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 will 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 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 Scripting & Roster Construction

Oddsmakers are projecting a 25-22 victory for the visiting San Francisco 49ers on Thursday night. At first glance, this line feels a bit off, considering the Seahawks sit atop the NFC West and will be playing at Lumen Field, backed by their famous '12s' (formerly the 12th man). However, a deeper look makes the Vegas line more understandable. The Seahawks are coming off back-to-back losses after starting the season 3-0 with wins over the Broncos, Patriots, and a Tyreek Hill-less Dolphins team. They were soundly defeated by the Lions in Week 4 and followed that with a dismal performance against the Giants on Sunday. This matchup seems like a prime opportunity for the 49ers to reclaim the top spot in the NFC West as they await Christian McCaffrey's return from injury.

When considering roster construction, I’d advocate leaning heavily toward the 49ers in this game. While Vegas might be slightly off with the odds, there’s a chance to capitalize by building lineups that go against the mainstream. I'll dive deeper into this below, but I love Brandon Aiyuk this week, and he will be my captain in most contests. From there, I’ll structure my builds to favor the 49ers, likely using a 4:2 or even 5:1 SF:SEA ratio. I can easily see this game getting out of hand, with the Niners proving they are the class of the division, with or without McCaffrey.

Injury Roundup

The 49ers are dealing with significant injuries on defense, missing three starters for this game: linebacker Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles (calf), safety Talanoa Hufanga (wrist), and lineman Jordan Elliott (knee). While these injuries certainly pose a threat to the Niners' defensive continuity, they've faced similar situations before, and their backups have historically stepped up when needed. The more intriguing injury is to kicker Jake Moody, who suffered an ankle injury last week and will also miss this contest. The 49ers signed Matthew Wright, most recently with the Steelers, on Tuesday to fill in for Moody until he recovers.

Seattle is equally banged up on defense. Linebacker Uchenna Nwosu (thigh) was placed on injured reserve after getting hurt last Sunday against the Giants. Additionally, cornerback Riq Woolen (ankle) and lineman Byron Murphy II (hamstring) are also expected to miss this game. Given the Seahawks' recent struggles against the run, these injuries set the stage for continued success from Jordan Mason on the 49ers’ side of the ball.

Captain Considerations

1. Brandon Aiyuk
2. Jordan Mason
3. DK Metcalf