The New England Patriots and Houston Texans will be featured in Thursday’s final Madden sim at 8:00 p.m. ET. We break down the ideal Showdown lineup strategy for the DFS contest that you can enter at DraftKings.
Captain’s Picks
Deshaun Watson, QB, Texans ($16,800)
New England has the highest rated cornerback in the game in Stephon Gilmore, but DeAndre Hopkins also has a 98 overall rating, as well as 98 catching. Hopkins’ catching in traffic (99) will help him haul in passes despite tough coverage, so I’m not worried about this matchup diminishing his value. Watson has weapons in Kenny Stills and Will Fuller to throw to, as well as above average running ability. This gives him a higher ceiling than any player on either team.
James White, RB, Patriots ($11,400)
Tom Brady doesn’t have many weapons aside from Julian Edelman, so White could be very important to the offense. His catching (79) is only second to Christian McCaffrey at the running back position. While Edelman has a good chance to capitalize on Houston’s poor pass defense, White could be the team’s second best receiver while also contributing on the ground. The difference in price between White and other options is hard not to ignore.
Flex Men
Will Fuller, WR, Texans ($6,400)
Fuller has the highest speed rating (95) of all the offensive players in this contest and has the best catching as well. The Patriots also have the McCourty brothers in the secondary, but it doesn’t take much for Fuller to break loose and get chunk yardage. Fuller or Kenny Stills (XXX) could have strong outings in supporting roles.
Lamar Miller, RB, Texans ($8,400)
This is Madden, and that means Miller isn’t out of commission with a season-ending injury. He’s back as the lead running back and has the speed (92) and catching (70) to make an impact on the game in more ways than one. He can be a factor on the ground or through the air.