The DraftKings Dream Stream has a terrific Tuesday of football coming your way from the virtual gridiron with six Madden sims ready to roll throughout the day. The featured three-game classic slate kicks off at 6:00 p.m. ET with the Jacksonville Jaguars heading to virtual Charm City to take on the Baltimore Ravens. At 8:00 p.m. ET in primetime, the Seattle Seahawks visit the Cleveland Browns, and we close out the day with a “Madden After Dark” matchup that focuses on the AFC South, as the Indianapolis Colts welcome in the Tennessee Titans.
As usual, it’s important to note that each roster is not impacted by COVID-19 opt-outs, injuries, suspensions or illness in these sims and that the highest-rated options have been placed at the top of the depth charts. The roster for each team includes all player movement that occurred prior to Week 1 of this season and uses the Madden 21 ratings from Week 1 of this season.
For more details, you can find the game settings, depth charts, abilities and X-factors for each team in Madden 21 along with the upcoming schedule on the Madden Stream info page. There were a few tweaks to the X-factors and Superstars in the latest December update, so be sure to check the depth charts of each team.
Check out the daily DraftKings Madden Stream contests lobby with paid contests for real cash prizes now available alongside free contests. Each simulation will be played out computer vs. computer via an online Madden Stream using Madden 21. 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.
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Quarterback
Stud
Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens vs. Jacksonville Jaguars, $8,700 — The two elite QBs on this slate are both in great matchups with Jackson getting the Jags and Russell Wilson ($7,900) taking on the Browns. They each have incredibly high ceilings when running around and making plays, but Jackson has been a little more consistent lately. Don’t sleep on Jacksonville making this game close, either, since they actually beat Baltimore in their earlier meeting in these sims. Jackson still had a big game in that contest, though, running for 148 yards and a touchdown on his way to 28.04 DKFP. Jackson crashed back to earth with just 15.98 DKFP against the Eagles in his most recent sim after an incredible stretch of huge results. He had put up over 27 DKFP in eight straight sims prior to that letdown, including a pair of 40-DKFP performances. He should be able to bounce right back and also brings the highest ceiling we have seen of any player in Madden 21. He showed that ceiling with a ridiculous 62.18-DKFP game against the Lions, rushing for over 300 yards. He probably won’t be that level of outstanding in this matchup, but he is worth paying up for since he’s always making plays.
Other Option — Russell Wilson ($7,900)
Value
Baker Mayfield, Cleveland Browns vs. Seattle Seahawks, $6,000 — Although Seattle’s defense has been great at forcing turnovers, they have also given up plenty of points and yards to opposing QBs. Mayfield and the Browns will be facing the Seahawks for the first time in these Madden 21 sims, but the QB will get the boost of playing at home, where he’s obviously more comfortable if you can trust the persistent ad campaigns that run every Sunday. That comfort actually does seem to track in his Madden results, though, since he has averaged 19.2 DKFP at home compared to just 14.8 DKFP on the road. He has over 21 DKFP in each of his two most recent sims, which were both at home as well, and he is the best pivot play if you think Wilson and Jackson will struggle or if you just need to save your salary to grab the skill position players you want for the rest of your roster.
Other Option — Gardner Minshew II ($6,200)
Running Back
Stud
Derrick Henry, Tennessee Titans at Indianapolis Colts, $8,100 — This will be the fourth meeting in these Madden 21 sims between these division rivals, and Henry has usually run wild against the Colts, producing 19.4 DKFP, 26.7 DKFP and 31.1 DKFP. In every matchup, Henry has been an absolute beast in his Madden 21 sims, with 39 touchdowns in 38 contests and an average of 22.0 DKFP per game. He has been extremely productive since stepping in as the third-down back as well as the RB1, adding 3.7 catches for 24.9 yards per game as a receiver in addition to his average of 86.3 rushing yards per sim. King Henry should continue to reign supreme in this matchup, and he needs to be a consideration for your lineup even though playing him with an elite QB will stretch your salary at the rest of your roster spots.
Other Options — Nyheim Hines ($6,600) Chris Thompson ($6,400)
Value
Carlos Hyde, Seattle Seahawks at Cleveland Browns, $3,600 — Hyde is a great way to save some salary and still gets enough work that he usually ends up a solid investment. He shares the backfield with Chris Carson ($5,400) but is one of the most involved power backs in Madden since Seattle loves to go to the power formations all over the field. Hyde has proven himself to be a pretty good pass-catcher in those situations as well with multiple receptions in seven of his past nine sims. He has over 9.0 DKFP in four of those nine contests, which is plenty to make him a great bargain play under $4K.
