Monday Showdown Week 2

Disclaimer

These contests are intended to be fun as you’re watching the game. It’s incredibly difficult to get a real edge as there are so few options, and in MME contests, there are often many duplicate lineups. One play or one penalty can change the entire outcome of the game.

Game Strategy

• Over/Under: 47.5
• Spread: Eagles -6.5
• Eagles Implied Team Total: Eagles 27
• Falcons Implied Team Total: 20.5

The Eagles are at home and the better team, especially as Kirk Cousins continues to work back to full health after looking limited in Week 1. 6.5 points favor Philadelphia so lineups should factor that in along with Falcons pass-catchers while playing from behind.

Injury Roundup

• A.J. Brown OUT

Captain Consideration

• Saquon Barkley
• DeVonta Smith
• Bijan Robinson
• Jalen Hurts

Philadelphia Eagles Showdown Players

Quarterback

Jalen Hurts - Captain/Flex

Dual-threat elite talent Jalen Hurts ranked third at the quarterback position in DraftKings fantasy points per game (24.2) last season. The tush push wasn't extremely successful in Week 1 but they did run it three times. More rushing touchdowns are in Hurts' near future.

Running Back/Wide Receiver/Tight End

Saquon Barkley - Captain/Flex

Saquon Barkley ranked third in opportunities per game (22.1) last season and saw 26 chances in Week 1, the fourth most. The Eagles are 6.5-point home favorites, Barkley's talent hasn't gone anywhere, and now he's surrounded by elite talent on offense, a luxury he didn't have in New York.

DeVonta Smith - Captain/Flex

A.J. Brown has been ruled out due to a hamstring injury. That significantly boosts DeVonta Smith's value. And the matchup is one Smith and his talent can take advantage of against a Falcons defense that ranked 21st in Dropback EPA Allowed in 2023. Atlanta's defense was upgraded thanks to offseason additions but Smith's increased slot usage in Kellen Moore's new offense should help.

Dallas Goedert - Flex

Dallas Goedert is talented and projects to see an increase in targets with A.J. Brown on the shelf. And the Falcons defense allowed the tenth-most fantasy points per game to the tight end position (7.1) last season.

Jahan Dotson - Flex

The Eagles traded for Jahan Dotson in the offseason and he stepped right in to begin the year. Dotson ran a route on 24 of 39 dropbacks in Week 1 and now projects as a full-time player in this game with A.J. Brown out with an injury.

Johnny Wilson - Flex

Rookie Johnny Wilson received training camp hype and found the field in Week 1 running five routes. Normally, there's no way Wilson would be in consideration but with A.J. Brown out due to injury, Wilson projects as Jalen Hurts' number three receiver, putting him in consideration in large field tournaments.

Atlanta Falcons Showdown Players

Quarterback

Kirk Cousins - Flex

Kirk Cousins looked less than 100% and rusty last week but it is important to note he ranked second in both passing yards per game (291.4) and pass touchdowns per game (2.3) last season. He's been a solid quarterback for years and is surrounded by weapons in Bijan Robinson, Drake London, and Kyle Pitts. And the Eagles defense has a lot to prove. They only ranked 26th in EPA/Play Allowed and 19th in Dropback EPA Allowed in 2023.

Running Back/Wide Receiver/Tight End

Bijan Robinson - Captain/Flex

Bijan Robinson saw 23 opportunities in Week 1, which ranked tied for fifth in the league. This offense runs through Robinson, especially until Kirk Cousins starts looking like himself again. It's hard to imagine fading the dual-threat talent in this one against an Eagles defense that only ranked 26th in EPA/Play Allowed and 28th in Rush EPA Allowed a season ago.

Drake London - Flex

Drake London is an extreme talent in the NFL but it just hasn't come to full fruition yet as London has been stuck on teams with poor coaching and bad quarterback play. His game has only one weakness, deep speed. He's the total package other than that. Take advantage of those overreacting to one week of poor statistics so far this season and roster London. He ran 100% of the routes of the Week 1.

Kyle Pitts - Flex

Like Drake London, Kyle Pitts also ran 100% of the routes in Week 1. That's extremely bullish for a tight end. It looks like Pitts' talent is finally going to be put on display this season. 

Darnell Mooney - Flex

Like Drake London and Kyle Pitts, Darnell Mooney also ran 100% of the routes in Week 1. Mooney is a solid secondary receiver in the NFL and will have some games this season where he scores long touchdowns thanks to his speed, especially if he continues to run all the routes. Mooney is a fun tournament play, especially in large fields.

Ray-Ray McCloud III - Flex

Ray-Ray McCloud III only ran a route on 19 of 28 dropbacks but he saw seven targets in Week 1 in large part because of the nature of Kirk Cousins' current abilities. Cousins is going to have to prove he's more than a checkdown merchant coming back from thee Achilles injury. Until he does, McCloud remains in play.

Player Chart