Sunday Showdown Week 1

Photo: Tim Fuller, USA Today Sports

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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 will usually need the slate’s top scorer at MVP, so FanDuel's 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 player with the lowest projected roster percentage..

GAME THEORY

We kick off Sunday Night Football with a classic divisional matchup between the New York Giants and the Dallas Cowboys. The total sits at 45, while the Cowboys are 3.5-point favorites on the road. With Mike McCarthy taking Kellan Moore’s role as a play caller, we expect the Cowboys to be more run-heavy. They have not signed anyone to compliment Tony Pollard, so for now, he projects to be one of the league’s few remaining workhorses. Opposite Pollard is another member of the league’s exclusive “workhorse” club in Saquon Barkley. While this game will highlight two backs with heavy usage, the game theory will be predicated around the receiver. Dallas is straightforward with their new addition, Brandin Cooks, looking to be a one-for-one replacement for Amari Cooper. The Giants have six receivers who could start the game on the bench and end the game as the top options. Many of them fill similar roles and none of them managed to separate themselves in camp.

INJURY ROUND-UP

Darren Waller – Hamstring – Questionable

Wan'Dale Robinson – Knee – Doubtful

CAPTAIN CONSIDERATION

1. CeeDee Lamb
2. Dak Prescott
3. Tony Pollard
4. Saquon Barkley
5. Daniel Jones

COWBOYS OFFENSE

QUARTERBACK

Dak Prescott $10,000 – Captain or Flex

McCarthy shipped Kelan Moore out of town because of his apparent infatuation with scoring too many points. He will want to run the ball more. This comes right as Prescott gets a fully healthy receiving corps for the first time since early last season. Even if the attempts come down for Prescott, he is worth Captain consideration, especially since Pollard is a capable pass catcher himself.