Check out the daily DraftKings Madden Stream contests with paid contests for real cash prizes now available alongside free contests. Along with single-game Showdown contests focused on each individual game, there is an early slate of games that includes Madden Stream games at 12 p.m. ET, 2 p.m. ET and 4 p.m. ET, followed by the featured slate, which focuses on the sims at 6 p.m. ET, 8 p.m. ET and 10 p.m. ET. Each simulation will be played out computer vs. computer via an online Madden Stream using Madden 2020 with rosters and ratings from the end of the 2019-20 season. In this format, you can enjoy watching the game stream on the DraftKings YouTube channel, the DK Live app (download here) or right here in this post.
Saturday night the streams roll on with three nice matchups on the featured slate. The action gets underway at 6 p.m. ET when the Jets take on the Patriots in a battle of the top two teams in the AFC East. At 8 p.m. ET in primetime, the Chiefs welcome the Bucs to virtual Kansas City, and we close out the evening with a fun matchup in virtual Denver between the Ravens and the Broncos on “Madden After Dark.”
All six of those teams bring some nice options to the table and I’ve highlighted my favorite stud and value play for each roster spot below. For more data, you can always check out the Madden info page for all the data on player ratings, special abilities and what you can look forward to in upcoming matchups.
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Quarterback
Stud
Lamar Jackson, BAL at DEN, $7,600 — Like in real football, Jackson has a unique skillset in Madden which makes him a relatively safe play with massive upside. I’m giving him the slight edge over Patrick Mahomes ($8,200) since he is a little cheaper and has been more consistent recently. Jackson has at least 19 DKFP in four straight and six of his past seven. He has a pair of games with over 34 DKFP during that stretch as well, serving as a great reminder of his high ceiling. He produces good numbers both as a passer and a rusher, which is why he’s so reliable. Even when one aspect of his game isn’t rolling, the other aspects can carry him. That’s what happened in his first matchup with Denver when he threw for only 62 yards but still had 24.48 DKFP since he ran for 110 yards and a touchdown in the Ravens’ 27-10 win. He has actually been significantly better on the road (23.8 DKFP per sim) than at home (19.9 DKFP per sim), so the fact that he’ll be in the Mile High City only raises his ceiling in this contest.
Other Options — Patrick Mahomes ($8,200), Tom Brady ($7,400)
Value
Jameis Winston, TB at KC, $6,200 — The cheaper QBs on this slate are all risky and in tough matchups, so it’s probably a better option to go with one of the top three options. However, if you do decide to pay down at QB, Winston is the option with the most upside since we have seen him pop for some big games in these sims. The Chiefs sometimes get involved in games with plenty of points flying in both directions, so the potential for a big game is there with Jameis more than with the other cheap QBs. Winston is averaging 17.3 DKFP per contest and is coming off a strong 21.9 DKFP showing against the Dolphins in his most recent sim. He only had 7.28 DKFP the first time he played the Chiefs, though, so he’ll be a very boom-or-bust option in this rematch.
Running Back
Stud
Phillip Lindsay, DEN vs. BAL, $6,200 — When the Broncos are at their best this sim season it is usually because Lindsay is getting a heavy workload. He has totaled 21 touchdowns in his 46 sims while averaging just under 60 rushing yards and 16.3 receiving yards on 2.5 catches per contest. He serves as the team’s third-down back in addition to his RB1 role so he gets almost all the work, making him a fairly reliable play from sim-to-sim. He did have 77 yards on the ground in the Broncos’ first game against Denver although he failed to get into the end zone. He has produced over 14 DKFP in five of his past nine games and should be the focus of the Broncos’ offense in this matchup as they try to avenge their earlier loss to the Ravens.
Other Options — Le’Veon Bell ($6,600) Mark Ingram II ($6,300)
Value
James White, NE at NYJ, $5,900 — White isn’t usually the focus of the Patriots’ offense but he is heavily involved as both a rusher and receiver, making him a nice play under $6K against the Jets. White has at least three catches out of the backfield in three straight games and four of his past five, helping him have a high floor and produce at least 9.0 DKFP in four of those six contests. He is averaging 14.0 DKFP per contest with 20 touchdowns in 46 sims. He didn’t have a score the first time the Patriots faced the Jets but did put up 12.4 DKFP thanks in large part to five catches for 41 yards. Since he can be so involved as a receiver and also gets all the RB1 work, he’s a very solid play at this salary.
