The Chargers look to get back on track against the AFC West foe Broncos on Thursday Night Football.
DraftKings is offering a primetime DFS contest for the chance to win $300,000. I’ve gone through the showdown contest and identified a pair of under-the-radar options that can help give you a critical edge.
Set your DraftKings fantasy football lineups here: NFL $1.25M Thursday Night Showdown [$300K to 1st] (DEN @ LAC)
DraftKings Showdown Value Picks
Stone Smartt ($4,200)
The Los Angeles aerial attack has been wildly disappointing. It’s easy to start by blaming the quarterback, but Justin Herbert has looked great with his substandard supporting cast. The pass-catching room has been disastrous at best and is holding this squad back. Rookie Ladd McConkey is the only guy who creates consistent separation, using dazzling route running to wiggle free in the slot. The only other player who has started to step up is depth tight end Stone Smartt.
The former undrafted free agent from Old Dominion pairs a 6-foot-4 frame with 4.6 speed to be a viable threat up the seam. Smartt uses his size to bully defenders after the catch and shows the desire to fight for extra yards. He’s tallied at least three catches and 50 yards in consecutive games, including netting six targets in his most recent outing.
Smartt lost a fumble in that showing, but his miscue shouldn’t cost him a spot on a team desperate for guys just to get open. If he can hover around eight points and perhaps find the end zone for the first time this year, Smartt has shown enough flashes to warrant a dice roll.
Devaughn Vele ($4,000)
Denver’s collection of receivers has also been underwhelming, with only former Pro Bowler Courtland Sutton putting up respectable numbers. WRs 2-4 are all in their first or second season, which has led to a revolving door of opportunity with no one able to seize the moment. Rookie Devaughn Vele has had glimmers of competence but has yet to put his arsenal on full display.
Vele is getting plenty of snaps, only trailing Sutton in the category, but has only mustered one reception in his last two showings. His workload is spotty, and it doesn’t help that he’s not a factor in the red zone, only crossing the goal line once in his career. Vele is sharp in and out of his breaks and is a serviceable safety valve underneath. He’s had five fantasy games with at least ten points, proving the potential is there.
This isn’t an ideal matchup, but in a contest that lacks high-end offensive skill position players, Vele’s moderate prior success thrusts him into priority value play territory.
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.
