Two division rivals square off when the Buccaneers face the Falcons on Thursday Night Football.
DraftKings is offering a Thursday night DFS contest with the chance to win $500,000. I examined this NFC South showdown and chose three under-the-radar options that can help give you a critical edge.
Set your DraftKings fantasy football lineups here: NFL $1.5M Thursday Night Showdown [$500K to 1st]
Top TNF Showdown Value Plays
Tyler Allgeier ($4,800)
It was inconceivable a back beside Bijan Robinson ($9,800) could be getting DFS buzz this early in the season. The former eighth-overall pick has struggled mightily to make an impact, which you can read more about in my latest piece, “Why you should sell high on Bijan Robinson.” His inefficacy has left the door open for 24-year-old Tyler Allgeier to increase his snap count.
After rushing for over 1,000 yards as a rookie on just seven starts, Atlanta decided to take Robinson in the first round in 2023, thus burying Algeier on the depth chart. The former BYU Cougar is a physical bruiser who plays faster than his 4.6 speed suggests. He hits the hole with authority and is good at lowering his frame to bulldoze defenders or flip his hips on a dime.
His size makes him an easy plug-and-play option at the goal line, where I expect him to earn more work. If he can continue to muster a few opportunities in the passing game, he’s an excellent bang for your buck.
Ray-Ray McCloud III ($3,400)
I’m not sure even the sharpest football minds could’ve predicted that journeyman and primarily special team ace Ray-Ray McCloud would have the second-most receptions on the Falcons after four weeks. Atlanta is the 27-year-old’s fifth different destination, and he’s never surpassed 300 yards in a season. He’s on pace to shatter that mark, already tallying 15 catches for 163 yards.
At just 5’9″, he’s primarily a burner in the slot, which complements outside speedster Darnell Mooney ($7,200). McCloud is firmly slated as the WR3, with no one below him on the pecking order logging a target. As long as he continues to be on the field and run a high volume of routes, McCloud is a frisky DFS option.
Sterling Shepard ($1,600)
Sterling Shepard’s eight years in the Big Apple were marred with promise when he was healthy, but injuries each of the last three years marked an untimely end. At 31, his career looked over when he was cut by Tampa Bay in late August and thrown on the practice squad. An untimely injury to rookie Jalen McMillan opened the door for an unlikely comeback campaign, and Shepard delivered.
In his first game on his new team, Shepard was targeted five times, corralling three catches for 51 yards. Even in a stacked receiver room, the veteran stood out and looked rejuvenated. With a substandard rush attack, the Buccaneers will always be apt to air it out. At this value, he’s too established and talented to pass up.
Set your DraftKings fantasy football lineups here: NFL $1.5M Thursday Night Showdown [$500K to 1st]
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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.
