NFL DFS Showdown: Lineup Optimizer Rules and My Favorite Angle in Raiders-Chiefs

Our Lineup Optimizer is an incredibly powerful tool inside our Player Models, particularly when creating a large number of lineups. However, it’s just that — a tool. We still have to make decisions. Otherwise, everyone would have the same 150 lineups in each contest.

This is intended more as a teaching piece than a step-by-step guide. These rules are suggestions that can show you how to translate your read on this game into lineups.

Additionally, this piece focuses on DraftKings Showdown contests, but similar strategies are useful on FanDuel.

For my general Showdown strategy, you can read my Showdown primer.

My Favorite NFL DFS Angle in Raiders vs. Chiefs Showdown

It’s a Chiefs Showdown slate which means lots of ways to get different with how many guys they involve offensively. Rather than one particular angle, here are a couple of observations about this matchup.

Marques Valdez-Scantling has claimed the role of deep threat; eventually, he will catch a big one with Patrick Mahomes throwing him the ball. Skyy Moore is finally on the rise, out snapping Justin Watson for the first time this season last week.

There is no way to make Isaiah Pacheco make sense at his salary, but we saw him score a touchdown in garbage time in Week 1. With him getting a share of base work as well, he makes sense in lineups playing a Chiefs blowout.

Brandon Bolden has functioned as the Raiders’ receiving back this year. He wasn’t needed at all last week as Josh Jacobs and the offense played from ahead. Bolden is another guy who should see increased opportunities in games that the Chiefs dominate.

Lineup Optimizer Rules to Consider

General

• Max 3 players vs. opposing Defense
• Minimum salary cap 90%

Player Correlations

I don’t often like to use non-mobile quarterbacks in the Captain slot, but Mahomes is an exception. He should be paired with at least two of his pass catchers.

I will be making a rule to negatively boost Brandon Bolden in lineups that include Josh Jacobs for the reasons outlined above.

Remember to pair Captain pass catchers with at most one other pass catcher from the same team.

Player Groups

The standard rule of max two kickers and defenses applies.

Max 1 of Noah Gray, Jody Fortson

Max 1 of Mecole Hardman, Justin Watson, Skyy Moore

Captain Pool (from highest to lowest priority)

Primary Targets

• Travis Kelce
• Patrick Mahomes
• Davante Adams

Secondary Targets

• Clyde Edwards-Helaire
• Juju Smith-Schuster

Large-Field GPP Fliers

• Darren Waller
• Josh Jacobs
• Marques Valdez Scantling