Best lineup strategy for 49ers vs. Cardinals Madden simulation Showdown

The San Francisco 49ers and Arizona Cardinals will face off in Sunday’s second Madden sim at 5:00 p.m. ET. We break down the ideal Showdown lineup strategy for the DFS contest DraftKings has going for the game. You can set your lineup here.

Captain’s Picks

Kyler Murray, QB, Cardinals ($15,600)

Watching Murray in Madden sims has showed me that he is an expert escape artist. His speed can only be matched by Lamar Jackson at the quarterback position, and he’ll also throw the ball plenty in Arizona’s air raid offense. He might not have top notch-receivers, but Larry Fitzgerald still ranks among the cream of the crop in catching (93).

George Kittle, TE, 49ers ($14,700)

Kittle os one of the few tight ends I’d suggest captaining. He’s the highest rated (97) player at his position and has 98 catching. San Francisco has a ton of depth at running back and receiver, so it can be hard to project who will stand out there. But it’s safe to say that Kittle has a good chance to be very involved in the offense. The Cardinals have Patrick Peterson, but he can’t make up for the linebackers not being able to protect against the pass effectively.

Flex Men

Deebo Samuel, WR, 49ers ($7,400)

Samuel is behind Emmanuel Sanders ($10,800) on the depth chart, but has a ceiling just as high. Samuel is faster, more elusive, and more versatile than his senior and possesses the ability to rack up yards after the catch. He could also get touches in the running game, and that sets him apart from other members of his team’s receiving corps.

David Johnson, WR, Cardinals ($2,000)

Kenyan Drake ($6,800) has the starting job, but don’t count Johnson out. Both backs have similar skill sets. You shouldn’t expect either one to dominate on the ground. Both are threats to score in the red zone via the run or the passing game though. Johnson is considerably cheaper and could come out on top if his name is called in an ideal situation.