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Are the Browns back on the hype train after their Monday night win over the Jets? They get a real test of their mettle on Sunday night against the Los Angeles Rams. Let’s look at some players to target in DraftKings’ $888,888 six-man Showdown slate -- with an entry fee of $10 and a first-place prize of $200,000 -- and who to use in the critical Captain slot:
CAPTAIN OBVIOUS
Odell Beckham Jr., WR, Browns ($16,500): What do OBJ’s two amazing one-handed catches have in common? Primetime, baby. When the lights are on, Beckham makes his presence known – occasionally for attacking the kicking net, but usually for big plays. The Rams’ secondary allowed both No. 1s they’ve faced to have solid games, and with David Njoku out, targets will concentrate even more between Beckham and Jarvis Landry. Salaries are pretty tight on this slate, so it’s not even cost-prohibitive to go here, especially with some of the low-priced players that have legit roles in this game.
CAPTAIN COURAGEOUS
Cooper Kupp, WR, Rams ($13,500): It’s not exactly courageous, as he’s certainly not a reach player, but if casual DFS players overreact to the blaring, red “1” next to his name and assume he’s a shutdown candidate, you might be able to sneak a low-ownership, high-ceiling player into the Captain spot. The Browns’ pass defense is not “1” worthy in the slot and Kupp has picked up right where he left off pre-knee injury.
FLEX MEN
Jarvis Landry, WR, Browns ($7,400): With Njoku on IR and Rashard Higgins in danger of missing a second straight game with an ankle injury, all sorts of value opens up on the Browns’ side. Landry would be a major benefactor if Higgins can’t go or is severely limited. He’s had seven targets in each of the first two games.
Gerald Everett, TE, Rams ($2,400): With no Tyler Higbee this week, Everett should be pretty involved here. Delanie Walker had a solid game against the Browns in Week 1, so tight ends are in play against this defense. And at his salary, it won’t take much to pay off.
Damion Ratley, WR, Browns ($2,000): With Higgins sidelined last week against the Jets, Ratley stepped into the No. 3 receiver slot and had two catches for 50 yards on three targets. If Higgins misses again, Ratley at $2K is about the best value on the entire slate, opening up all sorts of options for the rest of your lineup.
I am a promoter at DraftKings and am also an avid fan and user (my username is jeffgo33) and may sometimes play on my personal account in the games that I offer advice on. Although I have expressed my personal view on the games and strategies above, they do not necessarily reflect the view(s) of DraftKings and I may also deploy different players and strategies than what I recommend above. I am not an employee of DraftKings and do not have access to any non-public information.