Best lineup strategy for Colts vs. Vikings Madden simulation Showdown

The Indianapolis Colts and Minnesota Vikings will face off in a Monday Madden sim at 12:00 p.m. ET. We break down the ideal Showdown lineup strategy for the DFS contests centered around the game. You can set your lineup and play at DraftKings.

Captain’s Picks

Minnesota’s defense ($5,700) excels at forcing turnovers, and Jacoby Brissett is one of the lower rated starters in Madden. Captaining a defense is one of the riskier plays you can make, but it might be worth it in this case because of the Vikings’ studs on the defensive line. Dalvin Cook is a safer Vikings option, as he has more 20-point games than most of the running backs we’ve seen this sim season. He has a high touchdown total and is versatile enough to contribute as a receiver out of the backfield.

The obvious Colts captain is T.Y. Hilton ($14,700). His speed and elusiveness is difficult to deal with regardless of what defense he’s facing. He’s significantly better than any of Indianapolis’ other wideouts and can make big plays on short or long routes.

Flex Men

Refusing to pay up for Stefon Diggs and rolling with Adam Thielen ($8,400) is almost always the play. The slot receiver has performed like Minnesota’s true WR1 and is twice as productive as Diggs. Eric Ebron ($7,600) is one of the Colts’ top flex plays because he receives a high amount of targets and has over 100 receptions, but Nyheim Hines ($2,400) is one of the more enticing value plays because of how underwhelming Marlon Mack usually is.