While NFL free agency continues with what is sure to be another busy day of deals, the DraftKings Dream Stream rolls on Tuesday with another full six-game day of sims. There are great matchups to check out throughout the day in multiple single-game and classic contests, including the featured classic slate which gets underway at 6:00 p.m. ET, highlighting the final three sims of the day. The first game on that slate features the Detroit Lions heading to virtual Charlotte to take on the Carolina Panthers. At 8:00 p.m. ET in primetime, we get a rematch of the Music City Miracle as the Buffalo Bills head to Nashville to face the Tennessee Titans in an AFC showdown. We switch over to the NFC to close out the night on Madden After Dark, as the Dallas Cowboys take on the Green Bay Packers at virtual Lambeau Field.
As in all of these Madden 21 sims, it’s important to know that each roster is not impacted by COVID-19 opt-outs, injuries, suspensions or illness 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 the 2020-21 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
Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills at Tennessee Titans, $7,500 — Allen’s ability to run the ball and his new Superstar traits added in the December update from EA Sports have made him a great play over the past few months. He and the Bills have faced the Titans four previous times in these sims, and Allen has produced 27.38 DKFP, 32.7 DKFP and 31.8 DKFP in their three most recent meetings. He ran for two scores against Tennessee just four sims ago, which was part of his current streak of eight straight sims with over 16 DKFP. His recent success has resulted in an average of 23.2 DKFP over that stretch and has raised his average for his 55 Madden 21 sims to 20.1 DKFP. His rushing potential makes him relatively low-risk and also raises his ceiling. He obviously can flourish in this specific matchup, so he makes sense to pay up for and build around at QB.
Other Option — Aaron Rodgers ($7,200)
Value
Matthew Stafford, Detroit Lions at Carolina Panthers, $6,300 — In contrast to the Titans and Bills who have met so many times, this will be the first Madden 21 meeting between the Lions and the Panthers in these sims. The clash of the big cats should set up well for Stafford since Carolina’s secondary has struggled to slow down opposing passing games. Stafford comes in on a nice roll with multiple passing scores in 10 straight sims, averaging 21.6 DKFP per game aver that stretch. He doesn’t have any rushing production to fall back on, so the risk of a bust game is much higher than with Allen, but his current groove and good options at WR make him the best cheap play at QB on this slate.
Other Option — Teddy Bridgewater ($6,000)
Running Back
Stud
Derrick Henry, Tennessee Titans vs. Buffalo Bills, $8,400 — There are some great elite RB plays on this slate, but Henry still stands out above the rest given his consistent production with an elite ceiling. In his 55 Madden sims, King Henry has scored 53 touchdowns, averaging 84.0 rushing yards to go with 3.8 catches for 26.0 receiving yards per sim. His PPR production as the third-down back serves as a great safety net if he does get bottled up on the ground, and he can also break big plays any way the Titans scheme to get the ball into his hands. The Bills have a strong secondary but have been beatable on the ground, and Henry has gashed them for 25.6, 13.9, 29.4 and 37.4 DKFP in their four previous meetings.
Other Options — Christian McCaffrey ($7,700), Aaron Jones ($6,400)
Value
D’Andre Swift, Detroit Lions at Carolina Panthers, $4,400 — Swift has had success as the Lions’ third-down back in these sims, averaging 3.5 catches for 23.9 yards per sim and finding the end zone a total of 12 times in 53 games. Swift had 11 DKFP or more in five of six sims recently but has cooled off with a couple of down sims since then. He should be able to bounce back in this matchup, though, against the Panthers’ defense which has allowed opposing RBs to put up good numbers. Even though he doesn’t get all the work in Detroit’s backfield, he’s involved enough to be the best way to save salary at RB and can also make sense in a flex spot if you decide to go RB-heavy.
Other Option — Devin Singletary ($5,200)
Wide Receiver
Stud
Devin Funchess, Green Bay Packers vs. Dallas Cowboys, $5,700 — Funchess has been a great WR2 for the Packers since re-joining the team when COVID-19 opt-outs were put back on the depth chart at the start of the regular season. In his 51 Madden 21 sims, Funchess has averaged 4.5 catches for 65.2 yards per sim and has found the end zone an impressive 25 times. He had three of those touchdowns to go with six catches for 161 yards on his way to 43.1 DKFP in his first game against Dallas, and he will be in that same juicy matchup in the late game on this slate. Funchess has five catches or more in six of his past seven sims and checks in under $6K, setting him up to deliver great value if he has another big game. While Davante Adams ($6,700) should also be in a favorable spot, he costs more and has been less consistently involved than Funchess, even though he does also bring a similar high ceiling to his Packers teammate.
