The 3-3 Denver Broncos will travel down to New Orleans to face off with the 2-4 Saints to kick off Week 7 of the 2024 NFL season. This battle will be each’s rookie quarterback’s first time in a prime-time opportunity at the NFL level.
New Orleans started out the year hot, winning its first two games and leading the league in scoring, but its lost four consecutive games leading into this matchup. The Broncos have begun to find their identity as a defensive-minded team who have won three of their last four. Bo Nix has shown some notable improvement already in his six weeks as the starter.
There are plenty of breakdowns for the game’s outlook, player props and more, but this article will take a look at some of the top DFS options to help you build your best Showdown team.
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Captain Plays:
Hitting on your captain (CPT) is essential to having Showdown DFS success on DraftKings. Players drafted as the captain earn 1.5x fantasy points, so they can make or break your slate. Let’s take a look at my favorite captain plays for this week’s TNF slate.
Alvin Kamara ($17,700)
This is a steep price for any captain play but Alvin Kamara has a clear pathway for leading this game in touches. The 29-year-old has burst onto the scene this year, recording 119 yards from scrimmage or greater in each game and six total touchdowns across the first four weeks. However, he has seen this production dip since and is coming off his most disappointing performance, as he was held to just 64 yards from scrimmage last week.
The Broncos have a strong defense that ranks fourth in both points and yards allowed this season. However, their rushing defense is their weak point and they have given up 115 or more rushing yards in four of the six weeks. As the Saints look to get back on track, expect a renewed commitment to Kamara. Spencer Rattler is not quite ready to fully step in as the starting quarterback and New Orleans will lean on Kamara to ease his workload. The $17,700 is a hefty price to pay, but expect Kamara to finish as the highest fantasy scorer in this matchup. Plus, there’s some intriguing value picks can still allow you to make an effective roster.
Courtland Sutton ($16,200)
The second highest-priced captain’s choice is Courtland Sutton at $16,200. Sutton is the surefire top wide receiver on Denver’s roster and has tallied 21 receptions for 277 yards and a pair of touchdowns so far this year. There also has been production left on the table, as Sutton has been targeted 47 times. For reference, no other Broncos’ wide receiver has been targeted more than 19 times.
While Sutton is a talented wide receiver, his production is directly tied to the level of play from Bo Nix. The rookie quarterback has taken some significant steps forward this season, but will go through his growing pains throughout the year. Sutton ranks 41st among all wide receivers in terms of DraftKings fantasy production on the season. While Sutton is a guy who will make his impact felt in the matchup, this price tag feels a bit steep as a captain’s choice.
Bo Nix ($14,100)
While Nix will have his ups and downs, he looks to have turned a bit of a corner this season. In the opening three weeks of the season, Nix did not throw a touchdown pass and had four interceptions. In the past three weeks, Nix has tallied five touchdowns and just one interception. In addition, Nix has opened things up with his legs more and is coming off a season-high 61 rushing yards last week.
The Saints have struggled on defense this year ranking 23rd in points allowed and dead-last in yards given up. They also are 29th in passing yards allowed. Nix is still putting it all together but this is a great opportunity for him. He has played in plenty of big games dating back to his five seasons in college and should not be phased by the spotlight. If you are looking to save some of your budget, I like taking a chance on Nix this week to produce his best performance thus far as a pro.
Value Picks:
Jaleel McLaughlin ($5,800)
While Javonte Williams will headline the rushing attack for the Broncos, Jaleel McLaughlin is a name people should be more familiar with. The second-year running back has carried the ball 36 times this year for 116 yards and a touchdown, while also adding 12 receptions. He has only been held below five touches in one game this season and has tallied as many as 15. He has logged at least 25% of offensive snaps in each game this season. Don’t expect him to be the deciding factor in winning the week, but count on McLaughlin to add a few points to the total and make an impact on the game.
Wil Lutz ($5,400)
Typically kickers are a boring choice for DFS lineups, but there is a case to be made for Wil Lutz. The Broncos still have not proven they can reliably put the ball in the end zone this year. On the season overall, they have produced nine offensive touchdowns, while Lutz has made 13 field goals. He averaged 9.3 fantasy points per game based on DraftKings scoring. This is another situation in which the ceiling is a bit lower than you would hope, but the reliable number of kicking opportunities Lutz will receive will make him a fair addition to any lineup.
Bub Means ($4,000)
The Saints are expected to be shorthanded at the wide receiver position this week. Chris Olave suffered a concussion against the Buccaneers and the short turnaround makes his return to the field unlikely. In addition, Rashid Shaheed is battling a knee injury that might hold him out beyond just this week.
Enter Bub Means, who burst onto the scene last week. The fifth-round pick played just 19 total offensive snaps across the first five weeks of the season before logging 71.4% of snaps last week and leading all Saints wide receivers with eight targets. He tallied five receptions for 45 yards and a touchdown in these opportunities. While this is driven by opportunity rather than a belief in Means, someone has to catch the ball for New Orleans. Expect the rookie to be the beneficiary and for him to build off last week’s performance.
Foster Moreau ($2,800)
Another player who will benefit from the available targets is Foster Moreau. The tight end has logged 71% of the offensive snaps or more in each of the past three weeks. While his average of 1.5 catches per game is not overly exciting, Moreau had a season-high 54 receiving yards last week. Tight ends can often be the safety blanket for young quarterbacks and Rattler will be starting just his second game this week. This is a risky choice, but it should take just one or two catches for Moreau to outperform his price point. Keep him in mind as you dig through the bargain bin and look to maximize your lineup.
Set your DraftKings fantasy football lineups here: NFL $1.5M Fantasy Football Millionaire [$500K to 1st]
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I am a promoter at DraftKings and am also an avid fan and user (my username is seanbarnard) 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.
