Thursday Night Football Preview
Green Bay Packers vs. Arizona Cardinals
Spread: Cardinals -6.5 O/U 50.5
Week eight begins with the Green Bay Packers traveling to the undefeated Arizona Cardinals for Thursday Night Football. This game features two of the top three teams in the NFC and two MVP-worthy quarterbacks in Aaron Rodgers and Kyler Murray. Another storyline that featured within this game is the Packers struggling through the Covid-19 protocols. Additionally, their top two wide receivers, Davante Adams and Allen Lazard are missing Thursday’s game due to a positive test. With these storylines in mind, let’s break down how each team should approach the game to leave Thursday night with a victory.
How Do The Green Bay Packers Win This Game?
With Davante Adams missing the game, the Packers should lean on their run game featuring Aaron Jones. At the same time, Aaron Rodgers will need to deliver a more diverse target share to his core of available wide receivers. Rodgers can also target his backs more in the passing game since the Cardinals have allowed the tenth most receptions in the NFL to the running back position.
How Do The Arizona Cardinals Win This Game?
The Cardinals can ride Kyler Murray’s talents on the field to a victory this week. The Packers have given up the second-most rushing yard this season to quarterbacks, and we all know Murray is one of the best mobile quarterbacks within the NFL. Kliff Kingsbury should look into moving his quarterback around through the game and keeping the Packers defense on their toes to allow his robust set of weapons to slip within the cracks of the coverage.
Now that we have broken down how each team should approach the game, let’s break down each player by position to see who should be in your DFS Showdown Slate lineups.
Quarterbacks
Aaron Rodgers ($11,400)
Since week two, Aaron Rodgers has had two or more touchdowns in every game. He also scored 20 or more fantasy points in all but one of those games(where he scored 19). Most weeks, Rodgers is a set it and forget it type of player. This week is more of the same.
Kyler Murray ($12,000)
Kyler Murray is having an MVP-like performance this season. Thursday night, he faces a Packers defense that has allowed the second-most rushing yards to quarterbacks this season (238 yards). The Packers’ defense has also allowed the seventh-most passing touchdowns, 14 total, in 2021. So put Murray in your lineups.
Running Backs
Aaron Jones ($9,000)/ AJ Dillion ($1,400)
With Covid-19 running through the Packers wide receiver core, the team will need to lean on their running backs more than usual this game. Aaron Jones has received four or more targets in the passing game in the last four games, which can work in his favor. The Cardinals struggled against receptions allowed to running back; they are tenth worst in the NFL. With limited weapons, Rodgers may lean on the players he trusts the most Thursday night.
AJ Dillion is more of a dart throw for your lineup. In his last two games, his fantasy production has totaled less than seven points combined. So if you place Dillion in your lineup, you have to hope he falls in the endzone.
James Conner ($7,800)/ Chase Edmonds ($7,000)
The Cardinals have a potent 1-2 punch in their backfield. The games where I like to use Conner are where the Cardinals should have a comfortable lead and are looking to run the clock and punch in goal-line attempts.
Chase Edmonds is my play when I look for a safer floor due to his role in the passing game. This year, Edmonds has had 27 receptions and has collected 75 scrimmage yards in five of the seven games heading into this week’s matchup vs. the Packers. As I have stated in past articles, when running backs are this close in production and price, I tend to lean towards the cheaper option for my lineup.
Wide Receivers
Davante Adams ($11,000)*/ Allen Lazard ($5,200) */ Marquez Valdez-Scantling/ Randall Cobb ($3,600)/ Equanimeous St. Brown ($600)
*Davante Adams and Allen Lazard will miss the game due to Covid-19 protocols. Please do not use them in your lineup*
Now that we have that out of the way, which wide receiver in Green Bay would be my dart throw for this game? For me, the answer is Randall Cobb. Marquez Valdez Scantling has a chance to return, but I never like to play a guy I haven’t seen in four weeks play the game of football in my lineups.
Rodgers is comfortable with Cobb, even asking for him to return to the team this year. We have watched Cobb have a boom week already this season; this could be a repeat of week four when he scored 22 fantasy points.
DeAndre Hopkins ($10,600)/ Christian Kirk ($7,200)/ A.J. Green ($6,800)/ Rondale Moore ($4,800)
A safe bet in fantasy this year is to have one of Kyler Murray passing options. DeAndre Hopkins should always get your first look in a typical year. This year, however, Hopkins has seen a bit of a decline in production for fantasy so far, averaging 16.7 fantasy points a game. With so many options in the Arizona passing game, combined with his price point, you can spend your money elsewhere.
When it comes to the rest of the receiving core, fantasy point per game breaks down like so:
- Christian Kirk: 14.1
- A.J. Green: 12.2
- Rondale Moore: 10.2
Kirk has been the most consistent over the last three games having ten or more fantasy points in each game. As a result, he can be inserted into your lineups.
Tight Ends
Robert Tonyan ($4,600)
With two of Aaron Rodgers top weapons missing the game Thursday, Toynan can be productive in your lineups. He fell into the endzone last weekend to have his first game over five fantasy points four games. Rodgers could lean on Tonyan to help with the depleted passing game.
Zach Ertz ($6,200)
Zach Ertz showed up in his first week in Arizona and caught three of his five targets for 66 yards and a touchdown. This connection with Murray can grow even more vital as time moves on within the system. With any tight end, the rule is if you play them, you hope on a touchdown. Ertz can land in the endzone for you this week.
Kicker and Defense
Matt Prater ($4,200)/ Mason Crosby ($4,000)/ Cardinals D($3,000)/ Packers D ($2,800)
I would fade either defense as I do not want to play someone facing either Kyler Murray or Aaron Rodgers. However, a kicker could prove helpful in this game. Matt Prater has yet to score less than five fantasy points in a game this season and allows you to pay up for players in other positions.
Prediction and Free DFS Cash Lineup
The Arizona Cardinals defeat the Green Bay Packers 30-21
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Cash Lineup
- Kyler Murray ($18,000) *Captain*
- Randall Cobb ($3,600)
- Chase Edmonds ($7,000)
- Matt Prater ($4,200)
- Aaron Rodgers ($11,400)
- Robert Tonyan ($4,600)
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