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Week 8 Draftkings Thursday Night Showdown Preview
After an injury riddled snore fest last week, we get what could be a great matchup between the Green Bay Packers and Arizona Cardinals. The issue is that the Packers are dealing with covid. The team is meeting remotely after positive tests for their defensive coordinator and more importantly Davante Adams and Allen Lazard.
This game is difficult to predict due to how Kyler spreads the ball around. All of his receiving options are in play and it’s even more difficult to know who to target with the addition of Zach Ertz. The Green Bay side is a bit more condensed but outside of Aaron Jones the talent is drastically diminished with Lazard and Adam’s missing. My strategy will be to use Kyler or Jones as captain in most lineups with sprinkles of each passing game’s options with a heavier lean towards Arizona. I’m leaning toward a full fade on Conners. He saw his snap share plummet to 30% last week in what should’ve been a prime spot for him to run out the clock in a blowout. He’s basically TD or bust and I’ll bank on him not scoring.
Injuries to Monitor
Davante Adams will need two negative tests within 24 hours and no symptoms to be eligible for this game. Given the short week it’s very likely that Adams misses this game.
Allen Lazard has also tested positive for covid and WILL be out for this game.
Valdes-Scantling could be back from his hamstring injury. The Cardinals have until 4pm Thursday to make a decision.
DeAndre Hopkins is dealing with a hamstring injury. Kingsbury said he’ll be a game time decision but he expects him to play.
Kyler Murray is dealing with a finger injury but is practicing fully so it doesn’t seem to be a concern.
Spread
Arizona -6
Over/Under 51
Reminder that you want your Showdown lineups on DraftKings to tell a story on how the game will play out. The lineup should be heavily correlated while trying to be different since there’s a limited player pool to choose from. Let’s get into the best plays.
Captain/Flex
Aaron Jones $13,500/$9,000
If Adams doesn’t play, I fully expect Jones to be the highest owned player and I can’t disagree. His salary allows a little wiggle room if used as captain. Jones is averaging 18 touches a game. That number will be closer to 25 with no Adams. Arizona has given up 156.5 rush yards a game over the last four weeks including 172 yards last week to the (insert sarcasm here) explosive Houston RBs.
Kyler Murray $18,000/$12,000
Kyler has averaged 31.7 DraftKings points and 335 passing yards over the last three games He’s scored a rushing TD in each of those games. Green Bay is bottom 10 in passing TDs given up with 14 TDs.
DeAndre Hopkins $15,900/$10,600
His targets have been up and down but Hopkins has still produced. He still has a 22% target share on the season and is still the most talented receiver on the team by far. He’s scored four TDs in the last three games.
Chase Edmonds $10,500/$7,200
Edmonds put any injury concerns behind him. After only playing 37% in Week 6, he played 69% last week. Edmonds ran as many routes as Kirk last week. He also has 33 targets which is three less than Kirk and two less than Green. Edmonds is averaging 5.8 yards a carry. The Packers are bottom 10 in rushing yards allowed and bottom three in yards per carry.
The Rest
Aaron Rodgers $11,400
Over the last four weeks the Cardinals have only given up an average of 223 passing yards a game. They have however given up seven TDs through the air in the last two games alone. That plays to Rodgers efficiency. Excluding the Week 1 dud, he’s averaged 263 yards and 2.5 TDs a game.
Randall Cobb $3,600
With no Adams, Cobb will be the safety blanket. The Cardinals limit the deep pass giving up 10.2 yards per reception which is 8th lowest in the league. Cobb is a great play at under $4k and will be peppered with targets.
Christian Kirk $7,200
Kirk has a bit more upside over the other options outside of Hopkins. He’s averaged 14 DraftKings points a game. He has scored two TDs in three games since the beginning of last season.
AJ Green $6,800
Although he’s past his prime, Green has been a great addition to Arizona. He’s averaged five targets a game. He’s averaged 12.2 DraftKings points and had 8 redzone targets which is 9th most in the league.
Robert Tonyan $4,600
Arizona has been good against TEs but with nobody else to throw to Bobby Tons could be the defacto number one. In two games without Adams last year, Tonyan had 11 receptions and four TDs. He’s third on the team in total targets this year. He already had TD equity and that will only increase along with his 12% target share.
Marquez Valdes-Scantling $3,800
After missing four weeks, MVS could be forced back into action whether he’s physically ready or not. If he goes he could just be a decoy to take the top off of the defense. He only needs one play with a 21 yard average depth of target so if he plays it’s worth a shot.
Zach Ertz $6,200
Ertz was welcomed to Arizona with the longest TD of his career. It was against Houston who’s the worst against TEs. He immediately saw five targets which is encouraging.
Rondale Moore $4,800
Despite only playing on 44% of snaps this year, Moore only has five less targets than Kirk and four less than Green. He’s averaging 10.3 yards a touch and has the ability to break a long one on any play.
Equanimeous St Brown$600
Amari Rodgers $400
These two are strictly salary savings dart throws. St Brown could likely get more snaps but it’s a toss up who would be more productive.
