Best lineup strategy for Steelers vs. Cardinals Madden simulation Showdown

The Pittsburgh Steelers and Arizona Cardinals will face off in a Madden sim at 2:00 p.m. ET. We break down the ideal Showdown lineup strategy for the DFS contests centered around the game. You can set your lineup and play at DraftKings.

Captain’s Picks

Pittsburgh has a solid defensive line and a secondary headlined by Minkah Fitzpatrick, and the Cardinals haven’t been great at establishing a ground game this sim season. While Larry Fitzgerald is Arizona’s top pass catcher, Kyler Murray ($16,200) spreads the ball around by utilizing Christian Kirk, Damiere Byrd, and both of his running backs. Murray can also be an asset as a scrambler thanks to his escape artist trait, making him the best captain’s option in the contest.

If I were to pick a Steelers player to captain, I’d go with JuJu Smith-Schuster ($15,000). While Patrick Peterson has a better overall rating, Arizona’s pass defense as a whole hasn’t held up very well against star receivers. Ben Roethlisberger ($16,800) should also receive come consideration, but Murray has significantly higher upside.

Flex Men

Both sides have respectable RB2s in this matchup. Pittsburgh has Jaylen Samuels ($1,000) while Arizona has David Johnson ($2,800). Both excel as pass catching backs and are often more productive than the starters playing ahead of them. Samuels is my preference because he returns hefty value for his price.

A speedy slot receiver like Byrd ($4,600) is an expensive option out wide with significant upside. He could benefit from getting chunk yardage on Hail Mary’s. James Washington ($5,600) has been an unsung hero for the Steelers receiving corps and finds the end zone often enough to take a flier on.