NFC (B)East vs. NFL (L)East??

The Giants and their troubled offense travel to take on the Football team and their more-than-stout defense headlined by their pass rush. It’s already known that the Giants will be without tight end Evan Engram (what else is new) and the Football Team will be without Ryan Fitzpatrick for the next six to eight week. Regardless of the ineptitude of the Giants offense and the fact that Washington has a backup under center we still have a football game and thus a showdown slate to breakdown. So without further ado, here we go.

NOTE: All pricing references pertain to DraftKings

Showdown Strategy

When Showdown slates first became available I was not a big fan simply because I don’t often like change. When these slates were designed we hadn’t ever seen anything like them in the DFS world. Come to realize a few years later I really enjoy them. On a normal slate with multiple games, I would typically describe myself as a cash game player primarily. That’s where my focus typically lies; cash games/single entry tournaments and from there I’ll build lineups for multi-entry GPP contests. For me, the cash game/single entry strategy kind of goes out the window as I’ll hardly if ever play double-ups and single-entry contests in showdown. Instead, I’ll take a core of players, more than often three to four players in the game that I want in virtually every lineup, typically 20 or so, that I build. The core will usually include both quarterbacks and one to two skill players that I have to have. Like much of fantasy football volume is king but it comes with a price. The wrinkle is the captain’s spot in showdown lineups. The captain’s spot generates 1.5 times the amount of fantasy points scored however a player’s salary goes up in the captain’s spot obviously. Locking in a core and deciding on a captain is how I’ll start building lineups. From there I’ll fill in the rest of the spots with correlation and value plays. Don’t be afraid to get a little weird with these lineups because virtually anything goes!

Core Plays

New York Giants: QB Daniel Jones

Washington Football Team: RB Antonio Gibson, WR Terry McLaurin

For all the issues that Giants offense and Daniel Jones have had over the past year-plus, he’s still going to be the most relied upon offensive player for the Giants considering the uncertainty of Saquon Barkley’s status, especially on a short week. Jones threw the ball 37 times and tossed a touchdown while rushing for 27 yards and an additional score. Jones has some rushing ability which helps him out but there is some trepidation here with him against this ferocious front.

Gibson and McLaurin are the key players in the Washington offense and it’s not even close. Sure, Logan Thomas is nice but this is the Gibson and McLaurin show. Gibson came away with 20 carries and five targets in last weeks game against the Chargers and with how leaky this Giants defense is he should be able to feast on them. Speaking of feast, McLaurin is going to be very hungry after a four catch, 62 yard outing last week as he takes on a Giants team who he had success against last year with seven catches for 74 yards and seven catches for 115 yards and a touchdown in two matchups. Quarterback Taylor Heinicke will look for McLaurin in passing situations heavily in an ideal world.

*NOTE: All plays above are obviously “Captain” viable

Captain Plays

*Captain plays will always be options other than those mentioned in the “core plays” section.

QB Taylor Heinicke (WFT)

Heinicke has more weapons at his disposal than Daniel Jones and thus far when we’ve seen him he hasn’t turned the ball over. Also, the Giants defense is much weaker than that of the Football Team. When you weigh all of these factors, I’m more confident in Heinicke paying off as a captain than I am with Jones.

WR Sterling Shepard (NYG)

The Giants made a splash signing Kenny Golladay this offseason but honestly, I like Shepard more in this matchup out of the slot. Last week Shepard ran 35 routes, saw nine targets, and hauled in seven catches for 113 yards and a touchdown. Durability is always an issue with Shepard but when he’s out there Jones looks his way. Shepard saw six or more targets in 10 of 12 games last season.

Flex Plays

WR Dyami Brown (WFT)

The North Carolina product Brown should be extremely popular as the number two receiver for Washington in this matchup at just $1,400. Last week Brown was involved in 91 percent of routes run and saw a 92 percent snap share overall. He’s a speedster with big-play ability who doesn’t need much production against this bad secondary to pay off.

WR Darius Slayton (NYG)

The outside receiver opposite of Kenny Golladay is Slayton and he saw eight targets last week. However, he was only able to haul in three balls but for solid yardage (65) average 21 yards per play. Keep in mind one of those catches went for 42 yards but he’s out there to make big plays. At $6,600 the volume is nice in a spot where the Giants will have to take some shots.

TE Logan Thomas (WFT)

Thomas underwhelmed in Week 1 seeing just three targets and hauling them all in for 30 yards. His day was saved as he scored a touchdown but most who drafted him as a tight end one in season-long leagues were underwhelmed. I don’t see that being the case this week against a Giants defense that doesn’t seem to have a cover linebackers or safeties to stay with Thomas. The former Virginia Tech quarterback is always on the field and is heavily involved in the offense and will make some plays against the G-men.

WR Kenny Golladay (NYG)

Golladay has to be discussed here but simply put, he’s not one of my guys. He’s priced nicely at $8,400 which is very cheap for a presumed WR1. I would say tread lightly on Golladay, if at all, because he’s going to get much of the Football team’s attention and I personally like Sheperd for his volume and Slayton for his upside and salary relief instead.

Washington Football Team Defense

We should see plenty of sacks here and Danile Jones is always a turnover candidate so there will be defensive points available here.

K’s Dustin Hopkins (WFT), Graham Gano (NYG)

Value Flex Plays

TE Kyle Rudolph (NYG)

• With Evan Engram out, Rudolph, who has a nose for the end zone, will be the de facto tight end one.

RB Devontae Booker (NYG)

• With Saquon’s availability in question, Booker could be more involved on the ground. There’s virtually no upside here but there is salary relief.

No Thanks

RB Saquon Barkley (NYG)

GOOD LUCK!!