The Jets and 49ers have vastly different resumes, yet both have Super Bowl aspirations.
The pivotal early season matchup warrants a DFS Monday Night Millionaire contest. Hitting on your captain is essential since they get 1.5x fantasy points. Here are my three favorite players who are worthy of wearing the crown.
Set your DraftKings fantasy football lineups here: NFL $2.25M Monday Night Millionaire [$1M to 1st] (NYJ @ SF)
**Editors note 7:05 p.m. ET 9/9/24: 49ers RB Christian McCaffrey (Achilles/Ankle) will be inactive tonight vs. the Jets.
DraftKings Showdown Captain (CPT) Picks
Christian McCaffrey ($17,400)
When Christian McCaffrey is on the field, an article of this nature would be one entry long 98% of the time. He is the modern fantasy football cheat code. He has the Barry Bonds or Wayne Gretzky effect, where drafting him seems almost unfair because he’s operating on a level levitating above his peers.
This year, the obvious choice might have too many red flags to ignore. The Offensive Player of the Year missed most of camp with calf and Achilles injuries — only missing a hamstring pull from completing the trifecta of scariest things to have wrong with your star running back. The organization and McCaffrey have largely downplayed his prolonged absence, with the latter saying he expects his usual workload Monday night.
Despite a typically stout defense, the Jets allowed the sixth-most fantasy points to opposing ball carriers. Even with his health concerns, McCaffrey is far too talented to pass up when available. His receiving upside gives him the ultimate edge, and his bad outings are good games for most players.
Breece Hall ($15,300)
As a byproduct of the return of Aaron Rodgers ($13,500), Breece Hall hype has reached a fever pitch. The 23-year-old was dominant at Iowa State, turning the Cyclones into a formidable power in the Big 12. He’s yet to match that success in the Big Apple, but that’s mainly due to factors outside his control.
His rookie season was cut short due to a torn ACL, and last season was a disaster from the jump after the team struggled to find competent quarterback play after Rodgers went down in the season opener. With a rebuilt offensive line and Zach Wilson on the other side of the country, everything is lining up for Hall to finally break out.
San Francisco has an excellent front seven but shouldn’t consistently stack the box with a Hall of Famer under center and talented receivers on the outside. It’s Hall’s time, and he will make the most of it.
Deebo Samuel ($14,400)
The league’s most effective Swiss Army knife (sorry, Taysom Hill) still provides one of the safer DFS floors when he’s in the lineup. Kyle Shanahan knows his offense is at its best when Deebo Samuel is rolling. Nagging injuries and too many cooks in the kitchen have left the 28-year-old on the back burner at times, but that narrative might be shifting.
Top wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk missed camp with a contract holdout and, as a result, will be on a limited play count. Even for one game, Samuel can reclaim the mantle as the team’s premier pass catcher. The matchup against the New York secondary, and presumably across from Sauce Gardner, is less than ideal, but this offense is predicated on leverage and scheming targets open for easy gains.
If Samuel even taps into 80% of his 2021 form, he’ll be in for a monster night.
Set your DraftKings fantasy football lineups here: NFL $2.25M Monday Night Millionaire [$1M to 1st] (NYJ @ SF)
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I am a promoter at DraftKings and am also an avid fan and user (my username is 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 do not constitute a representation that any particular strategy will guarantee success. All customers should use their own skill and judgment in building lineups. 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.
