The Chargers look to bolster their playoff chances against the division rival Broncos on Thursday 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 $1.25M Thursday Night Showdown [$300K to 1st] (DEN @ LAC)
DraftKings Showdown Captain (CPT) Picks
Bo Nix ($15,000)
In an era where young quarterbacks tend to either be sheltered or immediately thrown into the fire, Bo Nix is somewhere in the middle. He’s of a dying breed — the good, but not great, rookie quarterbacks.
Nix is a polarizing figure because he’s so erratic from game to game. He’s best at being a point guard in the pocket — a distributor who can use premier timing and accuracy to fire the ball to open receivers within 20 yards of the line of scrimmage. He’s best when he’s confident, stepping into his throws and trusting his arm.
Where he gets into trouble is when he starts forcing throws into minuscule windows. After a great run of protecting the rock, Nix has thrown five picks in his last two games, which has hurt his meteoric fantasy rise. He’ll face a talented Los Angeles defense dealing with injuries in a short week. If the Nix trend continues, this should be a prime bounce-back spot.
Justin Herbert ($14,700)
After making a dark-horse MVP case, Justin Herbert’s play has taken a step back. The running attack with J.K. Dobbins has gone sideways, which puts more pressure on a disastrous receiving core. Rookie slot sensation Ladd McConkey has done his best to help carry the workload, but Quentin Johnston and Josh Palmer on the outside have been far too inconsistent.
The best case for Herbert is his undeniable talent. He can make any throw from any situation. He’s made a point of cutting out turnovers and maximizing his squad’s possessions. Like other stud quarterbacks, he can flip a contest in an instant and is always capable of delivering a dazzling performance. In a matchup that lacks high-end star power, Herbert stands out.
Courtland Sutton ($14,400)
Perhaps the most underrated wideout in the NFL, Courtland Sutton has quietly had a phenomenal campaign. The 29-year-old is finally benefitting from having an above-average signal caller and using his massive frame to dominate outside the hashes. Sutton resembles a basketball player grabbing a rebound, boxing out corners, and consistently coming down with contested jump balls.
Sutton has been a DFS weapon, averaging 14.5 points per outing, including 19-plus points in five of his last seven showings. He has also found the end zone four times in that span and is realizing his peak potential. He’s coming off his worst performance in two months, but still received nine targets. Sutton’s continuous impressive output deserves priority captain consideration.
Set your DraftKings fantasy football lineups here: NFL $1.25M Thursday Night Showdown [$300K to 1st] (DEN @ LAC)
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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.
