The NFL playoffs are on the horizon, and the Buffalo Bills start their postseason push against the upstart Denver Broncos on Sunday at 1:00 p.m. Eastern.
Buffalo is coming off a mini-bye after resting a bulk of their starters in Week 18. On the other hand, Denver punched their ticket to the playoffs with a win in the season finale.
DraftKings is offering a Showdown contest for the crucial matchup, so I’ll take you through my two captain’s picks, two FLEX picks, and one fade.
Set your DraftKings fantasy football lineups here: NFL $300K Showdown Special [$100K to 1st] (DEN @ BUF)
For up-to-the-minute news, analysis and lineups, download the DK Network app. You also can follow DK Network on Twitter @dknetwork.
SHOWDOWN STRATEGY
Captain’s Picks
Josh Allen ($18,600) – Don’t overthink it—back the MVP frontrunner. I’m running out of ways to describe the Josh Allen experience. Here’s one way: the current best quarterback on the planet.
Patrick Mahomes still has the overall QB1 moniker because of his undeniable championship pedigree, but as it stands, Allen is operating at a different level. The 28-year-old paired his cannon arm and freak athleticism with a newfound understanding of maximizing possessions. He’s kept a gunslinger archetype but simply stopped turning the ball over.
Allen is making as many, if not more, positive plays than ever before while almost eliminating the disastrous ones entirely. He is the supernova of this offense and producing at a historical clip. Even against Denver’s stellar defense, Allen is inevitable.
James Cook ($14,400) – James Cook is essentially the same back as last season, but his fantasy ceiling has seen an uptick thanks to his prowess in the red zone. Cook suffered from Allen being a vulture around the goal line. Offensive coordinator Joe Brady has made it a priority this year to get his workhorse back more involved in scoring territory. Cook secured 18 total touchdowns, tripling his mark from 2023.
Even if he’s inefficient on the ground, the scoring output translates to DFS success. Cook has netted over 17 fantasy points an outing, including four performances surpassing the 28-point mark. He’s a volume machine and is too talented not to make an impact.
FLEX Plays
Bo Nix ($10,400) – A rookie signal-caller on the road in a hostile environment tends to be a recipe for disaster. Something about Bo Nix creates enough doubt to think that might not be the case.
The experience of over 60 starts in college has paid dividends. For much of the season, Nix’s role has been avoiding catastrophe and being a mid-level game manager. In recent weeks, he’s defaulted into his University of Oregon form, a point guard in the pocket, spreading around the rock to his playmakers downfield. He’s had three consecutive showings with at least 20 fantasy points, and his confidence is peaking at the perfect time.
Courtland Sutton ($9,200) – The monster on the perimeter, Courtland Sutton, is Denver’s only consistent weapon. Sutton can effortlessly climb the ladder to highpoint any pass, creating an unguardable catch radius. He has an ideal frame for an X receiver and uses it to dominate fifty-fifty balls over smaller defenders.
He’s coming off another 1,000-yard campaign, helping carry this aerial attack. Sutton’s game travels, and his numbers see a slight uptick on the road. He hasn’t logged less than ten fantasy points in over two months and is too dominant to leave out of your lineup entirely.
Fades
Marvin Mims Jr. ($7,000) – Great teams are always able to eliminate a strength of their opponent. Denver can’t run the ball, and much of their offense revolves around screens and quick reads. Marvin Mims Jr. adds a different element. His speed is crippling outside the hashes and up the seam, and he’s starting to dart past safeties and frequently convert on “homerun” plays.
Even with a shaky duo on the back end, Buffalo won’t allow Mims to wreck this game. He isn’t technical enough to create separation underneath and will likely be limited to a few designed touches.
THE OUTCOME
Nix does not have the ability to match drives with Allen. The Denver defense can hold its own for a half, but Buffalo is too explosive to contain for long. At best, this game looks closer on the scoresheet than it is on the field.
Final Score: Buffalo 30, Denver 17
The Crown Is Yours: Sign up for DraftKings and experience the ultimate host for games and betting experiences!
All odds provided by DraftKings Sportsbook, lines and odds are 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.
