Best lineup strategy for Bears-Panthers Madden simulation Showdown

The Chicago Bears and Carolina Panthers are set to face off in a Friday Madden sim at 2:00 p.m. ET. We break down the ideal lineup strategy for Showdown contests on DraftKings, and you can set your lineup here.

Captain’s Picks

Mitchell Trubisky, QB, Bears ($15,000)

Trubisky has been playing how Cam Newton should be. Although he’s had two straight poor performances, his dual-threat abilities have can give him plenty of upside. Tarik Cohen can help him get easy yardage through the air out of the backfield, Trey Burton has been dominant working the middle of the field, and Allen Robinson is the best wideout in the game. I wouldn’t bet on him throwing for less than 200 yards in a third straight game.

Curtis Samuel, WR, Panthers ($9,300)

Samuel has 95 speed and has been Carolina’s most productive wideout. Catching a couple long balls would return value, and his price would allow you to stack Christian McCaffrey and higher priced Bears players in the flex.

Flex Men

Tarik Cohen, RB, Bears ($2,800)

You can’t beat paying under $3,000 for a player nearly averaging double-digits in DKFP. His 92 speed makes him dangerous when he gets around the edge, and he’s one of the more capable pass-catching backs in the game. He returns value more often than not and gives you a ton of flexibility.

Christian McCaffrey, RB, Panthers ($10,600)

Many people will fade McCaffrey from the captain’s spot because of his inconsistency, but he should still be on a majority of flex plays. If McCaffrey goes off and you don’t have him, you won’t have a shot at finishing in the money. You’ll likely be wasting salary on unproductive players if he’s not in your lineup.