NFL DFS: Sunday Night Football Showdown – Week 8 – Dallas Cowboys vs Minnesota Vikings

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

Dallas Cowboys: RB Ezekiel Elliott

Minnesota Vikings: QB Kirk Cousins, RB Dalvin Cook

With the Cowboys likely without Dak Prescott in this game I expect them to lean on the running game heaviliy with Zeke against a questionable Vikings run defense. Even if Dak does play I would be surprised if Zeke isn’t the focal point here and for that reason, I’ll have him in all of my lineups.

The Vikings’ offense moved through Dalvin Cook and an efficient Kirk Cousins. While I’m looking for Cousins to throw the ball a good deal I’m not locking either receiver into all of my lineups because I want as much Dalvin Cook as I can get. Cook could see up to 30 touches in this game and that’s volume that can’t be ignored.

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

Captain Plays

RB Ezekiel Elliott (DAL)

RB Dalvin Cook (MIN)

For the reasons highlighted in the core section above I can’t see any better options for the captain’s spot than the two star running backs in this game, especially with all of the questions related to the Dallas passing game with Prescott’s injury.

Flex Plays

WR Adam Thielen (MIN)

WR CeeDee Lamb (DAL)

WR Justin Jefferson (MIN)

TE Dalton Schultz (DAL)

Value Flex Plays

WR K.J. Osborn (MIN)

RB Tony Pollard (DAL)

TE Ty Conklin (MIN)

TE Blake Jarwin (DAL)

GOOD LUCK!