DraftKings Thursday Showdown: Week 11

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

Thursday night sets up an intriguing matchup for the second week in a row. The 7-2 Philadelphia Eagles host Jayden Daniels and the 7-3 Washington Commanders, fresh off a narrow one-point loss to the Steelers. Despite that setback, the Commanders have outscored opponents by 73 points over 10 games, ranking third in the NFL. Meanwhile, the Eagles are on a five-game win streak since their Week 5 bye, though only one of those wins—an impressive 37-17 victory over the Bengals in Week 8—came against a strong opponent. The other victories were against the Browns, Giants, Jaguars, and Cowboys, teams with a combined 2-16 record in that span. Similarly, the Commanders’ seven wins came against teams with a combined 19-41 record, with just one win over a team with a winning record (the Arizona Cardinals).

Vegas oddsmakers lean toward the Eagles with a projected 26-23 home victory. This game script suggests an even distribution of players from both teams in Showdown lineups. For a competitive edge, the key will be selecting the right Eagles players, as the Commanders concentrate much of their offense through their running backs and Terry McLaurin. The Eagles, however, spread opportunities across Saquon Barkley, A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith, and Dallas Goedert. For lineup balance, a 3:3 player setup aligns with the Vegas projections, though a 4:2 split in favor of your preferred team (mine is the Eagles) could also pay off.

Injury Roundup

First, the good news: After missing the last two games with a hamstring issue, Brian Robinson Jr. is expected to return and should reclaim the lead role in Washington’s backfield after the veteran Austin Ekeler filled in during his absence. However, the Commanders will be without several key players, including linebacker Nick Bellore (knee), kicker Austin Seibert (hip), and recent acquisition Marshon Lattimore (hamstring). Lattimore’s absence is especially significant, as he was added to strengthen Washington’s secondary—a critical need against the Eagles’ talented receivers, A.J. Brown and Devonta Smith. Seibert’s loss is less impactful; his replacement, Zane Gonzalez, was perfect last week, hitting two field goals and three extra points.

One last note: Three starting offensive linemen are listed as questionable for Washington. If any of them are unable to play, it could slightly downgrade Robinson’s potential.

On the other side, everything is going right for the Eagles. Philadelphia heads into Thursday’s game with a fully healthy roster, with no players listed on the injury report.

Captain Considerations

1. Jalen Hurts
2. Saquon Barkley
3. A.J. Brown