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

Kansas City Chiefs: QB Patrick Mahomes

• This one should get ugly, folks. Whether or not it happens in the first half or not is questionable but Mahomes will surely go nuts in this game. I actually think that the Jets will hang with the Chiefs EARLY ON becuase they’re defense is great. Where the Jets will run into trouble is towards the end of the first half and into the second half once the defene has been on the field for the majority of the game. As the Jets defense wears down, the Chiefs will takeoff. Get it?

Kansas City Chiefs: Defense/ST

• There’s no doubt in my mind that this defense will make some plays. As a core piece to virtually every lineup you’ll be hard pressed to not get a few sacks, some turnovers, and potentially a score from this crew against Zach Wilson.

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

Captain Plays

TE Travis Kelce (KC)

• It’s primetime, the big stage, New York, and Kelce has taken the country by storm with his attachment to Taylor Swift. Let’s be honest, folks, she’s no Carrie Underwood. Kelce will eat here and there’s literally no other captain (aside from Mahomes in some spots) that I’m looking at.

Others to consider:

• RB Isiah Pacheco (KC)
• RB Breece Hall (NYJ)

Flex Plays

Kansas City Chiefs: WR Rashee Rice

• Like the rest of the receivers from KC, Rice is a coin flip week in and week out. He saw seven targets last week, two the week before that, but 5 in week 1. He’s on the field a good amount of the time, is dynamic with the ball in his hand, and is priced affordably.

Others to consider:

• WR Garrett Wilson (NYJ)
• WR Maquez Valdes-Scantling (KC)
• WR Skyy Moore (KC)
• RB Jerick McKinnon (KC)
• TE Tyler Conklin (NYJ)
• WR Justin Watson (KC)

Player to Fade

New York Jets: QB Zach Wilson

• I shouldn’t have to go deep in depth here on Wilson. Typically on a Showdown slate we’re never fading the quarterback. This might be a first for me, and I’m a Jets’ fan! There is no way I could consider rostering Wilson on this slate. Plain and simple.

GOOD LUCK!