It’s a battle for NFC South supremacy when the Falcons take on the Buccaneers on Thursday Night Football.
It’s primetime, which means DraftKings has a Thursday Night Showdown contest. In this mode, choosing the best captain is critical since they earn 1.5x fantasy points. I’ve narrowed down my three favorite players deserving of claiming the crown and leading your squad to victory.
Set your DraftKings fantasy football lineups here: NFL $1.5M Thursday Night Showdown [$500K to 1st]
DraftKings Showdown Captain (CPT) Picks
Chris Godwin ($15,000)
In his eighth season in Tampa Bay, Chris Godwin is re-establishing himself as one of the best pass catchers in the league. Even while playing second fiddle to Mike Evans ($15,300), Godwin has recorded 1,000-yard campaigns in four of the last five seasons. Even the year he failed to reach that mark, he amassed 840 yards in 12 games—a 1,190-yard pace across 17 contests.
The resurgence has come from a simple tweak: moving back to the slot. Offensive coordinator Liam Cohen has transformed the 28-year-old into the primary target underneath. Godwin is routinely in motion and getting regularly schemed to get open. Like Wes Welker or Jarvis Landry, who helped perfect the position throughout the 2010s, the plethora of touches are part of the package and help supercharge overall efficiency.
The veteran also scores at a scorching clip, amassing three touchdowns across his first four games. Evans is always a threat to affect volume, but this unit is capable enough to support two high-end receivers. I lean towards Godwin due to his easier matchups and consistent target share.
Baker Mayfield ($14,400)
Even after a career revival, Baker Mayfield was a fantasy unknown to many heading into 2024. Analysts were quick to credit his success to working with now Carolina head coach Dave Canales. Having previously maximized Russell Wilson and Geno Smith’s passing abilities in Seattle, Canales’ success with Mayfield was seen as further proof of his coaching abilities. Yet, with Canales out of the picture, Mayfield is still balling and garnering early MVP buzz.
Among signal callers who’ve started every game this season, none have gotten the ball out faster than the former number-one overall pick, whose average release time is two seconds. He’s distributing the rock with blistering speed, and the group is scoring in bunches. The swagger he had as the Heisman Trophy Winner at Oklahoma is fully back, and he’s playing with immense confidence.
If you’re concerned with picking the wrong Buccaneers pass catcher to have an excellent performance, hedge and rock with Mayfield. Atlanta is average against the pass, but this is a well-oiled machine and a quarterback on a mission.
Drake London ($13,200)
In what has become a fall tradition, the Falcons offense is underperforming. Who’s to blame this time around? The aging Matt Ryan has successfully transformed into a competent Sunday talking head. Desmond Ridder is wasting away in Phoenix on the Cardinals practice squad. Arthur Smith somehow found work up in Pittsburgh calling plays.
Bijan Robinson’s lackluster form hasn’t helped, as you can read more about in my piece, “Why you should sell high on Bijan Robinson.” It’s too early this go-round for a definitive answer, but it’s evident that Drake London is not part of the issue.
The 23-year-old is the unquestioned WR1 in Atlanta, racking up 7+ targets in three straight contests. He’s a massive presence on the outside, an underrated route runner, and can go up and snag anything in his general area. He’s closer to a top receiver than his stats indicate, and with the club trying to reestablish their passing attack, he’s the primary benefactor.
Set your DraftKings fantasy football lineups here: NFL $1.5M Thursday Night Showdown [$500K to 1st]
The Crown Is Yours: Sign up for DraftKings and experience the ultimate host for games and betting experiences!
I am a promoter at DraftKings and am also an avid fan and user (my username is xaiver-aguiar 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.
