Sean Payton faces his former franchise when the Broncos collide with the Saints on Thursday Night Football.
It’s primetime, which means DraftKings has a premier showdown contest. In this mode, choosing the best captain is crucial since they earn 1.5x fantasy points. I’ve narrowed down my three favorite players deserving of claiming the crown to lead your squad to victory.
Set your DraftKings fantasy football lineups here: NFL $1.5M Thursday Night Showdown [$500K to 1st] (DEN @ NO)
DraftKings Showdown Captain (CPT) Picks
Alvin Kamara ($17,700)
Alvin Kamara’s play has declined dramatically after injuries to the interior offensive line, but his opportunity share is too vast to ignore. Across his last four contests, he’s averaged just 3.33 yards per carry. New Orleans has tried to turn the elusive back into a bell cow with mounting injuries on offense, but that’s not his game. He’s a playmaker who excels at getting to the edge or catching the rock in open space, not acting as a power rusher between the tackles.
Despite his inefficiency, Kamara consistently gets over 20 touches an outing. That volume could see an uptick with Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed likely out with injuries. PPR formats elevate his importance since he’s an extra receiver out of the backfield. Touchdown volatility on a shorthanded offense may hold him back from being truly elite, but Kamara has a chance to find paydirt against a Denver defense that has punched above its weight all season.
Even at his worst, the eight-year pro has a limitless ceiling DFS managers should envy. With a rookie quarterback at the helm, the veteran should act as a pacifier and help calm down a discombobulated attack with many backup pieces at the forefront.
Courtland Sutton ($16,200)
Denver cut Tim Patrick before the season because they allegedly had too many pass catchers — the numbers couldn’t disagree more. Courtland Sutton is getting so many looks he’s practically the WR1 and WR2. Despite only corralling 21 receptions, the former Pro Bowler has 47 targets. That figure is more than double any other Broncos receiver and accounts for about a quarter of the team’s total share.
The 6’4 wideout is a jump-ball specialist but struggles to create separation. He can track down almost any throw in his vicinity, but his stats are affected by quarterback inaccuracy. If Sutton continues to get peppered with chances, eventually, it’ll pay off, and he will have a monster performance.
Bo Nix ($14,100)
The Bo Nix experience is a blend of confusion and promise. The 12th pick in the NFL Draft this past April is a roller coaster watch. His lack of confidence at certain points is beyond frustrating — complacency is not a trait the greats tend to have. When he plays more loose and less formulaic, it’s like watching an excellent NBA point guard. He is a tremendous distributor who might not have absurd arm talent, but can deliver passes with precise timing and accuracy.
Nix is starting to trust his legs more and has a chance to finish the campaign as the club’s leading rusher. This mobility negates his lack of yardage through the air and makes him a QB1 option in fantasy. Against a New Orleans defense that has been a mess at every level lately, Nix could turn in his best effort since turning pro.
Set your DraftKings fantasy football lineups here: NFL $1.5M Thursday Night Showdown [$500K to 1st] (DEN @ NO)
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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 skills 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.
