The upstart Broncos square off with the Saints on Thursday Night Football.
DraftKings is offering a primetime DFS contest for the chance to win $500,000. I’ve gone through all the contests and highlighted three under-the-radar options that can help give you a critical advantage.
Set your DraftKings fantasy football lineups here: NFL $1.5M Thursday Night Showdown [$500K to 1st] (DEN @ NO)
DraftKings Showdown Value Picks
Broncos D/ST ($4,800)
Remember when I was all over the kicker revolution? It was out of control—a few players from the league’s most thankless position were outscoring your favorite offensive skill position weapons. Thankfully, that trend is losing steam, but wait until I turn your attention to the fantasy upside of playing an elite defense and special teams!
Outside of the Mile High City, many people are probably unaware of how talented this Denver unit is. It goes beyond the brilliance of Pat Surtain on the boundary, who will likely miss this contest with a concussion. Former first-round pick Zach Allen looks like an All-Pro and is a premier run defender who will shatter his previous season high in sacks. Riley Moss is becoming an excellent corner with tremendous lateral quickness. The likes of Jonathan Cooper and Nik Bonnito have also wreaked havoc on opposing signal callers.
Both Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed are unlikely to suit up for this game due to injury. That’s not to mention the injuries to New Orleans’ interior offensive line or quarterback. With a rookie under center of a short-handed squad against a punishing defense, this should get ugly.
Bub Means ($4,000)
The 170th selection in the NFL Draft this past April, Bub Means, went from a virtual unknown to a DFS asset overnight. His collegiate resume is hardly jaw-dropping: three different schools across five years, with only one campaign of solid production. Means’ measurables got him to the pros—a massive 6’2 frame with 4.4 speed tends to intrigue scouts.
Coming into Sunday, he only had one target across his first five outings. Means stepped up and looked ready for the moment. He caught five balls for 45 yards and found the endzone for the first time in his career. Yes, he coughed up a costly fumble, but young players aren’t perfect, and that shouldn’t affect his snap count.
The 23-year-old slots in as the top pass-catching option in a short week and should see a similar momentary uptick in volume.
Troy Franklin ($3,000)
If you want a more expansive breakdown on the impending breakout of Troy Franklin, check out my latest piece: ‘Troy Franklin is a deep sleeper wide receiver in fantasy football.’
My bite-size case: chemistry matters a lot. The former Oregon standout is playing alongside his college quarterback, Bo Nix ($9,400), which has helped him garner an unproportionate amount of looks compared to his inconsistent playing time. In his recent showing, Franklin caught his first touchdown while logging his highest snap count since turning pro.
The Broncos offense is significantly better when they air it out—a fact Sean Payton has to know. The connection with Nix is real, and if he’s on the field, it will only become more prevalent. Expect Franklin to stuff the stat sheet sooner rather than later.
Set your DraftKings fantasy football lineups here: NFL $1.5M Thursday Night Showdown [$500K to 1st] (DEN @ NO)
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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 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.
