It’s a potential Super Bowl preview when the Lions square off with the Texans on Sunday Night Football.
It’s primetime, which means DraftKings has a premier showdown contest. In this mode, choosing the best captain is critical since they earn 1.5x fantasy points. Below, I’ve honed in on the top three options deserving of leading your lineup.
Set your DraftKings fantasy football lineups here: NFL Showdown $1.2M Sunday Night Showdown [$300K to 1st] (DET @ HOU)
DraftKings Showdown Captain (CPT) Picks
Amon-Ra St. Brown ($16,500)
Even with a limited aerial attack, Amon-Ra St. Brown is the premier weapon for the high-powered Detroit offense. The unit has gone six straight games without surpassing 25 passing attempts, which naturally has hurt St. Brown’s bottom line. The 25-year-old is also on pace to see his fewest targets since his rookie campaign. Even with the decrease in opportunity, his overwhelming dominance as the top pass-catcher is enough to stay patient.
In his recent outing in frigid Green Bay, St. Brown got back on track, corralling seven catches for 56 yards and a score. He always seems to get up for divisional foes, but it’s about keeping that momentum going. He’s a dominant route runner who creates separation in a hurry—he just needs to be fed the rock.
The fourth-year pro gets a showdown with a Houston group that is bottom-ten in the league in allowing fantasy points to receivers. St. Brown will be a force on the perimeter and has a chance to blow past the century mark for the third time this season.
Joe Mixon ($16,200)
The Joe Mixon comeback tour has shown little signs of slowing down. After being shipped off from Cincinnati after five consecutive inefficient years as a bruising bell cow, Mixon has transformed into an analytical darling who has unlocked Houston’s ground game.
Even with a shaky offensive line ahead of him leading the way, Mixon ran for 100 yards in all but one of his contests. His ability to cut back to the middle of the field if the b or c gaps are clogged has been the most impressive, a remarkable showing of vision and anticipation.
He’s been a monster in the red zone, already crossing the goal line seven times. Mixon dominates volume and isn’t dependent on receptions to get over 20 touches a game. Detroit’s front seven is phenomenal at stopping the run, but Mixon will have enough carries to minimize that risk.
Jahmyr Gibbs ($13,800)
Jahmyr Gibbs is one of the most electrifying players in the sport, but is struggling with a backfield timeshare. David Montgomery ($12,300) is a punishing runner and force between the tackles. Gibbs is more of a home run hitter who averages 6.4 an attempt and is far more elusive than powerful. Both are valuable members of the best one-two punch in the NFL, but Gibbs is clearly the more talented option.
At some point, offensive coordinator Ben Johnson will realize it’s better to have a premier playmaker with a higher upside. Gibbs has continued to be a more consistent DFS option, and a slight uptick in stats would further solidify that fact.
Set your DraftKings fantasy football lineups here: NFL Showdown $1.2M Sunday Night Showdown [$300K to 1st] (DET @ HOU)
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All odds provided by DraftKings Sportsbook, lines and odds subject to change.
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.
