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Madden Stream Picks: Top DraftKings Fantasy Football DFS Targets, Values for August 26

Zach Thompson gives his top studs and value plays at each position for Wednesday’s three-game Madden Stream DraftKings slate, which starts at 6:00 p.m. ET.

Another Wednesday of Madden Stream action on DraftKings means more wild weather is on tap. The featured three-game slate kicks off at 6 p.m. ET in the rain when the Packers head to virtual Jacksonville to take on the Jaguars. At 8 p.m. ET in primetime, the Jets will head to the Bay area to take on the 49ers in a game that will be impacted by wind. The final matchup of the day is a good “Madden After Dark” contest in the snow between the Bucs and the Ravens.

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.

The six teams in action Wednesday provide some interesting options to consider 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 vs. TB, $8,500 — In the final game of the night, Jackson’s Ravens will host the Bucs in the snow. The Madden 21 cover athlete has averaged 22.0 DKFP in his 50 sims, throwing 63 touchdown passes and running for 29 more. He has been a safe pick due to his 68.5 rushing yards averaged per contest while throwing for 167.6 yards per sim. He had 15.42 DKFP in his first game against the Bucs, struggling to just 98 passing yards. That strong effort aside, the Bucs’ secondary has typically been very beatable, so Jackson should fare better in the rematch. The snow may have a slight negative impact on his passing but the fact that the defenders are on skates could help his rushing production go even higher.

Other Option — Jimmy Garoppolo ($6,700)

Value

Gardner Minshew II, JAX vs. GB, $6,000 — Minshew is usually the cheapest QB on the slate but on Wednesday he’s more expensive than Sam Darnold ($5,700) in the wind against the tough 49ers’ defense. Minshew has been very boom-or-bust in these sims while averaging 17.4 DKFP. He went for over 19 DKFP in two of his past three contests and had 20.24 DKFP the first time he faced the Packers. If you decide to fade Jackson, the rest of the options are pretty similar, so I’d look to go cheap with Minshew since I think Darnold will have too many obstacles to overcome.


Running Back

Stud

Tevin Coleman, SF vs. NYJ, $6,800 — The 49ers have posted the best record in these sims, going 36-14 in 50 games. Coleman has been a huge reason for that success, producing 18.6 DKFP per contest on 87 rushing yards and 17.2 receiving yards per game and a total of 43 touchdowns. When given an expanded workload, he and the 49ers’ offensive line can dominate the entire game, and with the wind as a factor he may get even more carries than he typically does. Coleman hasn’t hit the 100-yard bonus in four straight games but has still posted over 17 DKFP in each of his past two games since he is still getting into the end zone. He’s an expensive option but he usually delivers when called upon to be a workhorse.

Other Options — Leonard Fournette ($6,200), Le’Veon Bell ($5,200)

Value

Dare Ogunbowale, TB at BAL, $3,500 — There’s a huge drop-off from the four true feature-backs to the two teams that have time-shares in their backfields. The Bucs and Packers both use a backfield split and the best value to emerge so far in these sims has been Ogunbowale, who is Tampa Bay’s third-down back and almost always contributes in some way. Ogunbowale has 78 catches in 50 sims and has scored four touchdowns. He didn’t have a score against the Ravens in the teams’ first meeting but still had a solid 7.5 DKFP thanks to three catches for 12 yards and 33 rushing yards. With the snow possibly forcing Tampa to rely on shorter passes, Ogunbowale could find some room to work once again. He’s no sure thing but if you pay up for the higher-priced options at other roster spots, he’s a decent flier to consider.


Wide Receiver

Stud

Davante Adams, GB at JAX, $7,800 — With wind in the 49ers-Jets contest, it’s best to target WRs from the other two matchups. Adams has been the Packers’ go-to option all sim season long, averaging 4.4 catches for 77.7 yards per sim and scoring 31 touchdowns along the way. One of those scores did come against Jacksonville during a game in which he had 95 yards and 18.5 DKFP. He had a string of five games with over 11 DKFP snapped in his most recent contest against the Jets but should be able to bounce right back with a big game against the Jags.

Other Options — DJ Chark Jr. ($7,100), Mike Evans ($6,900)

Value

Chris Godwin, TB at BAL, $4,900 — As the Bucs’ slot WR, Godwin can be boom-or-bust depending on the matchup. He did have success in his previous meeting with Baltimore, catching five passes for 71 yards, a touchdown and 18.1 DKFP. Godwin has over 12 DKFP in four of his past six contests and has a high ceiling if he gets the volume coming his way. The Bucs’ offense has struggled in weather games as a whole but when they do find success often it’s on short routes to Godwin, Ogunbowale or O.J. Howard ($5,600).

Seth Roberts, BAL vs. TB, $3,400 — The slot matchup on the other side of the snow game is also a favorable one for the WR as Roberts takes on the Bucs’ secondary, which has been very generous to opposing slot WR all sim season long. Roberts had one of his 11 touchdowns against them in the teams’ first meeting on his way to 13.5 DKFP. He isn’t nearly as regularly involved as Godwin but if you don’t want to go cheap at RB, Roberts is another place to consider saving the salary you need to pay up for big-name stars like his QB Lamar Jackson.

Other Options — Marquez Valdes-Scantling ($4,400), Kendrick Bourne ($3,700)


Tight End

Stud

George Kittle, SF vs. NYJ, $6,500 — Kittle has been heavily targeted all sim season and produced plenty of yardage but the knock on him has been his lack of touchdowns. He’s started to turn that around lately, though, with four scores in his past three games to bring his total up to 20 in his 50 sims. He has over 21 DKFP in each of those three games since the volume and yards remain consistent. He’s averaging over 5.0 catches for 73.1 yards per sim.

Other Option — O.J. Howard ($5,600)

Value

James O’Shaughnessy, JAX vs. GB, $5,100 — O’Shaughnessy hasn’t been as productive as Kittle but is very involved in his team’s offensive gameflow as well. He has averaged 4.1 catches for 54.2 yards per sim while scoring 14 touchdowns. He didn’t find the end zone in his first game against Green Bay but did have three catches. He has at least that many receptions in five of his past six contests and nine of his past 11, making him a reliable contributor at this salary, especially if Minshew is marching the Jags up and down the soggy field in virtual Florida.

Other Option — Mark Andrews ($5,000)


DST

Stud

Jets DST at SF, $3,100 — The Jets face a tall task trying to slow down Coleman but New York has been one of the best DST plays throughout these sims due to a play-making secondary led by Jamal Adams. New York has forced 51 turnovers in 50 sims while piling up 95 sacks and eight defensive touchdowns as well. With the wind in play, this game should be low-scoring, so the DST should be safe from any penalty even if the team ends up taking the L.

Other Option — Packers ($3,200)

Value

Buccaneers DST at BAL, $2,600 — As great as Jackson has been, he has had turnover issues as well. Tampa Bay’s DST does have some playmakers and has picked up an even 100 sacks to go with 19 takeaways in 50 sims. Tampa Bay forced two turnovers and finished with 6.0 DKFP in the first matchup with the Ravens and can be a decent punt play in the late game.

Other Option — 49ers ($2,900)

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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.