The DraftKings Dream Stream is ready to roll with another full day of Madden 21 sims on Wednesday before the second week of the NFL preseason limits the schedule for the rest of the week. The featured classic slate includes the second half of the schedule, getting underway at 6:00 p.m. ET when the Minnesota Vikings visit the New England Patriots. At 8:00 p.m. ET, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers host the Las Vegas Raiders, and we finish out the triple-stack of sims with a Madden After Dark matchup between the Arizona Cardinals and the Buffalo Bills at 10:00 p.m. ET.
As you take a look at the eight teams in play and put together your lineup, 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
Kyler Murray, Arizona Cardinals at Buffalo Bills, $7,400 — These two teams met just two sims ago, and Kyler had a monster game with over 100 yards rushing, two rushing touchdowns and 35.36 DKFP. He always brings that incredibly high ceiling due to his rushing potential and is averaging a solid 21.5 DKFP in Madden 21 on 65.7 rushing yards and 186.6 passing yards per game. The Bills’ secondary has been good in Madden 21, but Murray can put up big fantasy totals in so many different ways that he remains my favorite QB play of the day.
Other Options — Josh Allen ($7,200), Tom Brady ($6,900)
Value
Derek Carr, Las Vegas Raiders at Tampa Bay Buccaneers, $5,700 — The Raiders have struggled defensively in these sims, leaving Carr plenty of work as the team goes pass-heavy in order to rally. He has averaged 237.3 passing yards per sim and has thrown three touchdowns in each of his two most recent sims, finishing with 21.1 and 22.86 DKFP. He has only topped 20 DKFP once in his six prior matchups with Tampa, but he has over 13.9 DKFP in each of those contests, so he has been solid if not spectacular against the Bucs. Carr definitely is the cheap QB play with the most upside on this slate.
Set your DraftKings fantasy football lineups here: Madden Stream $5K Wednesday Night Special [$1K to 1st] and your FREE fantasy football lineups here: Madden $100 FREE Contest
Running Back
Stud
Dalvin Cook, Minnesota Vikings at New England Patriots, $7,800 — Cook has been outstanding in Madden 21, scoring 108 touchdowns in 101 sims and averaging 80.8 rushing yards and 33.7 receiving yards per game. His regular PPR contributions make him very low-risk and his heavy workload gives him a high ceiling. Cook had 13.7, 32.2 and 35.3 DKFP in his three earlier meetings with the Patriots and has over 15 DKFP in eight straight coming into this rematch.
Other Option — Devin Singletary ($5,900)
Value
LeSean McCoy, Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Las Vegas Raiders, $4,900 — McCoy continues to be a reliable value as the Bucs’ third-down RB with a consistent role in passing formations. He has turned that work into double-digit DKFP in each of his past four sims, highlighted by 24.0 DKFP against the Patriots. In his previous games against the Raiders, McCoy has averaged 8.5 DKFP with over 9.0 DKFP in three of six contests. While he doesn’t have the ceiling that Cook brings, McCoy is a low-risk play under $5K and a good way to save salary at RB.
Other Options — James White ($4,800), Jalen Richard ($3,800)
Wide Receiver
Stud
Henry Ruggs III, Las Vegas Raiders at Tampa Bay Buccaneers, $6,000 — Ruggs’ deep-ball ability should be a perfect fit for this matchup against the Bucs, who have been beatable deep and prone to giving up big plays. Ruggs had 120 yards and 21 DKFP in their most recent matchup after posting 31.3, 11.3, 33.3, 26.7 and 26.1 DKFP in their earlier meetings. While he’s still behind Tyrell Williams ($5,500) on the depth chart, he has been excellent in Madden 21 due to his 98 speed rating, which makes him a constant big-play threat.
Other Options — Mike Evans ($6,300), Stefon Diggs ($6,200)
Value
DeAndre Hopkins, Arizona Cardinals at Buffalo Bills, $5,300 — Hopkins doesn’t get the volume of targets in Madden 21 that he does in real life but has still been productive despite averaging just 3.1 catches per sim. He has three touchdowns in his five most recent games and 42 in 102 sims. He just put up 17.0 DKFP with one of those scores in his most recent matchup with Buffalo.
Scotty Miller, Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Las Vegas Raiders, $3,900 — Miller has thrived in his role as the Bucs’ WR3 with multiple catches in 16 straight sims. He also had multiple catches in each of his six previous sims against Vegas and has found the end zone twice, including one contest with 21.8 DKFP. Most WRs in this price range don’t come with that kind of ceiling, so consider making it Miller time if you need a play under $4K.
Other Options — Julian Edelman ($5,900), John Brown ($4,900), Justin Jefferson ($3,800)
Tight End
Stud
Devin Asiasi, New England Patriots vs. Minnesota Vikings, $5,500 — Asiasi will be buried on the depth chart once the TE party gets underway for the Patriots in Madden 22, but for now, he continues to be very involved as the Patriots’ TE1 in Madden 21. He has at least six catches in five of his past seven sims and is averaging 4.2 catches for 46.0 yards per sim while scoring 46 touchdowns in 104 contests.
Other Options — Darren Waller ($5,900), Rob Gronkowski ($4,200)
Value
Lee Smith, Buffalo Bills vs. Arizona Cardinals, $3,100 — Smith is amazingly cheap for a TE1 and makes a solid FLEX consideration as well since he’s barely over $3K. He had four catches and 7.9 DKFP in his recent matchup with Arizona after 8.2 and 3.2 DKFP in their earlier meetings. Smith hasn’t scored a ton of touchdowns but does usually get enough PPR work to be a good play at this punt price.
DST
Stud
Buccaneers DST vs. Las Vegas Raiders, $2,900 — While the Bucs’ secondary has been beatable, their pass rush has totaled 276 sacks in 111 sims, helping them average 5.3 DKFP per sim. They had five sacks in their most recent matchup with Las Vegas and should be able to get pressure on Carr again in this rematch.
Value
Patriots DST vs. Minnesota Vikings, $2,700 — Even against Cook, the Patriots’ DST makes sense since they are averaging a slate-leading 6.0 DKFP per sim. Their pass rush has been decent with 181 sacks, but most of their production comes from the 108 turnovers they have forced in 105 sims.
Set your DraftKings fantasy football lineups here: Madden Stream $5K Wednesday Night Special [$1K to 1st] and your FREE fantasy football lineups here: Madden $100 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.