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 Seahawks vs. Cowboys Showdown
Another week, another showdown slate where Tyler Lockett is underpriced. I feel like a broken record, but yet again, despite a very similar role, Lockett is priced over $2,000 below teammate DK Metcalf at just $7,200. While he didn’t pop off last time, he did post essentially the same score as Metcalf. I am once again taking the discount with the Seahawks expected to face a negative game script as 9-point underdogs.
Lockett was also off the injury report completely this week and is coming off a season-high 95% of snaps against the 49ers last week.
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 Dak Prescott with at least two Cowboys 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 2 kickers and defenses.
- Max 1 Seahawks TE.
- Max 1 Michael Gallup and Jalen Tolbert.
- Max 1 Cowboys TE.
- Max 1 Tony Pollard and Rico Dowdle in the FLEX.
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Captain Pool (from highest to lowest priority)
Primary Targets
- Ceedee Lamb
- Dak Prescott
- Tony Pollard
Secondary Targets
- Tyler Lockett
- DK Metcalf
- Zach Charbonnet
- Brandin Cooks
Large-Field GPP Fliers
- Cowboys Defense
- Geno Smith
- Jaxon Smith-Njigba
- Jalen Tolbert
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:
