Thursday Night Football Preview
Week 3 of the NFL season kicks off with the Carolina Panthers (2-0) heading to Houston to face the Texans (1-1). The Panthers are fresh off beating up the New Orleans Saints and are one of the more surprising undefeated teams in the NFL. The Texans are coming into Thursday off a loss to the Cleveland Browns. They will also be without starting quarterback Tyrod Taylor and rookie wide receiver Nico Collins due to injury. Rookie quarterback Davis Mills will be under center for this Thursday night matchup making the Texans an underdog. So how will each team approach their game plan to pull out the victory? Let’s break it down below.
How Do The Carolina Panthers Win The Game?
Carolina’s game plan will be straightforward and follow the path they have created in the first two weeks of the season by utilizing Christian McCaffrey and DJ Moore. The Panthers will also cause chaos on defense as they have a league-leading ten sacks and have not allowed more than 14 points in either game this season.
How Do The Texans Win This Game?
The Texans need a miracle to pull out a victory Thursday night. The Texans roster is nothing to write home about, and with the injury to their starting quarterback, the chances of victory are slim to none. However, if the Texans pull out a win, their game plan should surround running the ball and simplify Davis Mills’ game in his first NFL start.
So which players should be in your DFS Showdown lineup? Let’s break down each position below and teach you the path to successfully cashing out on your lineup.
Quarterback
Sam Darnold ($11,200)
Don’t look now, but Sam Darnold has put up over 20 fantasy points in each of his two starts with the Carolina Panthers. Expect more of the same against the Houston Texans defense. This quarterback should be a set it and forget it for your lineups.
Davis Mills ($8,400)
The rookie Davis Mills gets his first start in the NFL on Thursday night, and I will be avoiding him for my lineups. The Panther’s defense looks legit this year and, as we discussed earlier, can hit the quarterback early and often with ten sacks in two games. Davis Mills can drag your lineup into purgatory for his price point even with the Texans staring down the barrel of a negative game script.
Running Backs
Christian McCaffrey ($13,400)
What can be said that we don’t already know about Christian McCaffrey? He has had 20 or more attempts in each game while also having five or more targets in both games. So don’t get too fancy with your lineup. You are playing McCaffrey against the defense that has given up the eighth-most rushing yards this season.
Mark Ingram II ($6,600)/ Phillip Lindsay ($5,800)/ David Johnson ($5,400)/ Rex Burkhead ($200)
The Texan’s offseason revolved around bringing in as many older backs as they could, and they have made it hard to decide which running back to use week to week. Add in the fact that the Carolina Panthers have only allowed 57 yards in two games and I would avoid wanting to put too many of these players in my lineup. Therefore, David Johnson is the only back I am targeting due to the negative game script and his uptick in targets.
Wide Receivers
DJ Moore ($10,600)/ Robby Anderson ($7,800)/ Brandon Zylstra ($4,600)/ Terrace Marshall Jr ($4,000)
The primary receiver in this core I am targeting is DJ Moore. Moore already has 19 targets and has 14 receptions. He also has 159 yards and seems to be the favorite of new quarterback Sam Darnold. Robby Anderson has become a dart throw play this year. With McCaffrey back on the field, all the targets Anderson received in the short passing game are gone. Anderson is now touchdown dependent, and for his price point, it is not a price I am willing to pay.
Brandon Zylstra and Terrace Marshall Jr should be afterthoughts to your lineup and only considered if you need the salary relief at the position. However, I believe you can construct a better lineup without them.
Brandon Cooks ($10,000)/ Chris Conley ($1,600)/ Anthony Miller ($1,000)
I am weary of all the receiving options in Houston, with Davis Mills starting his first game,. Brandon Cooks is the model of consistency as he seems to produce with any quarterback, but with his salary being this high, I am fading him for this Thursday night lineup. The other options of Chris Conley and Anthony Miller are dart throws at best. In the case of Conley, you are hoping for a touchdown, whereas in Miller, you will hope that he takes on a PPR role. The best thing both of these players provide is salary relief, and since you must start a player from each team, they may be your best option for a Texans player.
Tight Ends
Dan Arnold ($4,800)
I have stated for multiple weeks unless it is the big three (Kelce, Waller, Hockenson) this year, I don’t want a piece of them. All the other tight ends need a touchdown for their potential to be met in your lineup. However, Dan Arnold just came off a four-target, 55-yard game. Consider him a cheaper option, and hopefully, he falls into the endzone for you.
Pharoah Brown ($2,600)/ Jordan Akins ($2,200)
A tight end could be a safe option for a young quarterback; I suggest Pharoah Brown if you need cash relief for roster construction. He received five targets in the first game and could help Mills escape the sack-heavy Panthers defense. However, I am avoiding this position entirely for my lineups on Thursday.
Kickers And Defense
Zane Gonzalez ($3,800)/ Joey Slye ($3,600)
Panthers Defense ($6,200)/ Texans Defense ($3,000)
In this bunch of roster options, the best is the Panthers’ defense. They have 10 sacks in two games and will face a rookie quarterback in his first NFL start. I’m expecting the defense to bring the pressure all night. With DFS, you want to chase the sacks for the points and the pressure they create for more possible turnovers.
If I were going to use a kicker, I would go with the cheaper option of Joey Syle for roster construction(since you must use one player from each team), and he cost less than Zane Gonzalez.
Prediction And Free Head To Head Cash Lineup
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Panthers 27-14
DFS Head To Head Cash Lineup
- DJ Moore ($15,900) *Captain*
- Panthers Defense ($6,200)
- Chris Conley ($1,600)
- Sam Darnold ($11,200)
- Christian McCaffrey ($13,400)
- Anthony Miller ($1,000)
Are you looking for DFS projections for the entire slate of games this weekend? Check out our NFL DFS projections!
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