Draftkings NFL Showdown player selections: Vikings at Bucs

This Sunday, the NFL presents a single game Draftkings showdown slate that features a clash of NFC opponents. Let’s take a look at this slate from a fantasy football perspective!

Before I discuss my Draftkings player picks for Sunday night’s game, let’s take a look at the key DFS injuries for both teams and briefly review the rules for the single game showdown contest.

DFS Injuries

Vikings:  LB Eric Kendricks (calf), RB Alexander Mattison (illness) OUT; TE Kyle Rudolph (foot) DOUBTFUL; TE Irv Smith Jr. (back) QUESTIONABLE.

Bucs: CB Jamel Dean (groin) DOUBTFUL.

Let’s shift our focus to the rules for the Draftkings single game showdown contest. You have $50,000 to utilize on five players from either team. However, one of those players will be designated as your team captain. The captain accumulates 1.5 times the standard Draftkings points. Additionally, the captain is 1.5 times the standard cost of the flex position.

The remaining four players in your lineup will receive the standard Draftkings points. Having stated that, it is highly important for you to identify the correct player for your captain position if you hope to win a Draftkings showdown contest.

If you have additional questions regarding the rules for the Draftkings showdown contest, I recommend that you check out the Draftkings website for more details.

Here are my Draftkings player selections for Sunday afternoon’s game!

Captain

Kirk Cousins, QB $15,000 (1.5 times $10,000 Flex cost)

The Minnesota Vikings are known as a run first football team on offense. I certainly understand the Vikings coaching staff wanting to focus on running the football. Why? Well, the Minnesota Vikings are fortunate to have Dalvin Cook, who is without a doubt, one of the best running backs in the NFL. Having stated that, football is a game that does not always go as a coaching staff plans. The game script ultimately determines what happens on the offensive side of the football on any given Sunday.

In the Vikings last three games played, QB Kirk Cousins has accumulated 926 passing yards and three passing touchdowns. I think it’s fair to say that Minnesota head coach Mike Zimmer would prefer that his quarterback was not throwing the football as often as he has over the course of the last three games. However, the recent game scripts have put Cousins in situations where he has to pass the football. Frankly, the Vikings defense has struggled. You can’t run the football consistently if you are playing from behind.

Additionally, I think it’s important to note that the strength of Tampa Bay’s defense is stopping the run. Le me be more specific. Tampa Bay is currently ranked first in the NFL in fewest rushing yards allowed to opposing offenses.

By the way, Kirk Cousins throwing the football early and often does not mean that Dalvin Cook will suddenly not be involved in the Minnesota offense on Sunday. The Buccaneers defense has allowed 73 receptions to the running back position this season. Clearly, the Tampa Bay defense has issues defending pass catching running backs.

Adam Thielen, WR $8,600

I am stacking my captain with his favorite wide receiver. In case you have been living under a rock and need to be reminded, that wide receiver’s name is Adam Thielen. In his last two games played, Adam Thielen has been targeted by Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins 22 times! Thielen turned those 22 targets into 16 receptions and three receiving touchdowns.

Chris Godwin, WR $7,400

Yes, I know that Tampa Bay signed high profile wide receiver Antonio Brown last month. I also know that Brown’s presence in the starting lineup has not effected Godwin’s fantasy production. Over the Buccaneers last three games, Chris Godwin has accumulated 51.50 Draftkings points. I think Tampa Bay quarterback Tom Brady has clearly shown that he is going to continue to target Godwin consistently the rest of this season.

Tyler Conklin, TE $200

The official injury report noted at the beginning of this article indicates that Vikings tight ends Kyle Rudolph and Irv Smith Jr. may miss Sunday’s game. For those readers that are not aware, Rudolph and Smith Jr. are the top two tight ends on the Minnesota depth chart. What am I getting at here you may ask? The answer is simple. There is a distinct possibility that Minnesota tight end Tyler Conklin will be starting this week’s game. Conklin arrives on the Draftkings showdown slate at only $200. In my opinion, Conklin has the potential to break the slate.

Additional Flex plays I like: Tom Brady, QB $10,400: Dalvin Cook, RB $11,200: Rob Gronkowski, TE $6,600: Ameer Abdullah, RB $200.

As always, good luck!