Other Options — Kenny Golladay ($6,200), Stefon Diggs ($5,900)
Value
DJ Moore, Carolina Panthers vs. Detroit Lions, $5,000 — Moore has put up double-digit DKFP in eight of his past 10 games while averaging 15.0 DKFP per contest over that stretch. He posted 123 receiving yards in one of those matchups despite a tough matchup against the 49ers, and he should be able to find space against the Lions’ secondary, which has been a mess in these sims. Moore brings plenty of big-play upside but also gets consistent volume as Carolina’s WR1, making him a nice midrange target at exactly $5K.
Danny Amendola, Detroit Lions at Carolina Panthers, $3,900 — The veteran slot receiver for the Lions has been reliable as a cheap contributor in these sims, piling up PPR points by producing 3.6 catches for 42.8 yards per sim and a total of 13 touchdowns. Amendola typically does better on the road, where Stafford checks down to him more often, and he is averaging 10.5 DKFP per contest in his 27 road games compared to 8.8 DKFP in his 26 home contests. The Panthers don’t have a great slot corner, so Amendola should be able to find space to work over the middle and produce another solid return at his always-affordable salary.
Other Options — Marquez Valdes-Scantling ($5,100), Michael Gallup ($4,800), Adam Humphries ($3,500)
Tight End
Stud
Jonnu Smith, Tennessee Titans vs. Buffalo Bills, $4,900 — Making one of the biggest splashes of the first day of real-life free agency this year, Smith is now the newest New England Patriot but will continue to serve as the Titans’ top TE in these sims. Smith has been solid in that role, averaging 4.6 catches for 48.0 yards per sim and scoring 15 touchdowns. The Bills have given up big games to TEs in these sims since their top-flight CBs often limit WR production. In his four previous games against Buffalo, Smith posted 17.5, 2.0, 10.5 and 18.5 DKFP. While the no-show for just 2.0 DKFP is a disappointment, his performance in the other matchups shows his upside.
Other Options — T.J. Hockenson ($5,400), Blake Jarwin ($4,600)
Value
Marcedes Lewis, Green Bay Packers vs. Dallas Cowboys, $3,600 — Even though the Cowboys’ defense has been much better in these sims than they were in real life this past season, Lewis is too reliable to pass up at this bargain salary against Dallas. The Packers’ top TE has averaged 8.7 DKFP per sim on 3.4 catches for 37.0 yards per game. Even just those averages would make him one of the most reliable plays under $4K, but he comes with nice upside as well, which he showed with 19.8 DKFP two sims ago against the Texans, when he scored his 13th touchdown of the Madden 21 sims. He had three catches, 30 yards and 6.0 DKFP in his previous matchup with Dallas, and he makes sense as a cheap play since Aaron Rodgers ($7,200) almost always finds ways to get him involved.
Other Option — Ian Thomas ($4,200)
DST
Stud
Bills DST at Tennessee Titans, $3,000 — Even though they have to deal with Derrick Henry, the Bills are my favorite DST on this slate after producing 6.0, 6.0, 3.0 and 1.0 in their four previous matchups with Tennessee. Buffalo has forced 41 turnovers in 55 sims while also producing 97 sacks and six defensive touchdowns. They had an interception, a fumble recovery and a sack in their most recent matchup with Tennessee and should be ready to put more pressure on Ryan Tannehill ($5,500), who has been the lowest-producing QB on this slate by over a full fantasy point per contest.
Value
Cowboys DST at Green Bay Packers, $2,700 — The Cowboys’ defense was a huge disappointment in real life this past season, but they actually have pretty high ratings in Madden 21, which is why they have been better in these sims. In 56 sims, they have only 23 takeaways and one defensive touchdown, but they have managed to get 105 sacks and usually prevent their opponents from going off for huge totals. They’re relatively low-risk even against the Packers on this slate, and they are the best pivot option if you don’t want to pay up for the Bills.
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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.