NFL Showdown can be a fickle beast. Success in these contests doesn't come from blindly following median projections, but from creating leverage and building unique rosters. Fading the most popular plays can be risky, yet the biggest edges usually come from identifying the right low-rostered pivots and pairing them creatively with the slate's juggernauts.
With both DraftKings and FanDuel now using similar formats — a multiplier slot (Captain/MVP) that costs 1.5x salary and earns 1.5x 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.
The advice in this article pertains predominantly to tournament lineups and strategy. For cash builds, median projections remain your best guide. For head-to-head contests, consider projections as well, but when two players have similar projections, side with the lower-rostered option.
Game Scripting and Roster Construction
Winners of their respective divisions in 2025, Seattle and Denver enter Thursday night with recent losses to the surging San Francisco 49ers. Seattle fell at home by a field goal last Sunday after turning the ball over four times. The Seahawks now travel to Empower Field at Mile High to face a Broncos team that has won three of its last four games, with the lone loss coming at San Francisco, 24–14, two weeks ago. Vegas oddsmakers have installed the defending Super Bowl champions as road favorites, with an implied final score of Seattle 22, Denver 19.
The game script is anything but obvious, although the 40.5-point total points toward a low-scoring contest. I agree with that assessment. Both teams have negative Pass Rates Over Expectation (PROE), and both rank in the bottom 10 in plays per game. Seattle’s scoring average suggests a potent offense, but its league leading 44 points off turnovers have helped mask a unit that ranks 25th in EPA per play and next to last in third down conversions. Jaxon Smith-Njigba has carried the passing attack, accounting for 49% of Seattle’s receiving yards and seven touchdowns through five games. That yardage share is on pace to be the highest in 50 years. While JSN is arguably the best receiver in the league, sustaining that production is a tall order, and I suspect we could see some regression Thursday night.
For roster construction, I lean toward a balanced approach with no more than four players from either team. Both kickers are squarely in play, and both defenses warrant consideration, which should make salary less restrictive than usual. As always, build around the game script you envision. For me, that means rostering at least three Broncos, possibly four, while taking the contrarian stance that Denver pulls off the home upset in a low-scoring slog. Prediction: Denver 18, Seattle 14.
Injury Roundup
Seattle will again be without Zach Charbonnet (knee), leaving Emanuel Wilson and George Holani to handle the backfield work. Holani practiced fully all week despite rib and knee injuries, while Jaxon Smith-Njigba (ankle) returned to full participation Wednesday and carries no game designation. On defense, Seattle will be without linebackers Chazz Surratt (calf) and Drake Thomas (ankle), potentially providing a modest boost for Denver’s running backs and underneath passing game.
Denver will be without Patrick Surtain II (ankle) and Talanoa Hufanga (ankle), creating opportunities for Seattle’s receivers against a secondary missing two key starters. Those absences improve the outlook for Smith-Njigba, Cooper Kupp, and Rashid Shaheed, although they do not erase the concerns outlined earlier about Seattle’s offense. JSN remains the centerpiece of the passing game, but seven touchdowns through five games will be difficult to sustain, even with a more favorable matchup.
Captain Considerations
Seahawks Showdown Players
Quarterback
Sam Darnold (FLEX)
Making his fourth consecutive start, Sam Darnold has leaned heavily on Jaxon Smith-Njigba’s dominance to offset some questionable decision-making. Darnold has thrown five interceptions on 98 attempts, nearly double his 2025 interception rate. He has averaged 32 attempts across his three starts since returning, but Seattle’s preference for the run and his turnover problems temper his appeal.
Darnold’s upside is closely tied to JSN. When his primary receiver dominates, Darnold benefits; when JSN is held in check, as he was against the Chargers two weeks ago, the ceiling becomes harder to reach. Denver’s secondary injuries improve the matchup, but I still anticipate a modest performance in a low-scoring game. Darnold remains in my player pool because quarterback production can matter even on a quiet slate, although he is a complementary option rather than a player I am building around.
DFS Takeaway: Darnold is best used in Seattle passing stacks, particularly alongside JSN. The team's slow offense and turnover concerns make him a lower priority in builds centered on a Denver victory.
Running Backs
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