DraftKings Showdown Week 15: Los Angeles Chargers @ Las Vegas Raiders
Week 15 of NFL DFS action on DraftKings kicks off with the Los Angeles Chargers at the Las Vegas Raiders on the Thursday night showdown Slate. The game has an implied total of 53 points with the Raiders a 3.5 point favourite.
I’m going to cover creating a cash game lineup and my favourite plays that you can use in your GPP lineups. Read our Week 1 article to learn more about the different strategies for these two contests.
These are my personal opinions on the games and strategies at the time of writing this. I may employ different players and strategies than above if later or further information makes me reevaluate my opinions.
Week 15 Cash Game Options
Every week I’m more convinced that DraftKings has sussed out the cash game cheat code. It’s only possible to fit in the usual QBs, RBs, and Kickers if you put a kicker in the Captain spot for this matchup. That would obviously be viable on a predicted lower scoring game but it doesn’t feel ideal here. If that’s the route you want to go, I’d suggest playing the Chargers kicker as the Captain.
All this assumes that Josh Jacobs and Austin Ekeler are both good-to-go on Thursday. As I write this, they both have Questionable tags. If Ekeler can’t go, Kalen Ballage will get the bulk of the work. Equally, if Jacobs sits, Devontae Booker will step in as the RB1 for the Raiders. If either of these things happens, the cash game lineup is the one we’ve been playing successfully for weeks.
However, I suspect Jacobs and Ekeler will both start. In which case, I’m going to play Ekeler as Captain, and replace both kickers with Ballage and Booker. This way I should have every TD covered in what’s expected to be a high-scoring game. Obviously, I will be missing out on the kicker’s points but in a game with so many expected touchdowns, rather than field goals, that’s a chance I’m willing to take.
Week 15 GPP Options
Both teams have fantasy-friendly defenses and the Raiders give up the third-most fantasy points to running backs so Ekeler is a great play. Here are some other players who I think offer great value.
Jalen Guyton – LAC ($2.8k, Captain - $4.2k)
The game logs don’t really explain why I like Guyton but he’s a big-play threat in a showdown slate. These are the type of plays which can make your lineup different from the field. He’s also been on the field for at least 70% of the snaps in each of the last seven weeks. At this price, you can’t ask for much more.
Henry Ruggs – LV ($5.2k, Captain - $7.8k)
Here’s the equivalent on the opposing sideline. Most people were expecting more from Ruggs this season but he proved on that bizarre defensive call against the Jets a couple of weeks ago, he’s capable of the one-off, big play.
Donald Parham – LAC ($200, Captain - $300)
If you need the money, Parham looks the best value at the minimum price. His targets can fluctuate from week-to-week but he’s just come off a four target performance and he’s found the endzone twice this week. What do you expect for $200?
KJ Hill – LAC ($200, Captain - $300)
If you want an alternative to Parham, then Hill offers an equally enticing option. He’s only received two targets over the past two weeks but his snap count is increasing. He also returns punts so pairing him with the Charger D is a great option in tournaments.
MArk Ferguson
DFS Analyst
MARK IS AN EXPERIENCED DFS PLAYER AND A MEMBER OF THE UK’S WINNING FANTASY ASHES TEAM. A JACK OF ALL SPORTS BUT NFL IS HIS FIRST LOVE. YOU CAN FIND HIM ON TWITTER @_SMRF