This week’s Monday night DraftKings Showdown slate has a notable omission. Jayden Daniels will miss this matchup after injuring his hamstring against the Cowboys. The Washington Commanders will likely get him back next week, but that does not matter for this showdown slate.
Marcus Mariota will be the starter, and that is partially why the Commanders are significant underdogs, with the spread set at +11.5 points in favor of the Commanders. That is because Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs look like Super Bowl favorites again. That is most of the reason the total is as high as it is, which currently stands at 47.5.
The Chiefs, even with their current lackluster record, look like the best in the AFC. Many DraftKings users will lean on the Chiefs, and for good reason, but there is ample opportunity with the Commanders’ side of things. Let’s dive into this DraftKings Showdown slate in what might be a lopsided game.
Week 8 Monday Night Football DraftKings Lineup Plays
Captain: Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs ($16.5K)
Patrick Mahomes has returned to MVP form. The star quarterback leads the league in estimated points added per play, through the first seven weeks. Now, he has his number one receiver back in Rashee Rice, who caught two of Mahomes’ touchdowns last week against the Raiders. The Commanders are coming off a game where they allowed three touchdowns to Dak Prescott through the air, finishing as QB9 on the week. This is a smash spot for Mahomes against a secondary that gives up the seventh-most passing yards per game. He also adds a unique element on the ground, which is something you’d want when you play a quarterback in the captain spot. Mahomes entered the week third in rushing yards at the position with 250 rushing yards. And was tied for second with four rushing touchdowns. Mahomes will be the highest-rostered captain and player on the slate, but will also have the highest odds of being the optimal captain you need in your lineups tonight.
Flex Play: Rashee Rice, Kansas City Chiefs ($9.6K)
An obvious stack with Mahomes at the captain spot. Rice only played 41% of the snaps last week in the blowout against the Raiders. However, despite the small snap share, he still had ten targets and finished as WR10. Rice also had four redzone targets in the win. The most impressive number from that game would have to be that those 10 targets came on only 18 routes. Rice is heavily involved in the Chiefs’ plans going forward, and there is no reason to believe that he won’t see a heavy target share again tonight against a weak secondary.
Flex Play: Marcus Mariota, Washington Commanders ($9.2K)
The Chiefs are not typically a defense I would like to target, especially at home. They are allowing the second-fewest fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks. Mariota will get plenty of opportunities to pass the ball in a game script that will likely be favorable soon after the opening kickoff. Mariota also offers a safe rushing floor, having 20 rushing yards or more in every game he has played this year. I would not be against fading Mariota in this spot because of the risk of a blowout. However, DraftKings users must pick at least one Commander. And Mariota offers the highest floor, especially if the Commanders outperform their expectation. And they could easily with Terry McLaurin and Deebo Samuel back.
Flex Play: Terry McLaurin ($8.4K)
Reports say neither star receiver will be on a snap share tonight. I prefer McLaurin if he is truly healthy and ready to go after a prolonged absence. McLaurin has been inactive since Week 3 with a quad injury. And he will attempt to get back on track with a quarterback that fits his skill set. Mariota has the highest average depth of target at quarterback with a minimum of 50 drop backs on the season at 11.1 yards per target. McLaurin’s average depth of target is 14 yards per target, which greatly contrasts with Deebo Samuel, whose average depth of target is 6.5 yards. Expect Mariota to try and get the ball to his number one target in a game where they will need McLaurin to step up in a big way.
Flex Play: Brashard Smith, Kansas City Chiefs ($4K)
If this game goes as planned, Smith will get some work. He saw 19 total opportunities in last week’s game against the Raiders. The rookie likely will not get that many touches in the game. Although in the previous few weeks, when Smith was on the field, the team got him the ball. In Week 6, he was on the field for 9% of snaps and saw four targets; in Week 5, he played 9% of snaps and touched the ball four times. The Chiefs make it a point to develop their young players while getting their best players the ball. It makes them easier to project; either way, Smith will continue to carve out a role regardless.
Kickers & Defenses
The Commanders’ defense is simply unplayable, unless the goal is to be different. The Chiefs will likely rack up their fair share of points tonight. The Chiefs are very much in play, facing a backup quarterback and generally being one of the best defenses in the sport. As for the kickers, there might be some rain in this game, so keep an eye on that, but if you want to save some salary, and are not a fan of Brashard Smith, they could both be options. Overall, it should be a solid nice for the special teams with all of the potential scoring, and the defenses are wildcards, with a heavy preference leaning towards the Chiefs.
Final Thoughts
This DraftKings Showdown slate feels like one where a heavily duped lineup wins. Many DraftKings users will craft their lineups with the Chiefs winning by a lot in mind. And while that is the likeliest outcome, the secondary targets could be the key to the slate. Hollywood Brown and Kareem Hunt could score touchdowns for the Chiefs, which gives them a fantastic chance to land in the optimal lineup. Chris Moore or Jaylin Lane could catch a few passes at their discounted salaries as well. That is something to keep in mind in a game that projects as a potential blowout. There is usually one or two surprises on these DraftKings slates, and I do not expect anything less with these two teams. Best of luck building your lineups as we wrap up Week 8.
