NFL Showdown can be a fickle beast. These contests do not rely on median projections so much as leverage and uniqueness. Fading the highest-rostered plays can be a risky proposition. Typically, your edge will come by identifying the best low-rostered plays and finding clever ways to pair them with the juggernauts of the slate.
This article will have a heavy DraftKings lean simply because the decision-making process is more interesting, given the salary premium attached to the Captain spot. FanDuel's pricing is the same for both MVP and Flex spots. You will usually need the slate's top scorer at MVP, so FanDuel strategy revolves around unique Flex builds.
The advice in this article pertains predominantly to tournament lineups and strategy. For cash lineups, build around median projections. For head-to-head contests, continue to lean into the median projections, but if two options project closely, give the nod to the lowest rostered player.
Game Scripting & Roster Construction
Vegas is projecting a 23-18 road victory in favor of the Cowboys, despite their recent disappointing home losses to New Orleans and Baltimore. The Giants have looked average so far this season, but they managed to salvage a road win last week in Cleveland. From a talent standpoint, the Cowboys are stacked, while the Giants are fielding only one high-end player at a skill position—Malik Nabers. However, Showdown contests are often decided by unexpected touchdowns, making players like Wan'Dale Robinson relevant for roster construction.
In my lineups, I’m banking on the Cowboys to bounce back, and I’ll likely favor CeeDee Lamb, who publicly apologized for his recent performance after Sunday’s loss to the Ravens. On the Giants’ side, Malik Nabers is emerging as the top wide receiver from this year’s draft and should be a fixture in every lineup you build. The key decision revolves around Devin Singletary, who is coming off a 20-touch game where he surpassed 100 total yards and found the end zone. While Dallas has struggled to defend the run—allowing over 330 rushing yards in their last two games—there’s reason to believe they’ll adjust by adding a safety to the box to address this issue, which could impact Singletary’s production.
Injury Roundup
Dallas appears set to enter this contest with a weakened secondary, as both cornerback Caelen Carson and safety Markquese Bell were listed as doubtful on Wednesday’s injury report. This will likely force the Cowboys to adjust their defensive schemes, and it could prompt Brian Daboll to rely on Daniel Jones more heavily than initially expected.
The Giants are dealing with similar defensive issues, as cornerbacks Dru Phillips and Adoree' Jackson have already been ruled out for Thursday. These injuries further position Dak Prescott and the Cowboys' passing attack for a potentially big game.
Captain Considerations
Tipandpick's Conviction Plays
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