Photo: USA Today Sports

OVERVIEW

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 is going to come by identifying the best low-owned plays and finding clever ways to pair them with the juggernauts of the slate.

This article is going to have a heavy DraftKings lean simply because the decision-making process is more interesting given the salary premium attached to the Captain spot. On FanDuel, the pricing is the same for both MVP and Flex spots. You are usually going to 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 rostered player.

GAME THEORY

The Dallas Cowboys are heading to Philadelphia to take on the Eagles as 6.5-point underdogs. The total is set at 42. If the Cowboys come out on top they will take over first place in the surprisingly tough NFC East. Dak Prescott is not expected to play, although the front office “is not ruling him out”. Both teams rank top-10 in rushing production with two-headed backfields, although they are used much differently. Cooper Rush has played admirably but has not demonstrated the ability to support multiple ceiling games for his receivers. Jalen Hurts has had monster performances on the ground and through the air. The most important decision we must make is how we think he will get things done this week.

INJURY ROUND-UP

CeeDee Lamb – Hip – Questionable

Dak Prescott – Thumb – Questionable

CAPTAIN CONSIDERATION

1. Jalen Hurts
2. A.J. Brown
3. CeeDee Lamb
4. DeVonta Smith
5. Miles Sanders
6. Dallas Goedert

DALLAS OFFENSE

QUARTERBACK

Cooper Rush $9,400 – Flex

Through Cooper Rush’s first three weeks he was passing roughly 30 times a game. He threw for just over 200 yards in each game and threw multiple touchdowns just once. Last week we saw his scoring floor when he passed only 16 times in a victory over the Rams. We felt great about Rush when he was coming at a discount, but at full price, he’s not so easy to stomach. He still makes our player pool as a fine flex option in a high-scoring game environment, especially in lineups that include CeeDee Lamb as Captain.