Sunday Showdown Week 1

Photo: Kirby Lee, USA Today Sports

NFL Showdown can be a fickle beast. These contests do not rely on median projections so much as leverage and uniqueness. Fading the highest-owned plays can be a risky proposition. Typically, your edge will come by identifying the best low-owned plays and finding clever ways to pair them with the juggernauts of the slate.

This article will have a heavy DraftKings lean simply because the decision-making process is more interesting given the salary premium attached to the Captain spot. FanDuel's pricing is the same for both MVP and Flex spots. You will usually need the slate’s top scorer at MVP, so FanDuel strategy revolves around unique Flex builds.

Advice in this article will pertain predominantly to tournament lineups and strategy. For cash lineups, build around median projections. For head-to-head contests, continue to lean into the median projections, but if two options project closely, give the nod to the lowest owned player.

Game Theory

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are heading to take on the Dallas Cowboys as 2.5-point favorites with an O/U of 50.5. With so many viable fantasy options, the pricing is flat. On slates like these, you can fit whomever you want. The important goal to keep in mind is uniqueness. With so many paths to success, it is a good week to lean into 5-1 builds, lower than average roster percentages, and more salary left on the table. Roster percentages are also relatively flat, so neither team should be considered an avoid for onslaught builds. Take a stand on which team you believe could run away with this game and skew your lineups heavily in that direction.

Injury Round-Up

• Russell Gage – Hamstring – likely to play
• Chris Godwin – Knee – active

Captain Consideration

1. Tom Brady
2. Mike Evans
3. Dak Prescott
4. CeeDee Lamb
5. Leonard Fournette

Cowboys Offense

QUARTERBACK

Dak Prescott $10,200 – Captain or Flex

Dak Prescott should come in with the second-highest roster percentage. He will be without a viable second option at wide receiver as Michael Gallup is doubtful to play, and Jalen Tolbert has failed to step into an every-down role. Noah Brown will technically function as Prescott’s number two wide receiver, but Dalton Schultz projects as the best receiving option outside of CeeDee Lamb. The lack of receiving depth leaves plenty of value in the Cowboy's mid-tier options.