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

Tennessee Titans: RB Derrick Henry

Kansas City Chiefs: QB Patrick Mahomes, WR Juju Smith-Schuster

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

Captain Plays

RB Derrick Henry (TEN)

• For the Chiefs to keep the Chiefs offense off the field they’ll need to run the clock and run the ball with Henry. Henry is the epitome of a captain play in showdown; he gets a ton of volume and more often than not he’s productive. The Heisman Trophy winner has had 28, 30, and 32 carries in his last three games surpassing 100 yards each time with four total touchdowns.

TE Travis Kelce (KC)

• Kelce has seen eight or more targets in each of his last five games and has had 22 or more DK points in three of his last four games. With the receivers’ production week in and week out being unpredictable, it’s pretty certain that Kelce will be Mahomes’ primary option in the passing game.

Flex Plays

• RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire (KC)
• WR Robert Woods (TEN)
• WR Kadarius Toney (WR)
• QB Ryan Tannehill (TEN)
• WR Marquez Valdez-Scantling (KC)
• RB Isiah Pacheco (KC)
• RB Dontrell Hilliard (TEN)

Prop Bets

• Derrick Henry OVER rushing yards (86.5, -115)
• Jerick McKinnon OVER receiving yards (13.5, -115)
• JuJu Smith-Schuster OVER reception (4.5, -130)
• Mecole Hardman OVER longest reception (15.5, -110)

GOOD LUCK!!