NFL DFS: Monday Night Football Showdown – Week 9 – Chicago Bears vs. Pittsburgh Steelers

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

Chicago Bears: QB Justin Fields

Pittsburgh Steelers: QB Ben Roethlisberger, RB Najee Harris

The Bears offense doesn’t have much to hang their hat on other than the fact that Justin Fields will be the quarterback. There are questions at running back and receiver as far as where the production will come from if it comes at all. With Fields having the ability to run if given the chance I can see a path for him to have a solid game in a game that could lack points to say the least.

Big Ben has relied a lot on Najee Harris in the receiving game and I don’t see that changing. In his last four games, he’s seen three, seven, five, and seven targets while handling 23 or more carries in three of those four contests.

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

Captain Plays

RB Najee Harris (PIT)

WR Diontae Johnson (PIT)

Harris, mentioned above is far and away my preferred captain. But if looking for another skill position player to consider for the spot, Diontae Johnson has seen 13 targets in each of his last two games and double-digit targets in five games. Along with Harris, Johnson is the top pass catcher for Pittsburgh with 40 receptions.

Flex Plays

RB Khalil Herbert (CHI)

WR Chase Claypool (WR)

TE Pat Freiermuth (PIT)

WR Allen Robinson (CHI)

Value Flex Plays

K’s Chris Boswell OR Josh Lambo (PIT)

TE Cole Kmet (CHI)

WR James Washington (PIT)

GOOD LUCK!