With a doubleheader scheduled in the NFL on Monday, the DraftKings Dream Stream is ready to bring you “The Sweat” at 4:00 p.m. ET and “Leaderboard Live” throughout both contests. Before those games get underway, though, there are a pair of Madden sims to help you get warmed up with even more fantasy football action. The two-game Madden slate starts with the Seattle Seahawks hosting the Detroit Lions at 12 p.m. ET in the first meeting of these two teams in the Madden 21 sims. At 2 p.m. ET, the other game is a rematch of a sim from just last week as the Green Bay Packers host the Tennessee Titans. Green Bay pulled out a pair of one-score victories in their earlier meetings, and we can use those results to get an idea of the matchups in that contest.
A key factor to consider is that each roster is not impacted by COVID-19 opt-outs, injuries or illness and the highest-rated options have been placed at the top of the depth charts. The roster for each team includes all player movement that occurred prior to Week 1 of this season and you can find the game settings, depth charts, abilities and X-factors for each team in Madden 21 along with the upcoming schedule on the Madden Stream info page.
Check out the daily DraftKings Madden Stream contests lobby with paid contests for real cash prizes now available alongside free contests. Each simulation will be played out computer vs. computer via an online Madden Stream using Madden 21. In this format, you can enjoy watching the game stream on the DraftKings YouTube channel, the DK Live app (download here) or right here in this post.
Set your DraftKings fantasy football lineups here: Madden Stream $5K Early Bird Special [$1K to 1st] and your FREE lineups here: Madden Stream $500 FREE Contest.
Put your DraftKings daily fantasy football skills to the test against Jim Cramer, his followers and other members of the DraftKings Playbook community! Check out the new Cramer’s Cash Contest and get ready to enter your lineup in a rake-free contest for Week 14.
Quarterback
Stud
Russell Wilson, Seattle Seahawks vs. Detroit Lions, $8,000 — Wilson and the Seahawks were stymied in real life on Sunday, as they suffered a tough home loss to the New York Giants. They should be set up to bounce back nicely with a win in this sim, though, since the Lions’ defense has been a very favorable matchup in Madden. Wilson has been putting up big numbers no matter what the matchup is, with over 27 DKFP in four of his past five sims. This was highlighted by 33.68 DKFP in his most recent contest, which came against the Bills. Wilson ran for exactly 100 yards and two touchdowns in that game and has hit the 100-yard rushing bonus on the ground in five of his past nine games. He can also light it up passing the ball, averaging 187.5 passing yards per game with 40 passing scores along with 14 rushing touchdowns in his 25 sims in Madden 21. Paying up for Wilson will stretch your salary thin at other spots, but he is the QB with the most upside and highest ceiling on this slate.
Other Option — Aaron Rodgers ($6,900)
Value
Ryan Tannehill, Tennessee Titan at Green Bay Packers, $5,400 — Tannehill had two passing touchdowns, 235 yards and 22.5 DKFP in the Titans’ loss to Green Bay in the sims last week. He has been a volatile play in Madden since sometimes the Titans rely so heavily on Derrick Henry ($9,000) that Tannehill’s volume is limited. He has had some nice games, though, when given increased opportunity to throw the ball. He has over 19 DKFP in three of his past five games and has raised his average to a solid 14.8 DKFP per contest. He is very boom-or-bust, but since he just had a good game in this same matchup, there’s a chance he’ll be a great value and give you lots of extra salary to use to pay up at other positions.
Other Option — Matthew Stafford ($5,700)
Running Back
Stud
Aaron Jones, Green Bay Packers vs. Tennessee Titans, $7,300 — Last week, Henry had a quiet game against the Packers with just 31 rushing yards and 9.4 DKFP. He didn’t fare much better in their first meeting either, so I think you can pass on the megastar RB on this slate and instead pivot to Jones on the other side of the matchup. Jones had 18.7 DKFP in the Packers’ recent win over the Titans after posting three touchdowns, 164 yards and 37.4 DKFP the first time he faced them. Jones hasn’t been quite as productive as Henry has been in these sims, but he is definitely a force to be reckoned with both as a rusher and receiver since he is the third-down back as well as the RB1 in Madden 21. Jones is averaging 73 rushing yards and 21.4 receiving yards on 3.0 catches per game and has scored 28 touchdowns in 27 sims. The matchup makes him a very nice option who still leaves more salary on the table rather than paying all the way up for Henry in a tougher matchup.
Other Option — Derrick Henry ($9,000)
Value
D’Andre Swift, Detroit Lions at Seattle Seahawks, $4,300 — The Lions are the only team on this slate that uses a regular backfield rotation and Swift has proven he can be a good value in the timeshare since he handles the third-down responsibilities. Swift has scored four touchdowns in his 25 sims while averaging 14.5 rushing yards and 23.5 receiving yards on 3.6 catches per game. He had a quiet game against New England in his most recent sim but had three catches or more in five of his previous seven games, highlighted by a 17.0-DKFP performance against the Jaguars. While the Seahawks specialize in creating turnovers in these sims, they have also given up points and yards, especially to RBs catching the ball. Swift should be in a good spot to take advantage of that matchup and offer great value contributions.
