs, Packers ($4,000 DraftKings, $11,500 FanDuel)

DraftKings has priced Doubs for this game like he doesn’t exist. Well, if you rostered him last week, he essentially didn’t exist. He turned four targets into zero catches for zero yards. He still played on 89% of the snaps, and with Allen Lazard now OUT for the forseeable future, the time is now.

Doubs showed his upside early in the season, with one two-game span seeing him total 13/130/2. In his last three games? 7/50 on EIGHTEEN targets. His floor is embarrassingly low, but he is almost a free square on DraftKings. The Packers will almost certainly be playing from behind, and SOMEONE has to step up. I won’t go there too often on FanDuel, but on DK he seems like a lock and load.

Sammy Watkins, Packers ($2,600 DraftKings, $7,000 FanDuel)

Have I mentioned enough times that I think the Pack will be playing from behind? Watkins returned from a lengthy absence last week, and put up a 2/36 line on four targets. While those numbers impress nobody on the planet, volume is KING! Christian Watson is also questionable for this one, and with Lazard out, Watkins is another default option.

On DraftKings, I’ll be loading up on him and Doubs with Allen and stacking just about anyone I want. Low risk/high reward in this one.

Other Options

Aaron Rodgers needs to be considered in this one, despite the tough matchup. He could throw 40+ times in this one, and despite his recent struggles, you will want some shares in a pass-heavy game script. I’m not prioritizing him, but I certainly wouldn’t fade him here.

Khalil Skakir has certainly closed the gap on Isiah McKenzie, and I’m all over him for cheap in this matchup. McKenzie is a decent option, but I expect him to be higher owned in this one. Gimme Shakir.

Neither Tyler Bass or Mason Crosby has seen a ton of opportunities in the kicking game this season. Regardless, I’ll be considering them, especially on DraftKings.

AJ Dillon has double-digit carries in five of seven games this season. He is coming off his worst game of the season, but should be in your player pool for this one.

If the Bills turn this one into a blowout, James Cook could see some extra run. 15 of his 19 carries this season have come in blowout wins over the Titans (41-7) and Steelers (38-3). If you believe the Bills roll in this one, give him a look for very cheap.

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!

Sunday night brings us a matchup of two teams that seem to have no idea which way they are heading for this NFL DFS Showdown. If you are on Twitter for more than five seconds, Miami fans will tell you all the ways they should be 6-0. The NFL is “out to get them”. Pittsburgh fans have to just be happy to be coming off a win over Tom Brady and the Bucs. Despite their struggles, neither team is far off from playoff contention. Miami comes into this one as one of the bigger favorites in Week 7, currently sitting at -7.5 for this one. Let’s find some angles to smash this 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

Tyreek Hill, Dolphins ($16,800 DraftKings, $16,000 FanDuel)

Love him or hate him (he’s an easy person to dislike), Hill is one of the best in the game. Moving from Patrick Mahomes down to Tua or Teddy Bridgewater hasn’t affected him much at all. He struggled against the Bills, and the entire team struggled against the Jets. His other games?

8/94

11/190/2

10/160

12/177

The Steelers are allowing the MOST fantasy points to opposing WR this season, and that spells trouble on Sunday night. Tua is back, and I don’t need to sell you on Hill. I personally would be stunned if he isn’t the highest scoring non-QB in this game. Jaylen Waddle is less than 100% (more on him later), but Hill is in a dream spot against Pittsburgh here.

Tua Tagovailoa, Dolphins ($16,500 DraftKings, $15,500 FanDuel)

Tua is back and in a prime spot against a TJ Watt-less Pittsburgh defense. I’m fully expecting the Dolphins to dominate this one on the offensive end. I personally will be alternating some Tua/Hill stacks with one or the other in the bonus spot.

