The Sunday Night Football slate starts with a rematch of a recent NFC Wild Card game that was an instant classic. The Lions and Rams are forever intertwined after swapping quarterbacks in 2021, which helped propel Los Angeles to a Super Bowl title and Detroit to being a perennial contender.
Dan Campbell’s squad got the last laugh in the saga, eking out the 24-23 playoff win in front of a rabid Ford Field crowd. As close as the contest was just eight months ago, both franchises seem to be heading in different directions this season.
The Rams have an Aaron Donald-sized hole in the middle of their defensive line in a loaded division. In contrast, having bolstered their secondary, the Lions have positioned themselves toward the top of the conference.
When picking in the Sunday Night Showdown, getting the captain right is critical because he earns 1.5x fantasy points. Let’s look at the top options and my favorite FLEX plays for this week’s SNF slate.
Set your DraftKings fantasy football lineups here: NFL $1.5M Sunday Night Showdown [$500K to 1st] (LAR @ DET)
DraftKings Showdown Captain (CPT) Picks
Jahymr Gibbs ($12,600)
The closest running back to Christian McCaffery wears 26 in the Motor City. Jahmyr Gibbs was a revelation as a rookie. After splitting time with David Montgomery, the 22-year-old quickly showed why he was the best back on the team. Behind the game’s premier offensive line, Gibbs averaged 5.2 yards per carry while amassing 945 yards on the ground, despite being in a committee and missing a pair of games. This time around, there’s no question whose backfield it is.
Besides an uptick in carries, Gibbs will also see an increase in targets. He is a gifted pass catcher who excels with the ball in his hands in open space. Offensive coordinator Ben Johnson can even put him in the slot, as he’s flashed a refined route tree.
Running lanes should be easier to come by without a three-time defensive player of the year at nose tackle for Los Angeles. With two explosive offenses, points will come in bunches, and the projected volume Gibbs will receive is too enticing to pass up.
Cooper Kupp ($9,600)
The 2021 receiving triple crown winner, Cooper Kupp, has had back-to-back injury-riddled campaigns. The emergences of Puka Nacua ($9,800) and Kyren Williams ($9,000) have buried the eight-year veteran from national prominence. The narratives around Kupp make it seem like he is on the brink of retirement, but he’s only 31 and is finally coming off a healthy training camp.
The Lions made a long-term investment in their secondary, but that won’t matter in Week 1. Kupp will likely line up with Amik Robertson in the slot, who was in and out of the Raiders’ starting lineup since getting drafted in 2020. Matt Stafford will favor the elder statesmen and feed a rejuvenated Kupp.
Jared Goff ($9,000)
In a dome, Jared Goff is one of the most talented signal callers in the NFL. Whether it’s his California roots or disdain for natural elements, the former first-overall pick turns it up a notch indoors. Last season, he completed nearly 70% of his passes and sported a 106.4 QBR when playing on artificial grass.
Goff’s also facing a Rams secondary that was bottom-five in the league in fantasy points allowed to quarterbacks a season ago. Despite having a limited fantasy ceiling due to his lack of mobility, his efficiency should provide a viable floor. The Lions are different beasts when they consistently can air it out, and I expect them to tap into that during their opener.
Matthew Stafford: ($8,800)
The most underrated gunslinger of his generation, Matthew Stafford, returns with a cavalcade of weapons around him. It’s no secret that Sean McVay wants to incorporate more zone runs into his offense. With a pair of bruising backs, the Rams want to ease Stafford’s workload and open up the play-action game.
That strategy will have to wait, as the Lions are the best run-stuffing unit in the NFL, and that was before adding D.J. Reader to the fray. For really the first time, Nacua and Kupp look healthy at the same time. In the prior matchup, Stafford had 36 passing attempts. This contest has more shootout potential, so that number should only increase. The 36-year-old still has plenty of gas in the tank and is due for a monster outing.
Set your DraftKings fantasy football lineups here: NFL $1.5M Sunday Night Showdown [$500K to 1st] (LAR @ DET)
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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.
