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

Baltimore Ravens: QB Lamar Jackson

Miami Dolphins: QB Tua Tagovailoa, RB Myles Gaskin

It’s clearly no secret that the Ravens offense runs through Lamar Jackson. Of late he’s been running more making his upside and floor even higher than previous weeks. Coming off a 100-plus yard rushing game with three touchdowns through the air the sky is the limit in this cake matchup with the Dolphins.

Miami has seemingly settled on a running back and it looks as if Myles Gaskin is game script independent. Gaskin has 15 or more touches in each of his last three games including 20 carries and six receptions last weeks. His ability in the passing game (31 targets in the last five games) is the key here as we expect the Ravens to be leading into the second half but stranger things have happened!

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

Captain Plays

QB Lamar Jackson (BAL)

TE Mike Gesicki (MIA)

Gesicki gets a major boost here is Brissett is under center as he seems to target three players exclusively – Gesicki, Gaskin, and Jaylen Waddle. The Ravens have been brutal against the tight end and with eight, four, eight, and nine targets over the last four weeks, Gesicki is a big target, especially in the red zone.

Flex Plays

WR Marquise Brown (BAL)

TE Mark Andrews (BAL)

WR Jaylen Waddle (MIA)

RB Devonta Freeman (BAL)

Value Flex Plays

WR Rashad Bateman (BAL)

WR Mack Hollins (MIA)

K’s Justin Tucker (BAL) and Jason Sanders (MIA)

Prop Bets

Lamar Jackson – OVER rushing yards (62.5, -115)

Lamar Jackson – OVER passing yards (235.5, -115)

Marquise Brown – OVER longest reception (23.5, -110)

Jaylen Waddle – OVER longest reception (21.5, -115)

Jaylen Waddle – OVER receptions (5.5, +100)

Marquise Brown – OVER receptions (4.5 +110)

GOOD LUCK!