The Steelers are 26th in fantasy points allowed to opposing QB, and you’d think that Tua died and was resurrected with the amount of hype surrounding his return. Dolphins fans won’t want to hear this, but Tua was actually pretty average outside of the Baltimore game. His combined stats outside of that game are 44/65 for 566 yards, 2 TD and 1 INT.

That said, Pittsburgh simply isn’t pressuring the QB like they have in years past. They are averaging just two sacks per game, 21st in the NFL. We all know about Tua’s mobility. He should feast in this one.

George Pickens, Steelers ($9,600 DraftKings, $8,500 FanDuel)

Hear me out on this one. We will need some value to be able to fit both Tua and Hill in our lineups. Pickens is the ideal candidate. Kenny Pickett has been a game-changer…not for the Steelers (at least not yet), but for Pickens. After totaling just 5/65 over the first three weeks of the season, Pickens has broken out with Pickett under center.

Despite those tiny hands, Pickett has found a way to get his fellow rookie involved in a big way. Pickens has hauled in 15 of 20 targets over the last three games for 202 yards. The Dolphins haven’t fared much better than the Steelers against opposing WR, sitting at 25th in the NFL. I’m expecting the Steelers to be playing catch-up in this one. Pickens could be in store for a monster game.

FLEX/AnyFLEX Plays

Najee Harris, Steelers ($8,200 DraftKings, $13,000 FanDuel)

The lack of passing-game usage the Steelers are giving their best (offensive) player is borderline criminal. Najee has a TOTAL of five targets in his last three games. He led the NFL with 74 catches last season with the ghost of Big Ben under center. Obviously he was the safety blanket for Roethlisberger, but he was efficient as well.

I’m not saying he will suddenly become the target magnet he was in 2021, but like I mentioned earlier, the Steelers are likely to be playing from behind. Get the ball out quick. Get it to your best playmakers and let them make plays. Najee is too cheap for the upside he has. Miami has been middle of the pack against the run, but volume is king. Harris is still averaging 15 touches per game over the last two weeks.

Raheem Mostert, Dolphins ($7,800 DraftKings, $10,500 FanDuel)

The black and gold (yes, the color is GOLD, not yellow, despite what that stupid song says) were abysmal against the run in 2021. While they have improved a bit, this is still a matchup that favors opposing RB. Mostert has separated himself as the lead back in the Dolphins offense, and has at least 15 touches in three straight weeks. He makes for a solid play. If the Dolphins take care of business the way they should, Mostert could get some extra work late as they look to slam the door.

Other Options

Chase Claypool is always a threat to run up big numbers…I much prefer him to Diontae Johnson, who has seen elite volume and done absolutely nothing with it.

Chris Boswell is among the best kickers in the NFL, and the Steelers struggle to finish drives. Need I say more?

Jaylen Waddle is dealing with a shoulder injury, but looks to be trending in the right direction. Don’t overlook him if he suits up. I still prefer Hill, but Waddle has a similar floor/ceiling combination.

I’m not chasing the random big game by Mike Gesicki. Durham Smythe looks like he may be back for this one, and Big Mike has a floor of literal zero. Pass for me. I’d rather take a cheap shot at Smythe at $1,200 on DK. The TE I’m interested in here is Pat Freiermuth…he sat out last week but volume alone makes him a solid play here.

Kenny Pickett has shown an affinity for turning the ball over…pair that with the likelihood that Pittsburgh is playing from behind. You see where I’m headed? It’s DEFENSE TIME BABY! All aboard the Dolphins defense train. Let’s get ourselves another D/ST score on a showdown slate.

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!

Another week of football, another prime-time game for Russell Wilson and the Broncos. Let’s hope the Chargers can score some points, because Wilson seems incapable of finding the end zone. The Chargers are favored by 4.5 points in this one with a total hovering around 46. Let’s find ourselves some value and upside to cash in on Monday Night Football.

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.

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.

