The NFL returns to London in Week 6, but this game is not being played in the same 1:00 p.m. ET window as last week’s Bears-Raiders game. Instead, it’s a strawberries and cream special at 9:30 a.m., and that earns it it’s own Showdown slot. This is an odd Showdown in other ways, as we will discuss. Let’s look at some players to target in DraftKings’ $100,000 six-man Showdown slate -- with an entry fee of $10 and a first-place prize of $20,000 -- and who to use (or not use) in the critical Captain slot:
CAPTAIN OBVIOUS … FADE
Christian McCaffrey, RB, Carolina Panthers ($19,500)
McCaffrey is probably going to be the highest-owned player on the slate and arguably the highest-owned in the Captain chair, and why not? The guy has been an absolute monster this season, especially with Cam Newton sidelined, which is still the case this weekend. But here’s the deal: The one team that has shown it can take McCaffrey out of a game is the Bucs. CMC was a non-factor back in Week 2 and Tampa has been extremely tough on star running backs in general. Alvin Kamara was essentially a bust last week and as his crazy-high salary, fading McCaffrey here opens up so many options along the rest of the lineup. Play McCaffrey as a flex, or go full-contrarian and fade him altogether, but don’t follow the masses into what’s probably a trap.
CAPTAIN OBVIOUS … PLAY
Chris Godwin, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers ($15,600)
Godwin has been just as beastly as McCaffrey the past four weeks, with DK totals of 29.1, 44.2 and 34.5 in three of his past four games. The 29.1 came against the Panthers in Week 2, and given Carolina’s struggles with slot receivers, there’s little reason to think a repeat performance isn’t waiting in the wings here. Mike Evans is the player to fade here.
CAPTAIN COURAGEOUS
Kyle Allen, QB, Carolina Panthers ($13,800)
You might not be able to run effectively against the Buccaneers, but the passing game is wide open. Teddy Bridgewater sliced up the Bucs for four touchdown passes last week, after Jared Goff went wild in Week 4. Allen is cheap by comparison – he’s fifth in salary on the slate – and if he can just stop already with the fumbling, the stage is set for a productive afternoon.
FLEX MEN
Greg Olsen, TE, Carolina Panthers ($10,200)
Olsen had a terrific game against the Buccaneers in Week 2 and should be fairly low-owned after a pair of clunkers the past two weeks. In that Week 2 game, put up a 6-110 line. That’s a number he ought to be able to replicate against a soft Bucs pass defense.
I am a promoter at DraftKings and am also an avid fan and user (my username is jeffgo33) 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.