DraftKings Sunday Night Showdown: Week 15

NFL Showdown can be a fickle beast. These contests do not rely on median projections so much as leverage and uniqueness. Fading the highest-rostered plays can be a risky proposition. Typically, your edge is going to come by identifying the best low-rostered plays and finding clever ways to pair them with the juggernauts of the slate.

This article will have a heavy DraftKings lean simply because the Showdown decision-making process is more interesting, given the salary premium attached to the Captain spot. FanDuel's pricing is the same for both MVP and Flex spots. You will usually need the slate's top scorer at MVP, so FanDuel strategy revolves around unique Flex builds.

The advice in this article pertains predominantly to tournament lineups and strategy. For cash lineups, build around median projections. For head-to-head contests, continue to lean into the median projections, but if two options project closely, give the nod to the lowest rostered player.

Game Theory

The Packers' diverse and occasionally high-flying offense meets the Seahawks' revamped and occasionally dominant secondary. It's in an intriguing battle that could be headed for a postseason rematch, but Vegas seems in on the Packers. They're -2.5 on the road despite just a 6-6-1 ATS spread this year. That tells me Vegas is far more confident in Jordan Love and his weapons than in a Seahawks group that bends but doesn't break often.

In the DraftKings Showdown world, that suggests we shade toward rostering Packers. They're not only projected to play better and score more, they also offer a wider array of options to beat the Showdown GPP field. Everyone knows and is in on the Seahawks' playmakers, as there simply aren't many who touch the ball. But a Showdown player can take down a GPP by hitting on the correct Packer amongst a field of several.

Injury Roundup

Both offenses are relatively healthy for a Week 14 battle. The Seahawks will likely be without oft-dinged RB Ken Walker III (calf) for the second straight week and the third of 2024. Zach Charbonnet, though, is hardly a step down in his place (keep reading).

Captain Consideration

1. Josh Jacobs
2. Zach Charbonnet (if Walker sits)
3. Ken Walker III (if he's able to suit up)
4. DK Metcalf
5. Jaxon Smith-Njigba
6. Christian Watson