NFL DFS Thanksgiving DraftKings Showdown: Lineup Optimizer Rules and Favorite Angle in 49ers-Seahawks

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 49ers vs. Seahawks Showdown

It seems like every week, at least two of the four studs for San Francisco go off and post a monster score. That dynamic should force Seattle into a more pass-heavy approach, especially with Kenneth Walker all but ruled out for Thursday.

The player that really jumps out to me is Tyler Lockett at just $6,400. He is somehow priced $2,000 below DK Metcalf despite an extremely similar role. Perhaps even more shocking to me is early ownership projections in the optimizer have Metcalf slightly above Lockett.

I sincerely hope last week’s dud makes that come to fruition. Lockett played last week after not being able to practice due to injury, whereas this week he is not even listed on the final report. I am more than happy to take the discount and use the savings to afford the 49ers superstars.

Lineup Optimizer Rules to Consider

General

• Max 4 players vs. Opposing Defense
• Minimum salary cap 90%

Player Correlations

• Pair Captain Geno Smith with at least two Seahawks pass-catchers.
• Pair Captain Brock Purdy with at least two 49ers pass-catchers.
• 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 Seahawks TE

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Captain Pool (from highest to lowest priority)

Primary Targets

• Christian McCaffrey
• Brandon Aiyuk
• George Kittle

Secondary Targets

• Deebo Samuel
• Tyler Lockett
• DK Metcalf

Large-Field GPP Fliers

• Zach Charbonnet
• Brock Purdy
• Jaxon Smith-Njigba
• 49ers Defense

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: