Start your weekend off with some fantasy football from the DraftKings Dream Stream, which has a full day of six Madden 21 sims including a three-game classic slate this Friday night. The first game of the night gets underway at 6:00 p.m. ET and features the Atlanta Falcons and the Denver Broncos. At 8:00 p.m. ET in primetime, the Jacksonville Jaguars visit the virtual Superdome to face the New Orleans Saints, and we close out the slate with a great matchup when Aaron Rodgers ($7,100) and the Green Bay Packers travel to Missouri to take on Patrick Mahomes ($7,700) and the Kansas City Chiefs at 10:00 p.m. ET.
Check out all the gameplay details on the Madden Streams Information Page and dive into the full depth chart for each team. My favorite fantasy plays for today’s slate are listed below.
Quarterback
Stud
Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs vs. Green Bay Packers, $7,700 — Even with some other solid QBs available, Mahomes is clearly the best option and worth paying up for if possible. He has thrown an incredible 206 touchdowns in 85 games and added 17 rushing scores while averaging 286.7 passing yards per sim. He has multiple touchdown passes in six of his past seven games including a three-touchdown, 338-yard performance against these Packers that resulted in 29.92 DKFP. Mahomes has consistently been the best passer in Madden 21 and is always a strong option to build around.
Other Options — Aaron Rodgers ($7,100), Matt Ryan ($6,700)
Value
Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints vs. Jacksonville Jaguars, $6,000 — Brees has averaged 260.2 passing yards per sim but hasn’t been as consistently excellent as Mahomes. He is in a good spot against the Jaguars, who he threw for 324 yards against on his way to 18.86 DKFP in their previous meeting. He also has over 20 DKFP in three of his past five sims, highlighted by a 30.96-DKFP performance against the Broncos. He offers significant savings while still bringing solid potential.
Other Option — Gardner Minshew II ($5,500)
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Running Back
Stud
Todd Gurley II, Atlanta Falcons at Denver Broncos, $7,200 — Gurley had 20.5 and 21.2 DKFP in his two earlier meetings with the Broncos and continues to be one of the most heavily-used workhorse backs in all of Madden 21. He is averaging 4.5 catches, 38.1 receiving yards and 55.1 rushing yards per game and has scored 52 touchdowns in 78 sims. He has at least 13 DKFP in four straight and six of his past seven coming into this contest in Denver.
Other Options — Alvin Kamara ($7,800), Aaron Jones ($7,100)
Value
Phillip Lindsay, Denver Broncos vs. Atlanta Falcons, $5,100 — Lindsay shares the backfield with Melvin Gordon III ($3,800) in these sims but has averaged 3.6 catches per sim as the third-down back. He has been especially busy lately with six catches or more in five of his past seven sims and double-digit DKFP in each of those contests. He had 8.0 and 9.8 DKFP in his two earlier meetings with the Falcons and is worth considering even though his workload is less certain than the five full-time RBs on this slate.
Wide Receiver
Stud
Tyreek Hill, Kansas City Chiefs vs. Green Bay Packers, $7,700 — Hill hauled in three touchdowns in his recent matchup with the Packers and hit the 100-yard bonus on his way to 39.3 DKFP. He now has 79 touchdowns in his 85 sims and is averaging 93.8 yards on 6.3 catches per contest. Playing in the slot should help Hill avoid X-factor Superstar CB Jaire Alexander, who usually plays outside. Even in this especially star-studded field of WR options, he is averaging 4.0 DKFP more than any other WR in play.
Other Options — Julio Jones ($7,300), Davante Adams ($6,800), Michael Thomas ($6,300)
Value
Courtland Sutton, Denver Broncos vs. Atlanta Falcons, $4,600 — Sutton lacks the star-power of the other WR1 options listed above but still does good work when he gets opportunities. He posted 18.1 and 17.1 DKFP in his two previous games against Atlanta and has shown a high ceiling overall, including a 32.5-DKFP performance against the 49ers three sims ago.
Russell Gage, Atlanta Falcons at Denver Broncos, $4,400 — The Falcons’ WR3 has over 12 DKFP in four of his past five games with four touchdowns during that span, bringing his total to 24 in 77 sims and raising his average to 9.6 DKFP per contest. The Broncos’ secondary has been one of the best matchups for WR in Madden 21 and has been especially generous to opposing slot receivers like Gage.
Other Options — Devin Funchess ($5,500), Marquez Valdes-Scantling ($4,500), Dede Westbrook ($4,000), Demarcus Robinson ($3,500)
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Tight End
Stud
Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs vs. Green Bay Packers, $5,700 — Kelce has been the most productive TE in Madden 21, averaging 5.7 catches for 67.7 yards per sim despite having to share so many looks with Hill on the outside. Kelce has at least seven catches in three of his four previous matchups with the Packers, who don’t have anyone in their defense with high enough ratings to slow down the big target over the middle.
Other Option — Jared Cook ($4,800)
Value
Tyler Eifert, Jacksonville Jaguars at New Orleans Saints, $3,700 — Eifert is a nice bargain play under $4K since he’s averaging over 10 DKFP per sim. He has hauled in an average of 4.4 passes for 41.3 yards per sim and is consistently involved enough to be a reliable PPR play at TE or in your flex spot.
Other Option — Noah Fant ($3,800)
DST
Stud
Falcons DST vs. Denver Broncos, $3,000 — The Broncos’ offense has been a great matchup for opposing DSTs, and the Falcons posted 9.0 and 6.0 in their two previous meetings. Overall, Atlanta is averaging a slate-high 4.6 DKFP per sim on 149 sacks and 40 takeaways in their 78 sims.
Value
Saints DST vs. Jacksonville Jaguars, $2,500 — The Saints have done a good job getting sacks with 164 in 83 sims but only have forced 28 turnovers. They did have one of those takeaways and 6.0 DKFP in their first meeting with the Jags, though, and the favorable matchup makes them a viable punt play in the rematch.
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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.