NFL DFS Showdown: Lineup Optimizer Rules and My Favorite Angle in Bengals-Browns

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 Bengals vs. Browns Showdown

Without Ja’Marr Chase this week, all of the Bengals offensive players project as screaming values. For two weeks in a row, the Bengals have gotten back to a pass-heavy, shotgun-based offense that has turned their season around. Mike Thomas should fill in on three wide receiver sets and possess a decent enough skill set to be useful on this slate at just $1200. I have less interest in Trent Taylor, who plays primarily in the slot. I don’t expect his role to change with Tyler Boyd still healthy.

With the Bengals also possessing a sneaky good defense, especially against the run, the projected game script this week has the Browns playing catch-up. With David Njoku out, Harrison Bryant and David Bell should be in line to inherit valuable middle-of-the-field snaps. Bryant is especially appealing against a unit that is bottom 10 in yards allowed to the tight end position so far this season.

Lineup Optimizer Rules to Consider

General

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

Player Correlations

• Pair Captain Joe Burrow with at least two Bengals pass catchers
• No Captain Jacoby Brissett for me, but I would pair him with two Browns pass catchers
• Decrease Kareem Hunt in lineups that contain Nick Chubb at Captain
• Pair Captain pass-catchers with at most one other pass-catcher from the same team.

Player Groups

Max two kickers and defenses.

I certainly wouldn’t blame you for running a strict max 1 of Hunt and Chubb this week.

Captain Pool (from highest to lowest priority)

Primary Targets

• Joe Mixon
• Tee Higgins

Secondary Targets

• Tyler Boyd
• Joe Burrow
• Amari Cooper
• Nick Chubb

Large-Field GPP Fliers

• Hayden Hurst
• Mike Thomas