Other Options — Kareem Hunt ($5,100), J.K. Dobbins ($3,900)
Wide Receiver
Stud
DJ Chark Jr., Jacksonville Jaguars at Baltimore Ravens, $6,300 — In the Jaguars’ inconsistent offense, Chark has had his ups-and-downs in simland, but he still stands out as one of the top WR options on this slate, which doesn’t have a consistently elite play on the board. Chark has 22 touchdowns in his 37 sims while averaging 13.6 DKFP on 3.6 catches for 60.4 yards per sim. He didn’t have a touchdown but did hit the 100-yard bonus against the Ravens in his first matchup against them, finishing with 19.9 DKFP on five catches for 119 yards. He has also been playing well lately with over 13 DKFP in five of his past six contests.
Other Options — Odell Beckham Jr. ($6,600), T.Y. Hilton ($5,900)
Value
Corey Davis, Tennessee Titans at Indianapolis Colts, $4,800 — Davis has been a nice possession play in these sims and usually puts together very solid PPR numbers. He has at least four catches in three straight sims and has posted at least three catches in all three of his matchups with the Colts. He hasn’t found the end zone in any of those matchups but does have 10 touchdowns in his 37 Madden 21 sims. His ceiling isn’t quite as high as Chark’s or the other top receivers but he is a little more consistent in his workload.
Parris Campbell, Indianapolis Colts vs. Tennessee Titans, $4,000 — Campbell is a burner out of the slot for the Colts in these sims, where he serves as the WR3. He is coming off a busy game against the Chiefs in which he hauled in seven catches for 67 yards and 12.7 DKFP. He has over 11 DKFP in three of his past four sims and posted multiple catches each time he has faced the Titans. He went off for eight catches, 146 yards, a touchdown and 31.6 DKFP in one of those contests, and he brings a great ceiling at just $4K.
Other Options — Dede Westbrook ($5,000), Marquise Brown ($4,600), Phillip Dorsett II ($3,200)
Tight End
Stud
Trey Burton, Indianapolis Colts vs. Tennessee Titans, $4,500 — Philip Rivers built his career on involving his TEs and RBs in the passing game, and Madden has captured that making Burton and Hines two of the best and most consistent options whenever Rivers leads the Colts into a sim. Burton has played 33 sims since the latest roster update when he became the TE1 and has averaged 4.9 catches for 52.1 yards per sim while scoring a total of seven touchdowns. Even though he doesn’t get into the end zone that often, his volume makes him a reliable play with plenty of upside if he's in the matchup that Rivers decides to rely on. He did have a score and 10.6 DKFP in the Colts’ most recent game against the Titans and also scored in their Madden Holiday Season matchup when he posted 11.7 DKFP.
Other Options — Tyler Eifert ($5,100), Greg Olsen ($4,800)
Value
Jonnu Smith, Tennessee Titans at Indianapolis Colts, $4,300 — Smith is a little bit cheaper than Burton and also gets plenty of volume in the Titans’ passing game. He had nine catches against the Colts in their most recent meeting on his way to a massive 22.2 DKFP. He also had seven catches and 100 yards against Indy during the Madden Holiday Season and five catches when they met before that. He hasn’t been quite as consistent as Burton outside of their head-to-head meetings but actually has been better in this specific matchup.
Other Option — Austin Hooper ($3,700)
DST
Stud
Seahawks DST at Cleveland Browns, $3,100 — The Seahawks’ defense is always a great option in this space when on the slate since they have so much more upside than any other defense. The Seahawks just had nine sacks and 13 DKFP in their most recent sim, which was against the Bengals, and had an even bigger day with 32 DKFP against the Raiders last week. Seattle has forced 42 turnovers in 37 sims while taking eight back for defensive scores and adding 91 sacks. Mayfield and the Browns aren’t afraid to take deep shots, but they may end up with some turnovers to go with whatever yards and points they put up.
Value
Colts DST vs. Tennessee Titans, $2,600 — Since there isn’t a huge price difference, I’d recommend paying up for Seattle if possible, but if you decide to go with a value DST, the Colts are the best of the three cheaper plays. They have averaged 4.2 DKFP per contest and have at least 3.0 DKFP in each of their previous meetings with the Titans. Even though they don’t have much of an answer for Derrick Henry, they don’t usually give up so many points that it results in negative fantasy points.
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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.