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

Tampa Bay Buccaneers RB Leonard Fournette

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

Captain Plays

QB Tom Brady (TB)

• Leaving Brady out of the “core” is a tough pill to swallow but he’s obviously priced up and the idea of leaning on a running back in Fournette who will be out there for basically every snap makes too much sense, especially when going against a team with a high-powered offense and wanting to keep them off the field. Brady has it in him to have a monster game and could do some tonight if Tampa needs to keep up on the scoreboard.

RB Travis Kelce (KC)

• Without a clear-cut number one receiver these days with Tyreek Hill out of town, Kelce has become Mahomes’ only “stud” receiver to this point. Kelce has seen nine. seven, and eight targets the first three weeks and despite a tough matchup with some good covering linebackers and safeties, look for him to be busy.

Flex Plays

• WR JuJu Smith-Schuster (KC)
• RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire (KC)
• WR Chris Godwin (TB)
• WR Mike Evans (TB)
• TE Cameron Brate (TB)
• Jerick McKinnon (KC)
• WR Scotty Miller (TB)

Prop Bets

• Clyde Edwards-Helaire OVER receiving yards (17.5, -115)
• Mike Evans OVER receiving yards (62.5, -110)
• Patrick Mahomes OVER passing yards (261.5, -115)
• Clyde Edwards-Helaire OVER receptions (3.5, +145)

GOOD LUCK!