Best lineup strategy for Falcons vs. Cardinals Madden simulation Showdown

The Atlanta Falcons and Arizona Cardinals will face off in Monday’s first Madden sim at 2:00 p.m. ET. DraftKings will have a Showdown contest for the game, and we break down ideal lineup strategies here.

Captain’s Picks

The Cardinals aren’t well equipped to deal with the Falcons’ wealth off pass catchers, so Matt Ryan ($17,100) seems like the best pick at quarterback. Although he doesn’t possess Kyler Murray’s mobility, his receiving corps is superior. This mismatch could cause some to choose Julio Jones as a captain as well, but I’d opt for Calvin Ridley ($10,200) in this case. Patrick Peterson is a competent defensive. He might not lock down Jones, Ridley has been just as effective for less in the WR2 spot.

Flex Men

Devonta Freeman ($8,800) has been a monster among running backs and is among the league leaders in DKFP per game. He has some of the highest PPR upside out of the backfield and reaches the end zone consistently. David Johnson’s ($2,800) has a lower floor and ceiling than Freeman, but still has PPR appeal as the Cardinals’ third down back. Kyler Murray is the best option on Arizona for guaranteed points, but the receiving corp can be streaky. That makes me high on Johnson as a value play.