Other Option — Chris Carson ($5,200)
Wide Receiver
Stud
Davante Adams, Green Bay Packers vs. Tennessee Titans, $6,700 — While the Titans’ defense is pretty solid top-to-bottom with highly-rated players at multiple positions, Tennessee doesn’t have an elite cover corner, which has let opposing WR1s post good numbers against them. Adams had seven catches for 101 yards and 21.5 DKFP in their meeting last week, and he has produced over 50 yards in six of his past seven games, helping push his average over 13.5 DKFP. He hasn’t been as consistently excellent in these sims as he has been in real life, but Adams still is clearly the top option in the Packers’ passing game and has a very high ceiling in this rematch with Tennessee’s secondary.
Other Options — DK Metcalf ($6,500), Kenny Golladay ($5,400)
Value
Corey Davis, Tennessee Titans at Green Bay Packers, $5,200 — Davis had one of the best days of any player in real life in Week 13 and he grabbed a touchdown and 10.4 DKFP in his sim last week against the Packers as well. He has double-digit DKFP in five of his past six games with over 65 yards in four of those contests as well. He had 17.9 DKFP and a touchdown in his first matchup with the Packers and should again draw a decent matchup since X-factor Superstar CB Jaire Alexander will likely line up across from A.J. Brown ($4,400) for most of the game, leaving Davis in better matchups on the other side of the field.
Danny Amendola, Detroit Lions at Seattle Seahawks, $4,000 — Amendola produced great value in these picks in his most recent game, getting revenge against the Patriots with 75 yards and two touchdowns on his way to 23.5 DKFP. He has at least four catches in three of his past four games and has been able to produce over 17 DKFP in five of his past 11 games. While he isn’t the team’s top option, he gets involved in the red zone enough to have a great ceiling and gets enough volume out of the slot to be relatively safe for a play at just $4K.
Other Options — Devin Funchess ($5,000), Tyler Lockett ($4,800), Marquez Valdes-Scantling ($4,600)
Tight End
Stud
Greg Olsen, Seattle Seahawks vs. Detroit Lions, $4,700 — The two high-volume TEs are both in the early game as Olsen and the Seahawks take on T.J. Hockenson ($5,600) and the Lions. Olsen has been a little more consistent lately and has the better matchup, so he gets a slight edge over the reliably productive Hockenson. Olsen has exactly five catches in three straight games and found the end zone against the Bills for his ninth score of the Madden 21 sims. He is averaging 4.0 catches for 42.6 yards per game and has reached double-digit DKFP in seven of his 12 most recent matchups. While his season has been derailed by another foot injury in real life, he’s still a very solid option in Madden 21 at under $5K.
Other Option — T.J. Hockenson ($5,600)
Value
Jonnu Smith, Tennessee Titans at Green Bay Packers, $4,300 — When the Titans are forced to throw the ball, Smith is usually one of the team’s more productive pass-catchers. He had five catches for 85 yards, a touchdown and 19.5 DKFP against the Packers last week and four catches for 54 yards against them earlier in the sims. He has actually gotten a little more volume than Olsen with 10 more catches over the same number of sims, but his average is slightly lower since Olsen has more touchdowns and yards. Still, he’s a very solid and relatively safe play in this rematch with the Packers, especially if Green Bay commits to stopping the run again and allows Smith to sit in the soft spots in their coverage over the middle.
DST
Stud
Seahawks DST vs. Detroit Lions, $3,100 — The Seahawks have two of the hardest hitters in Madden 21 in Jamal Adams and Bobby Wagner, and as a result, they have recovered 27 fumbles in their 25 sims to go with three picks, 51 sacks and five defensive touchdowns. They have been one of the best fantasy DST units in all of Madden due to their big-play propensity. They should be able to create more mayhem at home against the Lions. Four of Seattle’s five defensive scores have come at home, where the defense has 17 takeaways in 16 sims.
Value
Packers DST vs. Tennessee Titans, $2,800 — The Packers are the best pivot if you don’t want to go with the Seahawks, although neither DST had much production in the earlier matchups between these two teams. The Packers have some big-time stars on their defense with Alexander at corner, Za’Darius and Preston Smith leading the pass rush, and Frank Clark clogging up the middle. They had one sack and 1.0 DKFP against the Titans last week but did post an average of 10.5 DKFP in their two most recent home games against the Colts and Dolphins.
Set your DraftKings fantasy football lineups here: Madden Stream $5K Early Bird Special [$1K to 1st] and your FREE lineups here: Madden Stream $500 FREE Contest.
Put your knowledge to the test. Sign up for DraftKings and experience the game inside the game.
I am a promoter at DraftKings and am also an avid fan and user (my username is Z.Thompson) 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.