Captain/MVP Plays

Austin Ekeler, Chargers ($17,100 DraftKings, $15,500 FanDuel)

Ekeler is coming off back-to-back monster performances, and is in a solid spot once again. He is still seeing just under 60% of snaps on a weekly basis, but his usage has been elite. Last week, he totaled 199 scrimmage yards and a pair of touchdowns on 20 opportunities. That was on the heels of a 109-yard, three-score game on 19 touches.

Denver has actually been decent against opposing RB, ranking 10th in fantasy points allowed. That said, Ekeler should be in line to see around 20 touches again, and has averaged over seven targets per game over the last four weeks. He has one of the highest floors of any player in this game, and his ceiling is massive. With Keenan Allen once again doubtful to play, he will continue to be the focal point of the offense. He will be popular, but you’re going to want exposure here.

Courtland Sutton, Broncos ($12,600 DraftKings, $13,000 FanDuel)

In DFS, volume is king, and Sutton continues to see a ton of looks from Russell Wilson. In fact, Wilson continues to throw to Sutton even when he is blanketed and other WR are WIDE OPEN. That matters little here, and I will continue to capitalize on Sutton’s opportunities.

The Chargers rank 23rd in fantasy points allowed to opposing WR, and Denver will need every bit of help they can get on offense. Sutton averages over nine targets per game, and I’m expecting Wilson to continue to look his way Monday Night.

Mike Boone, Broncos ($7,200 DraftKings, $7,500 FanDuel)

Melvin Gordon has hardly practiced all week, and although it seems like he will play, Boone makes for a fantastic leverage play here. He had 85 total yards on 10 touches last week. Gordon did see 56% of the snaps, but Boone came in with a solid 41%. Either way, at Boone’s price, he may just be a lock for me.

The Chargers rank dead last in the NFL in fantasy points allowed to opposing RB. Gordon is a fine play in his own right, but I’ll take the discount with Boone, especially with Gordon being less than 100%.

FLEX/AnyFLEX Plays

Gerald Everett, Chargers ($5,600 DraftKings, $8,000 FanDuel)

Sure, Everett saw only three targets last week, but the Chargers didn’t need much from him. Austin Ekeler ran wild, and the passing game was secondary. Prior to last week, Everett had seen 22 targets over the previous three games. As I mentioned above, Keenan Allen is very unlikely to play again, so there will be more opportunities for Mr. Everett.

The Broncos have been solid against TE, but Everett is still averaging over 10 DraftKings points per game, even after last week’s disappointment. His price tag is ideal. Fire him up as a low-risk, medium-reward type of play.

Justin Herbert, Chargers ($11,000 DraftKings, $17,000 FanDuel)

Herbert has thrown for only four scores in his last three games, but volume should be here in this one. The Broncos aren’t the walk in the park against the run that the Browns were, so the Chargers will need him to step up. Pairing him with Mike Williams will lock in some big upside on MNF. Williams has been a monster the last two weeks, hauling in 17 of 24 targets for 254 yards. He hasn’t found the end zone in either game, but I’m willing to bet that changes on Monday Night. PLAY MIKE WILLIAMS!

Other Options

Jerry Jeudy is always a downfield threat, and I’m expecting the Chargers to put up some points in this one. Denver may just be playing from behind again, and Wilson will be looking his way often if that’s the case. I’m not excited about playing Russell Wilson at all…he is banged up and at his price tag, there are options I like more here. It also seems quite possible that he isn’t good at football anymore.

I’m certainly not expecting Joshua Kelley to see 12 touches again in this one, but his price tag is cheap. He could steal some touches, and you will be looking to differentiate where you can in this one.

Dustin Hopkins has returned, and Brandon McManus could be the stars star of the show if the Broncos continue to be terrible in prime time. Kickers are cheap, especially on DraftKings. Fill out your lineups with some legs on MNF.

A game-changer could be Latavius Murray…Gordon is banged up and I think there’s a much higher chance Murray steals goal-line work than Mike Boone. Then again, the Broncos need to GET to the goal line for that to happen. He is basically free on DraftKings.

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!