Western Gun Show?

Do we have a gun fight out West? We shall see but coming into this game we have to of the more trigger-happy quarterbacks in the NFL in veteran Derek Carr and second-year pro Justin Herbert. The Raides come in 3-0 while the Chargers are 2-1 and defense has been optional with both teams to this point as both are allowing 369 total yards per game (Raiders) and 381 yards per game (Chargers). This should be a high-scoring, fun, shootout-type of game on Monday night.

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

Las Vegas Raiders: QB Derek Carr, TE Darren Waller

Los Angeles Chargers: QB Justin Herbert

The Raiders game plan seems clear – get the ball to Darren Waller as much as possible. Considering how well Waller has performed over the past couple of seasons that makes a ton of sense. Waller has at least seven targets in every game and although the Chargers are doing everything they can to cover the pass the idea of Waller being shutdown by this squad seems unlikely. Herbert has thrown for at least 281 yards in each game this season with 38 or more attempts in all three contests. Despite having high yardage totals in his last two games Herbet has just one touchdown in each contest. That should progress back to the mean in this game with all of the weapons Herbert has at his disposal.

*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.

WR Keenan Allen (LAC)

There is a tremendous drop-off in salary between Allen and his teammate, Mike Williams, on Monday night despite the receptions being similar (Allen’s 21 to Williams’ 22) and the yardage between the two being similar. Williams has four touchdowns while Allen has just one however if you were to ask me at the beginning of the season if I’d rather roster Allen at $13,200 or Williams at $15,300 in the captain’s spot I would say Allen and that’s no different in this situation.

RB Peyton Barber (LV)

Barber is terrible. That’s my take however Jon Gruden and the Raiders think otherwise evidenced by his 23 carries an five targets last week. Josh Jacobs is highly questionable, Kenyan Drake is hated by yet another team, and the Chargers do absolutely nothing to stop the run. This should be another 20 carry spot for Barber.

Flex Plays

WR Mike Williams (LAC)

While I’d rather use Allen in the captain’s spot Williams will obviously be in my player pool. The Raiders arent defending the pass well and Williams’ big frame and ability to go up and get the ball will be enticing to Herbert. With seven targets in each of his first three games and 22 total receptions Williams should be leaned on against a team that has allowed a 90-plus yard receiver in two of its three games and keep in mind the Raiders’ first three opponents have been the Ravens, Steelers, and Dolphins – not exactly the elite of the elite as far as the passing game goes.

WR Henry Ruggs (LV)

When the Raiders took Ruggs as the first wide receiver in the draft last year I thought “wow, that takes some balls.” However, he fits the mold for the Raiders, right? Take the fastest, or one of the fastest receivers in the draft and worry about the rest later, see Darrius Heyward-Bey. Now, I feel that Ruggs is substantially more talented than DHB but the point remains. Meanwhile here we are with Ruggs having 11 receptions through three games. However, he has seen seven targets in each of his last two games and two weeks ago he caught a long touchdown. Ruggs is a pocket rocket and he can get behind this Chargers secondary. Look for another high-target game with a big play or two mixed in there, hopefully, a touchdown as well.

Also consider:

WR Bryan Edwards (LV)

• The book is out on Edwards – he’s usless unless the game is in overtime. I’m half kidding but Edwards is a big big bodied red-zone threat that could see some attention from Carr is Waller is double or triple-teamed down there.

RB Austin Ekeler (LAC)

• Ekeler hasn’t had a ton of carries which we could expect but he’s been heavily involved in the passing game with nine and six targets in each of the last two weeks. Ekeler has over 100 total yards in each of his last two games which I think is a forgone conclusion in this game but can he get into the endzone? Thus far Ekeler has scored twice in three games.

WR Hunter Renfrow (LV)

TE Jared Cook (LAC)

K’s Daniel Carlson (LV), Tristan Vizcaino (LAC)

GOOD LUCK!!