Other Options — Damien Williams ($5,800), Dare Ogunbowale ($3,500)
Wide Receiver
Stud
Tyreek Hill, KC vs. TB, $8,000 — The Bucs’ secondary has been vulnerable to big plays by speedy WRs out of the slot, which should set up perfectly for Hill, who is the only player in all of Madden with a 99 speed rating. He had five catches for 81 yards and 13.1 DKFP in his first meeting with Tampa Bay but can do so much more if he’s at his best. He has 41 touchdowns in his 46 sims and has dropped over 21 DKFP in four of his past five games. He had a pair of games with over 200 yards and over 40 DKFP recently against the Steelers and 49ers, so he definitely brings an elite ceiling along with his usually-reliable production.
Other Options — Mike Evans ($7,400), Courtland Sutton ($6,200)
Value
Mohamed Sanu, NE at NYJ, $4,100 — Sanu is the Patriots’ WR2 and has put up good numbers for an option at this salary. He is averaging 12.7 DKFP per contest and can do more when he gets extra attention from Brady. He had 100 yards and 18.7 DKFP against the Titans two sims ago, preceded by a two-touchdown, 24.9-DKFP performance against the Eagles. He does have a little more bust potential than the most expensive options since his usage is less consistent but when he does get the looks from Brady he usually delivers good value.
Breshad Perriman, TB at KC, $3,500 — If you want to go even cheaper than Sanu and are OK taking on a little more risk, check out the Bucs’ speedy WR3. If you think this game will be a high-scoring back-and-forth game, Perriman will likely have to be part of the Bucs’ offensive gameplan and definitely brings plenty of big-play potential. Perriman has 12 touchdowns on the season and has multiple catches in 18 of his past 19 sims. He has gone off in a few of those games but typically lands between seven and 10 DKFP, which is a solid return for this salary in addition to the high ceiling if he gets loose for a big gainer or two.
Other Options — Sammy Watkins (4,400), Demaryius Thomas ($4,000)
Tight End
Stud
Benjamin Watson, NE at NYJ, $4,800 — Watson has continued to be one of the most reliable TE plays in all of Madden and almost matches the per-game average of Travis Kelce ($6,000), who costs over $1K more than he does. Watson has averaged 5.3 catches per sim and has been doing good work with that volume, producing 64.5 yards per game and scoring 20 touchdowns. He had 21.3 DKFP in his most recent sim and has double-digit DKFP in 11 of his past 12. Watson is a great play at TE but can also slide in nicely at flex since he out-produces the WR around this salary as well.
Other Options — Travis Kelce ($6,000), Mark Andrews ($5,000)
Value
O.J. Howard, TB at KC, $4,600 — Howard destroyed the Dolphins in his most recent sim, racking up 11 catches for 137 yards and 27.7 DKFP even though he didn’t have a touchdown. He can disappear at times if Winston struggles but when the Tampa Bay offense is working, Howard is usually a big part of it. He had just two catches in his first meeting with the Chiefs but the Bucs will need more from him if they want to keep this contest close. I think the volume will be there in this one for Howard, so consider using him and Watson as a dual-TE play if that works with your lineup construction.
Other Option — Noah Fant ($3,700)
DST
Stud
Patriots DST at NYJ $2,900 — The Patriots will try to get Sam Darnold ($6,000) seeing ghosts against them again in this matchup. While the Patriots haven’t been an elite unit at causing turnovers this sim season, New England does get a ton of pressure on the opposing QB and can have some big games. The Pats have piled up 107 sacks in their 46 games and posted 30 takeaways. They had six sacks and two takeaways for 17.0 DKFP in their first meeting with New York and have a high ceiling as the Patriots look to post similar numbers in this rematch.
Other Option — Chiefs ($3,000)
Value
Jets DST vs. NE, $2,500 — The Jets actually average more DKFP per sim than the Patriots, producing 6.7 DKFP per contest as a result of their propensity to cause turnovers. The Jets have a massive 49 takeaways in 46 games and have returned seven for touchdowns in addition to 89 sacks. The Jets had 11 DKFP in their first game against New England but obviously it’s a riskier matchup since the Patriots offense can typically produce points. Both DSTs are solid units that could result in another low-scoring game. If that’s what you expect, you can go with the Jets DST, who is surprisingly the cheapest play on the slate despite their high average.
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I am a promoter at DraftKings and am also an avid fan and user (my username is Z.Thompson) 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 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.