Single-game DFS showdowns can make TV viewing mighty entertaining, with your fortune hanging on every play. This Thursday night’s matchup pits the Philadelphia Eagles against the Green Bay Packers, and should provide plenty of entertainment for viewers and bettors alike. DraftKings is offering $300,000 guaranteed to first place in its $10 buy-in contest. As you pick, you must carefully decide who to put in the captain’s spot. That player costs 1.5x normal salary, but also earns 1.5x points.
Spend Up ($10,000 and higher)
Devante Adams, Packers WR, $11,000 – Adams feels like a receiver that’s due, having received seven targets per game, catching 15 of those, but not scoring a touchdown in his first three games. He will continue to be quarterback Aaron Rodgers’ favorite target going forward.
Aaron Rodgers, Packers QB, $10,800 – Speaking of Rodgers, he’s just below Adams in salary on this slate. He hasn’t put up big numbers in the first three games, throwing for an average of 216 yards per game with four passing TDs, but will look to post healthy numbers against a poor Eagles pass defense.
Carson Wentz, Eagles QB, $10,000 – Wentz has posted better numbers than Rodgers (268 passing yards per game with six passing TDs), but the Packers pass defense is the fifth-best in the NFL in the early going. Still, Wentz will almost assuredly do enough in this DFS showdown game to be a required pick for your team.
Spend Down (Less than $10,000)
Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Packers WR, $7,600 – After a mediocre first two weeks, Valdes-Scantling posted big numbers in Week 3, catching six of 10 targets for 99 yards and a TD against the Broncos. The Eagles rank lowest in the league defending against wide receivers. The Packers No. 3 wideout, Geronimo Alison, has been playing about half as many snaps as Adams and Valdes-Scantling, so those two seem like must-plays on Thursday night.
Packers Defense, $4,800 – Green Bay’s defense has proven stout so far, giving up just 12 points per game, with 12 sacks, four interceptions, and four fumble recoveries. The D is averaging 13 DFS points per game on DK.
Mack Hollins, Eagles WR, $2,400 – Hollins is very low priced for what he brings to the table. Alshon Jeffery is expected back for Thursday’s game, but DeSean Jackson is still hurt. Coach Doug Pederson said Hollins will be part of three-wideout sets against the Packers, and he’s caught nine passes for 112 yards over the past two games, averaging 10.1 points on DK.
A Final Note
Players like Adams, Rogers, Wentz and Valdes-Scantling will be trendy picks for the captain spot. You may be wise to differentiate yourself by selecting someone like Hollins or the Packers D for that spot as they are likely to be low-owned as captains, meaning if they post big numbers Thursday night, you put yourself in a very good spot to win the big money. As I’ve seen fantasy players post in the forums this week, people who select the trendy picks, or chalk, for the captain spot for DFS showdown are mostly setting themselves up to min-cash. Just a little food for thought.