Week 5 of the NFL slate concludes with a matchup that feels like a mismatch on paper. The Kansas City Chiefs will go to Jacksonville to take on the Jaguars. And the Chiefs are finding their footing, while the Jaguars have a ton to figure out. That scenario often leads to a primetime blowout or a surprisingly fun matchup.
The awesome part is that your DraftKings Showdown lineup can tell the story. The most common story will be that both passing games will get significant looks in lineups. Travis Etienne will also be popular in those stacks. Kansas City’s backfield is currently in flux. I will discuss that further later, but we need to mention a current MVP candidate now.
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Monday Night DraftKings Showdown Picks
Captain Pick: Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs (15.9K)
Looking over the slate, it is hard to pick anyone else. Don’t get me wrong, the Jaguars’ defense is playing at an elite level. Their unit is allowing the seventh-fewest fantasy points to the position. However, the Chiefs are finally starting to click again. Getting Xavier Worthy back has been an enormous help. He is questionable entering tonight’s game, so his status is worth monitoring, as he was added to the injury report with swelling on Sunday.
That still wouldn’t change my pick, as Mahomes has looked like his old self recently. The star quarterback has three top-six fantasy finishes through four weeks. Two of those weeks were due to his mobility and scoring rushing touchdowns. Last week, he got it done through the air, throwing four touchdowns. Mahomes can beat a defense in numerous ways, and on a one-game slate, I want that upside every time.
Other Players to Consider: Trevor Lawrence, Brian Thomas Jr., Xavier Worthy, and Tyquan Thornton (if Worthy sits)
Flex Play: Brian Thomas Jr., Jacksonville Jaguars (10.2K)
It has been a puzzling start to the season for Brian Thomas Jr. The star receiver has not been registering the fantasy points to start the year. However, he is still getting the workload. His 35 targets are good for 15th in the league through four weeks. Now, Kansas City is not the right spot for anybody in recent memory. The Chiefs are the second-toughest defense against receivers. However, Thomas Jr. has one of, if not the highest, upside on the slate. It is worth taking a chance on him on a slate where the game script will be friendly, and he will still get his fair share of targets. Remember that in these DraftKings Showdown slates, you are looking for upside, not safety. And Thomas Jr. brings plenty of upside to the table.
Flex Play: Brashard Smith, Kansas City Chiefs (3.2K)
Figuring out Kansas City’s backfield will likely be the key to tonight’s slate. With all of the buzz going Smith’s way, I will take a chance on the rookie at his salary. The coaches have been saying all week that they want to get him more involved. And they achieved that last week, when he got four targets against the Ravens. It is worth noting that the Jaguars are giving up the sixth-most receiving yards to running backs. That number is higher due to the matchup against Christian McCaffrey last week. Chuba Hubbard added 32 yards and a touchdown through the air to that total. It is clear, though, that they are prepping Smith for that Jerrick McKinnon role as time goes on. Rostering him on DraftKings is purely speculative, given how lackluster the running backs for the Chiefs have been. If you are playing multiple lineups or are open to risk, Smith could be a great play if his involvement continues to trend upward.
Kickers & Defenses
The kickers are likely to be the popular options this week. The new kicking balls have injected serious life into the kicking game, specifically long-distance kicks. And that should not go unnoticed for DraftKings Showdown slates. Both Harrison Butker (5.4K) and Cam Little (5K) already have multiple double-digit games under their belt so far this season.
Butker and Little are viable lineup plays at their salary tonight.
Meanwhile, the modest projected total will likely keep DraftKings users away from the defenses for the most part. I recommend avoiding both for the most part. Now, if you wanted to be different, Jacksonville’s defense is the play at $4,000. The team already has nine interceptions and a defensive touchdown. So, while I will not have a hefty amount of the defenses tonight, they have been scoring well enough to consider it.
Final Thoughts
This DraftKings Showdown slate presents a lot of uncertainty. How will the Chiefs’ backfield turn out in this game? Will the pass-catching options for the Jaguars bounce back? Is Jacksonville’s defense actually elite? What this all means is that there will be variety on DraftKings tonight. That goes for plays past the typical Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce, and other top plays. The most important piece of information is whether Xavier Worthy is playing or not. Either way, I am inclined to play the other pass catchers, such as Hollywood Brown and Juju Smith-Schuster. It is essential to think outside the box and be creative in the big GPPs. The good thing is that it is especially easy to do on DraftKings Showdown slates. And best of luck with your lineups tonight.
Make sure to check out all of our Week 5 Fantasy Football Rankings and Analysis!
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