Former LSU legends Joe Burrow and Jayden Daniels square off for the first time when the Bengals take on the Commanders Monday Night.
It’s primetime, which means DraftKings is having a Monday Night Showdown contest. In this mode, choosing the best captain is essential since they earn 1.5x fantasy points. I’ve narrowed down my three favorite players deserving of claiming the crown and leading your squad to the promised land.
Set your DraftKings fantasy football lineups here: NFL $600K Monday Night Showdown [$200K to 1st] (WAS @ CIN)
DraftKings Showdown Captain (CPT) Picks
Ja’Marr Chase ($17,400)
It’s been a disastrous start to the season for Ja’Marr Chase. The superstar wideout is seeking a new contract, which has created evident friction between him and the franchise. His production on the field has hardly warranted a raise, as he has just ten grabs for 97 yards through two weeks.
There’s no better “get right” game than a matchup with the Washington secondary. It’s arguably the worst position group in the league, with the disastrous Michael Davis filing in as the top outside corner. With the third entry on my list returning to the lineup, the Commanders won’t be able to double Chase and will suffer dearly because of it.
Zach Taylor has to make a concerted effort to feed his top pass catcher the ball and get this Bengals passing attack back to the heights it’s capable of. A few tough outings don’t negate the fact Chase is one of the three most skillful players at his position and is a DFS darling.
Jayden Daniels ($15,300)
The 2024 rookie quarterback class was supposed to be generational but has looked wildly uninspiring. Jayden Daniels has looked the most electric of the bunch—not exactly a ringing endorsement, but it still should count for something. Overcoming a shaky offensive line and Kliff Kingsbury is no easy feat. Still, the most impressive thing the reigning Heisman Trophy winner has accomplished is proving his legs are deadly at the pro level.
Across both contests, Daniels has run the ball a whopping 26 times and scurried in for a pair of scores. His speed, combined with a hot start from Brian Robinson Jr. ($14,700), has had defenses spinning. The issues have been in the pocket, where Daniels seemingly aborts, plays too fast, and rolls out of the pocket looking to scamper.
The next level for the 23-year-old is learning to be comfortable with the structure and keep his eyes downfield. The Cincinnati front seven can get home in a hurry, but it’s a bunch that can be overly aggressive and susceptible to allowing the big play. Signal callers have struggled to have fantasy relevance, and Daniels’s dual-threat ability makes him worth the dice roll.
Tee Higgins ($13,200)
There will be fans who suggest that Cincinnati‘s offensive struggles have shown Tee Higgins is the club’s real top pass catcher—don’t think like them. That’s not a slight to the 25-year-old physical monster making his season debut and ready to make an instant impact.
Higgins missed the first few games with a hamstring injury but is cleared for action. As long as he doesn’t re-aggravate the issue, he should see plenty of snaps and be part of the offensive script.
As previously mentioned, this matchup is money for Bengals receivers. Higgins will likely line up across Benjamin St-Juste, who matches up well in the height department but will be giving up a lot physically. Passing yards are down across the league, but Joe Burrow ($15,900) should feast through the air, and his top targets should be the prime beneficiaries.
Set your DraftKings fantasy football lineups here: NFL $600K Monday Night Showdown [$200K to 1st] (WAS @ CIN)
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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 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.
