The Chargers and Cardinals vie for playoff positioning on Monday Night Football.
It’s primetime, which means DraftKings has a premier showdown contest. In this mode, choosing the best captain is crucial since they earn 1.5x fantasy points. I’ve narrowed down my three favorite players deserving of claiming the crown to lead your squad to victory.
Set your DraftKings fantasy football lineups here: NFL $600K Monday Night Showdown [$200K to 1st] (LAC @ ARI)
DraftKings Showdown Captain (CPT) Picks
Kyler Murray ($16,200)
It’s been an incredibly frustrating campaign for Kyler Murray, whose volatile play has been challenging to analyze. Arizona’s signal caller has yet to bottom out, but he’s been a few moments away from much more productive fantasy outings and leading his club to more positive results. Murray had chances against Detroit and Green Bay to knock off superior opponents but was too erratic. The 68.2 percent completion percentage looks excellent on paper, but the downfield accuracy that’s regressed in recent years has been an issue.
He’s been a bit cautious with his legs, but few quarterbacks are as gifted athletically with the ball in their hands. Sure, his running style is a bit comical, but he has wheels. If Murray can lean further into his speed, this offense will be far more dynamic. It also helps his fantasy candidacy, which has not lived up to the billing of being a must-starter.
It’s not an ideal situation for Murray, who will face a vaunted Los Angeles defense. Yet, he is simply too good to continue to be slightly above average—he has superstar traits that will shine through. Buy into the talent and trust Murray with the crown.
Marvin Harrison Jr. ($15,000)
Even young phenoms can be inconsistent. Since his second year in Columbus, it was obvious that Marvin Harrison Jr. would be a force in the NFL. The craft is in his DNA, but it’s more than that. His route running is already elite, a crafty blend of speed and power out of his breaks. He garners tremendous separation and has already proven he has WR1 tools that translate to the league. Chemistry issues with Murray and momentarily lapses in focus have affected a nuclear breakout.
He left the last game with a concussion but has corralled just two receptions across his nine previous targets. He’s only surpassed 50 yards twice but has made up for that with his red zone work. Harrison Jr. is a franchise cornerstone and is due to have another tremendous performance. I wouldn’t overthink any particular matchup—he can burn almost any corner in the sport. His potential for a defining showing gives him captain candidacy.
J.K. Dobbins ($14,100)
The clock hasn’t struck midnight on the J.K. Dobbins Cinderella run. After a pair of disappointing efforts, the 25-year-old tallied 25 carries for 96 yards in an impressive bounceback last week in Denver. He’s a violent rusher who is still trying to get his acceleration back. Despite his lack of breakaway speed, his physicality and horizontal agility have turned him into a viable bell cow.
With Gus Edwards out indefinitely, this is unquestionably Dobbins’ backfield. He isn’t much of a pass catcher, but the Chargers‘ inability to get open has made him a dump-off option. Against an Arizona front seven that struggles at every level, this is my favorite play of the contest.
Set your DraftKings fantasy football lineups here: NFL $600K Monday Night Showdown [$200K to 1st] (LAC @ ARI)
The Crown Is Yours: Sign up for DraftKings and experience the ultimate host for games and betting experiences!
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.
