Best lineup strategy for Ravens vs. Lions Madden simulation Showdown

The Baltimore Ravens and Detroit Lions will face off in a Madden sim Thursday at 2:00 p.m. ET. We break down the ideal Showdown lineup strategy for the DFS contest that will be played in the snow. You can set your lineup and play in the DraftKings contest before kickoff.

Captain’s Picks

Lamar Jackson ($17,400) is a threat to take off for more than 100 rushing yards against any team, and his ceiling should be raised against the Lions’ poor secondary. Even if he hasn’t been one of the more prolific signal callers we’ve seen this sim season, his DKFP average remains among the cream of the crop. A high percentage of lineups will probably captain him, so you might want to consider another option if variance is a concern.

Matthew Stafford ($16,500) against a quality defensive line and a secondary that includes Marcus Peters, Marlon Humphrey, and Earl Thomas isn’t particularly enticing. The quarterback is typically good or bad in Madden sims and can’t create for himself like Jackson if he can’t connect with his receivers down the field. Because of this, I think the Ravens defense ($5,400) is worth a look. It’s well-rounded and has defensive backs that should match up well against Marvin Jones Jr., and Kenny Golladay.

FLEX Men

Mark Andrews ($7,600) has easily been the Ravens’ best pass catcher and has value on par with Mark Ingram’s. He acts as Baltimore’s WR1 rather than Marquise Brown and is one of the players most likely to score. Danny Amendola ($5,000) is often forgotten playing in the slot, but his position could earn him some open looks. J.D. McKissic ($2,400) often returns more value than Kerryon Johnson. The RB2 steals reps from the starter on third downs and has become the top option at running back when Johnson gets off to a slow start.