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 DFS 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.
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My Favorite NFL DFS Angle in Panthers vs. Bears Showdown
I’m always looking for a low-owned or an overlooked way to play Showdown slates, but tonight, I can’t escape D’Onta Foreman. With Justin Fields and Khalil Herbert set to miss another week, Foreman gets a complete smash spot against a Panthers run defense that ranks dead last in DVOA.
At just $8,600, he will be the key cog in my lineups while I look for pivots elsewhere. One such option looks like Terrace Marshall, who has shown glimpses of production before and should be in for a full-time role tonight, with Laviska Shenualt and DJ Chark both set to miss. His legit viability makes me interested in setting a salary max tonight to help create unique lineups, as lineups that do not use the entire salary are always more unique.
Lineup Optimizer Rules to Consider
General
- Max 4 players vs. Opposing Defense
- Minimum salary cap 90%
- Consider max salary of 99%
Player Correlations
- Pair Captain Bryce Young (gross) with at least two Panthers pass-catchers.
- Pair Captain Tyson Bagent with at least one Bears pass-catcher.
- Pair Captain pass-catchers with at most one other pass-catcher from the same team.
- Most lineups should also pair Captain pass-catchers with their QB.
Player Groups
- Max two kickers and defenses
- Max 1 secondary Bears RB
- Max 1 Panthers TE
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Captain Pool (from highest to lowest priority)
Primary Targets
- D’Onta Foreman
- Adam Thielen
Secondary Targets
- DJ Moore
- Cole Kmet
- Tyson Bagent
- Chuba Hubbard
Large-Field GPP Fliers
- Jonathan Mingo
- Bryce Young
- Defenses
- Kickers
Finally, make sure to check out all the projections available for purchase (Chris Raybon’s come included with a FantasyLabs subscription) within the FantasyLabs Models. Subscribers now have the option to purchase Derek Carty’s THE BLITZ from our Marketplace. Projections from One Week Season and Establish the Run are available if you’re a subscriber to those specific sites (our optimizer is a separate add-on feature).
You can also combine them to create your own aggregate projections:
