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We’re all in need of some entertainment during these times of the unknown. DraftKings is doing its part by offering Madden simulations with a variety of teams going at it. For this piece, we’ll focus on the Bears and Texans game that will take place at 12 p.m. ET Sunday afternoon.
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The settings for this and all other Madden games are as follows:
GAME INFORMATION:
Difficulty: All-Madden
Game Style: Arcade
Event Type: Exhibition
Even Teams: Off
Quarter Length: 8 minutes
Accelerated Clock: On
Play Clock: 20 seconds
For all info on settings and upcoming games, click HERE
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SHOWDOWN STRATEGY
Bears
Once upon a time, Mitch Trubisky ($10,800) was the fantasy darling of these simulations and was averaging an absurd amount of DKFP per game. Lately, however, he hasn’t been living up to those expectations. He hasn’t been bad by any means, averaging 15.2 DKFP over his past five games, but it’s been under his average of 20.7. He’s thrown just four touchdowns over his past five games but has run in two touchdowns, so the potential is still there. It just hasn’t been that $11K salary worth of performances as of late. With this game boasting mobile quarterbacks on both sides, you’re actually getting the cheaper one in Trubisky, as Deshaun Watson ($11,600) is $800 more.
With Trubisky only throwing four touchdowns over his past five games, it’s produced a negative trend for his receivers. Allen Robinson ($9.600) has scored less then 3 DKFP in three of his past five games, a span in which he’s averaging just 7.1 DKFP. It’s quite amazing to see a WR1 log no more than 14 receiving yards in three of his past five games and shows just how volatile Trubisky can be. At his salary of $9,600, he’s truly becoming too risky for my liking. Taylor Gabriel ($6,200) is usually my favorite Bears receiver to roster but even he has fallen on hard times lately. He hasn’t reached double-digit fantasy points in six straight games, which is also the same amount of time since he last scored. The Texans’ secondary isn’t particularly strong, so I’d rather take a shot with Gabriel over Robinson due to salary but it’s really getting tough as of late. Trey Burton ($7,600) is one of the only Bears receivers seeing some sort of success as of late, averaging 9 DKFP over his past five games. It’s quite telling when that average is considered successful, but that’s the state of the Bears right now.
Tarik Cohen ($2,600) is one of the Bears’ players you can usually trust. He’s averaging 9.9 DKFP over his past five games. He’s been getting a fair amount of work on the ground to go with his receiving targets out of the backfield, making him a total bargain at $2,600. This is a game you’ll likely be paying up for some Texans players, so using him with his salary savings is a strategy you, along with many others, will likely be implementing.
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Texans
Deshaun Watson ($11,600) is quite similar to Trubisky in the sense that he’s essentially hogging the ball and not throwing it as much as you’d like. Unlike Trubisky lately, Watson has been crushing these sims and isn’t letting up. Over his past five, Watson is averaging 23.1 DKFP with 11 touchdowns and no interceptions. While he isn’t rushing for touchdowns like Trubisky, he’s averaging a solid 43.8 yards per game on the ground, adding another dynamic to his game. He’s much more expensive but he’s been the option to use at quarterback no matter who he’s facing.
Oddly enough, despite how well Watson has been doing it hasn’t exactly meant good things for his WR1 in DeAndre Hopkins ($10,600). Despite his 98 overall rating, Hopkins is averaging 15.8 DKFP overall and 11.4 DKFP over his past five games. It’s been tough to pay up for him, especially when he’s been as expensive as $11,800 during that stretch. If anything, you’re much better off going with guys lower on the depth chart like Will Fuller V ($7,200). He has the best speed rating in this game at 95 and it has helped him average nearly 50 yards per game despite making just 3.6 receptions. He’s also been scoring lately, with three touchdowns over his past two games. Keke Coutee ($1,800) continues to be the best value on the Texans. He’s gone a couple of games without making a catch but he’s still averaging 2.5 receptions and 31.4 yards per game over the sim season. That’s not too shabby for someone that is near the minimum in salary. I mean you could either take him or go for Kenny Stills ($6,600), who has only made a catch in 10 of the Texans’ 29 games for a total of 264 yards.
Lamar Miller ($8,600) has been extremely boom-or-bust in these simulations and I don’t think this is a matchup where he’s worth using. He’s still quite expensive for an RB1 that’s averaging just 8.6 DKFP over 29 games and the Bears do boast a really strong run defense. This is an offense that is either running with Watson or airing the ball out. Miller is not in my plans.
THE OUTCOME
The Texans have the best choices for captain and it will likely be where the ownership goes. I would be trying to fit guys like Watson and Hopkins onto my roster, so it’ll likely lead me to use someone like Will Fuller V ($10,800 CP) in the Captain spot. His speed can be a huge difference-maker and if he breaks one off, he’ll return value quickly. If you want to be a bit different, I still have hope that Taylor Gabriel ($9,300 CP) can make some noise in this game.
Final Score: Bears 17, Texans 27
DEPTH CHARTS
Bears
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Texans
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I am a promoter at DraftKings and am also an avid fan and user (my username is Steveazors) 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.