DraftKings DFS Showdown
We have already seen some bad Thursday Night Football games this season; on paper, this looks to be another. Denver travels to New Orleans, with both teams coming off home losses. The Saints are on a four-game skid and will be without several key offensive players. Wide receivers Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed are both out, while quarterback Derek Carr and tight end Taysom Hill are doubtful. After averaging 45 points in their first two games, they have just averaged 19 ppg in their last four, so without the mentioned players, it will be tough.
Denver has also struggled mostly on offense but is a much better defensive team, allowing just 284.3 yards per game, which is the fourth-best in the league. The Broncos have no injury concerns on offense and will be looking to bounce back after the Chargers ended their three-game winning streak this past weekend. The points total indicates a low-scoring game (37.0), so with that information, here are my best plays for Week 7 of TNF.
Captain
RB Alvin Kamara ($17,700)
The Saints have been hit with injuries to their top two receivers. However, running back Alvin Kamara has more receptions than Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed this season and had the joint most targets (8) against Tampa Bay. The offense struggled in that game as rookie Spencer Rattler took over quarterback duties with Derek Carr and Taysom Hill out. Kamara will be Rattler’s safety blanket again, as well as the clear RB1 on the team. The Broncos aren’t giving up a considerable amount to running backs, but the volume Kamara may see in this game may tip him over the scales.
WR Courtland Sutton ($16,200)
The Denver passing game has struggled through six games with rookie quarterback Bo Nix learning on the job, resulting in him averaging 180 passing yards per game. Despite the low volume, wide receiver Courtland Sutton is the clear leader in the receiver room in targets (47), seeing over double the next receiver in the room (19). Sutton is only averaging 10.1 fppg, but in a game that will likely be low-scoring, he could be the player who outproduces the rest of the Broncos team.
RB Javonte Williams ($13,200)
In a game that is predicted to be low-scoring, the one area that could be a significant factor in this game is the Denver rushing attack. New Orleans is giving up the most rushing yards per attempt in the league (5.37). The Saints also give up the second most reception yards per catch to running backs in the leagues (9.88). Denver running back Javonte Williams hasn’t been electric so far this season, with his highest fantasy game against the Raiders in Week 5 (16.1 points). However, with an upside in the passing game, the stats point to a potential breakout game for Williams.
FLEX
QB Bo Nix ($9,400)
As mentioned, it’s been tough sledding for rookie quarterback Bo Nix in the early part of the season. However, there has been some good amongst the bad, which gives us hope, especially in a game such as this. Week 6 saw the first time that the Saints had given up more than one passing touchdown to a quarterback, having played Patrick Mahomes, Dak Prescott, and Jalen Hurts in their first five weeks. Nix could be a low-percentage play, looking at all the stats, so it could be a good pick if playing multiple line-ups.
RB Jaleel McLaughlin ($5,800)
Continuing from the Saints rushing/receiving yards allowed to running backs we discussed earlier, a differential pick to Javonte Williams is Broncos RB2 Jaleel McLaughlin. The difference in carries between both running backs isn’t huge, with McLaughlin still having 32.7% of the team’s carries, with Williams having 53.6%. They are also averaging around the same yards per carry. McLaughlin has that breakaway speed, meaning a higher percent chance of a big chunk play or TD.
K Blake Grupe ($5,000)
The game will likely be low-scoring, so playing both kickers is an option here. If you want to play just one, Saints kicker Blake Grupe looks to be the better option. New Orleans is a high-percentage scoring team in the red zone (71.43%) but dropped to (50%) with Spencer Rattler as the starter. Grupe is ten from ten on-field goals this season, with his longest being a 57-yarder.
DST Broncos ($4,800)
The Broncos’ defense has had four double-digit fantasy point games this season, including a 16-point game against Las Vegas, which included three interceptions. The defense has allowed just 16 points per game and has 22 sacks, three defensive fumble recoveries, and a defensive touchdown. With the struggles that the New Orleans offense faces tonight, this could be an opportunity for the Broncos to suffocate the home team.
WR Bub Means ($4,000)
The Saints have their top two wide receivers out for the TNF game, which gives opportunities for deeper depth chart guys to step up. Bub Means did that against the Buccaneers last week when Chris Olave was knocked out of the game. Means, who had zero receptions before the match, caught five receptions for 45 receiving yards and a touchdown. The rookie was targeted eight times, and with Olave and Shaheed out, he could lead the wide receivers in targets against the Broncos.
