It’s another wild weather Wednesday on the DraftKings Dream Stream as Week 12 of the Madden simulated season marches on with six games that will all be impacted by adverse weather conditions. The featured classic slate gets underway at 6:00 p.m. ET when the Atlanta Falcons take on the Jacksonville Jaguars in a game that will be impacted by wind. At 8:00 p.m. ET in a primetime AFC West contest, the Los Angeles Chargers visit the Denver Broncos in a snow game, and we close out the full day of action with another snow game when the Green Bay Packers host the Los Angeles Rams on Madden After Dark.
As you build your lineups, be sure to consider the depth charts for each team. If you’re looking for gameplay details for these sims along with the upcoming schedule, head over to the Madden Streams Information Page.
Quarterback
Stud
Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers vs. Los Angeles Rams, $7,600 — Rodgers doesn’t have the immensely high ceiling of the elite dual-threat QBs in Madden 21, but none of them are on this slate, leaving Rodgers as the top QB play. He is one of the best pure passing QBs in Madden 21 and has a pretty solid matchup against the Rams. In previous matchups with the Rams, Rodgers produced 28.36 and 25.42 DKFP with three touchdowns in each contest and almost 600 total passing yards. The Packers have the best overall record in the current simulated season, and Rodgers will try to keep the offense rolling despite the snow.
Other Option — Matt Ryan ($7,100)
Value
Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers at Denver Broncos, $5,600 — The Broncos have been one of the most generous defenses to opposing QBs in Madden 21, and Herbert has flashed enough upside to be worth considering as an extremely cheap pivot play at QB. Herbert had 21.48 and 17.72 DKFP in his two earlier matchups against Denver and has produced 12 touchdowns in his 10 games during this simulated season with over 15 DKFP in four of those contests.
Other Option — Gardner Minshew II ($5,800)
Set your DraftKings fantasy football lineups here: Madden Stream $3K Wednesday Night Special [$1K to 1st] and your FREE fantasy football lineups here: Madden $250 FREE Contest
Running Back
Stud
Austin Ekeler, Los Angeles Chargers at Denver Broncos, $7,100 — The Chargers are in first place in the AFC West this simulated season, largely thanks to the fact that Ekeler has carried the load even when Herbert has been off. In his past 10 contests, Ekeler has averaged 19.9 DKFP and scored nine touchdowns. He also had success in his two earlier matchups with the Broncos, finishing with 24.7 and 27.4 DKFP. He has an immensely high ceiling since he produces as both a receiver and a rusher and has been one of the top all-around RBs in Madden 21.
Other Option — Todd Gurley II ($6,800), Aaron Jones ($6,600)
Value
Chris Thompson, Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Atlanta Falcons, $6,200 — Of the six teams on this slate, only the Rams and Broncos use timeshares in the backfield, and their receiving backs are pricey for part-time producers. I think it makes more sense to pay up a little bit more and go with the cheapest full-time RB in Thompson, especially in a game where the wind could make downfield passing more difficult. Thompson had 15.9, 14.4 and 20.3 DKFP in his three earlier contests with the Falcons and comes in on a tear with six touchdowns and an average of 23.0 DKFP per sim over his four most recent contests.
Other Options — Darrell Henderson Jr. ($5,300)
Wide Receiver
Stud
Keenan Allen, Los Angeles Chargers at Denver Broncos, $5,600 — If you’re paying up at both RB spots, you may have to go a little cheaper at WR, which is actually fine on this slate since Allen is available under $6K. He has been very consistent out of the slot for the Chargers, averaging 4.5 catches for 52.3 yards per sim and scoring 37 touchdowns in 91 contests. He had 14.8, 10.5 and an impressive 37.7 DKFP in his three earlier matchups with the Broncos, who lack the depth in the secondary to slow the target monster down.
Other Options — Julio Jones ($7,700), Davante Adams ($6,200)
Value
Cooper Kupp, Los Angeles Rams at Green Bay Packers, $5,300 — Weather tends to force passes to the middle of the field which is why slot receivers like Allen and Kupp get more targets in snow games like they’ll each be in on this slate. Kupp also will avoid X-factor Superstar CB Jaire Alexander, who stays on the outside, and instead will get a more favorable matchup that has allowed him to total 16 catches and 190 yards in two previous sims against the Packers. The matchup sets him up to bounce back after a pair of down games.
Jerry Jeudy, Denver Broncos vs. Los Angeles Chargers, $4,000 — The Broncos’ WR2 is affordable and comes with plenty of upside against the Chargers. He has multiple catches in seven of his past eight sims as well as in each of his three earlier contests against the Bolts. The rookie WR had 102 yards, a touchdown and 23.2 DKFP two sims ago and followed that up with another score and 12.8 DKFP in his most recent contest.
Other Options — DJ Chark Jr. ($5,400), Dede Westbrook ($4,900), Marquez Valdes-Scantling ($4,800), Russell Gage ($3,700)
Refer a friend and get $20 DK Dollars! Head to the DraftKings Playbook Promo page for more details!
Tight End
Stud
Hayden Hurst, Atlanta Falcons at Jacksonville Jaguars, $4,600 — Without any elite options on the slate, Hurst makes sense in this matchup against the Jags. He has been boom-or-bust throughout Madden 21 but has at least four catches in five of his past six games and has flashed high upside with over 19 DKFP in four games over his past 13 contests.
Other Option — Tyler Higbee ($4,400)
Value
Tyler Eifert, Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Atlanta Falcons, $3,900 — The value options under $4K at TE are outstanding, and Eifert is in a good spot against the Falcons. He totaled 11 catches in his previous three meetings with Atlanta and has averaged 8.5 DKFP in his 10 games this simulated season. He is low-risk since he gets such consistent volume and also comes with touchdown-dependent upside.
Other Option — Hunter Henry ($3,800)
DST
Stud/Value
Chargers DST at Denver Broncos, $3,200 — The Broncos have been one of the worst offenses in Madden 21, and the Chargers have been one of the best DST units at forcing turnovers. In their 92 sims, the Chargers are averaging 6.0 DKFP on 84 takeaways, 199 sacks and six defensive touchdowns. They dominated for 23 DKFP in their most recent matchup with the Broncos, which was a shutout, and they had 7.0 DKFP in their first matchup as well. None of the cheap options are especially inspiring, so this is a good spot to pay up for the Bolts.
Set your DraftKings fantasy football lineups here: Madden Stream $3K Wednesday Night Special [$1K to 1st] and your FREE fantasy football lineups here: Madden $250 FREE Contest
Put your knowledge to the test. Sign up for DraftKings and experience the game inside the game.
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.