With both DraftKings and FanDuel now using similar formats — a multiplier slot (Captain/MVP) that costs 1.5× salary and earns 1.5× points — the nuances between sites come down to scoring systems and contest dynamics. DraftKings' full PPR scoring and larger prize pools reward a slightly different decision-making process than FanDuel's half-PPR and softer fields, but the core principles of Showdown roster construction apply across both.
Game Scripting and Roster Construction
Thursday Night Football gives us a pair of 3–1 teams in an NFC West showdown, but the matchup looks lopsided once you factor in injuries. San Francisco arrives absolutely littered with injuries (more below) across their passing game, while the Rams have found their groove, scoring 33, 26, and 27 over the last three weeks. Vegas points the same way: Los Angeles is pegged for a lopsided 27–19 victory at home in SoFi Stadium.
Pricing adds another wrinkle. DraftKings and FanDuel released salaries before the 49ers' injury cascade was official, leaving most San Francisco skill players underpriced for the snaps they will absorb. Normally that kind of value is gold in Showdown, but here it makes fully spending your cap far too easy and invites duplicate builds, which will be significantly increased on this slate. Fight the instinct to jam a stars-and-scrubs roster that spends your full allotment of salary. Instead, endeavor to intentionally leave $3–5K on the table to reduce overlap and keep yourself live for a solo win.
Given that context, a Rams-heavy construction makes the most sense. Think 4–2 or even 5–1 in favor of Los Angeles, using the 49ers' cheap pieces to support a core that assumes the Rams control game flow. Player-by-player notes follow.
Injury Roundup
San Francisco limps into Thursday looking like a MASH unit. They'll be without their top three pass catchers — Jauan Jennings (ankle, rib), Ricky Pearsall (knee), and George Kittle (hamstring) — and Brock Purdy is out after aggravating a toe injury during his brief Week 4 return. Brandon Aiyuk remains on IR with a knee issue and is out indefinitely. The result is a wide-open target tree with multiple budget-friendly pivots and plenty of room to differentiate builds. On defense, Nick Bosa's continued ACL absence further dulls San Francisco's edge, which lowers the unit's overall ceiling in this spot.
For the Rams, tight end Tyler Higbee (hip) is out, setting up a committee at the position led by some mix of Colby Parkinson and Davis Allen. See the tight end notes below for how to handle that spot. Right tackle Rob Havenstein will also miss the game, though his absence is unlikely to move the fantasy needle.
Captain Considerations
49ers Showdown Players
Quarterback
Mac Jones (FLEX...maybe)
Brock Purdy's toe is pushing him to the sidelines, so Mac Jones draws his third start in five games against a Rams defense that's near the top of the league in generating pressure. Jones profiles as pyrite (fools' gold) here--a modest discount from Purdy with inferior receiving options behind the aforementioned injuries, and he faces a front that has already handled better passing attacks. With Los Angeles favored, the script tilts toward sacks and stalled drives rather than clean pockets. You're better off allocating salary to Mr. Do-It-All Christian McCaffrey and letting the field chase questionable QB value. DFS Takeaway: fade Jones in cash and single-entry; if you use him at all, keep it to small sprinkles in large-field builds. Prioritize McCaffrey as the premium spend.