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Sunday night brings up a marquee NFC matchup between the unbeaten Cowboys and the 2-1 Saints. No Drew Brees, but no lack of superstars in this one. 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
Dak Prescott, QB, Dallas, $16,800
Last week against the Dolphins, Prescott had easily his worst game of the young season and still put up 23.5 DK points. Amazingly, he draws a better assignment this week against the Saints pass defense that has just been shredded this season. Amari Cooper ($15,300) is another terrific candidate for the Captain spot against this bad pass defense. Bottom line: Stack Dak and Cooper.
CAPTAIN COURAGEOUS
Will Lutz, K, New Orleans, $5,400
Because of the pricing, it is going to be very hard to get four of the top guns into a lineup and still have six viable players overall. One way to do it is by putting Lutz in the Captain slot, which allows for four $9K-11K players in the flex and one $4K-range player in the final flex spot. Lutz is averaging 10 points per game, and that includes a relative dud last week in Seattle. If he is able to get in the 13-14 range like the first two weeks, that’s roughly 20 Captain points at a discount. To get four studs and a decent fifth in the flex slots, that might be worth it.
FLEX MEN
Jared Cook, TE, New Orleans ($4,400)
Cook has been among the most underwhelming players in all of fantasy after three weeks, and had almost no chemistry last week with Teddy Bridgewater, garnering a season-low two targets. The only thing he has going for him is that the Cowboys have allowed production to tight ends – mostly Evan Engram in Week 1, but even ancient Vernon Davis had a 3-29 line in Week 2. Maybe this is the week he gets untracked.
Tavon Austin, WR, Dallas $200
This is the punt play to end all punt plays, but it allows the usage of four top players, with one in the Captain spot, so that alone makes him valuable. He missed the past two games because of a concussion, but Is expected to suit up Sunday. Although primarily the punt returner, Austin – who had one catch in the season opener – ought to get some work as the No. 4 receiver with Michael Gallup out. One or two catches and he pays off that salary, that’s for sure.