NFL DFS Showdown Lineup Optimizer Values: Eagles-Cowboys DraftKings Picks

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NFL Showdown season continues with the Eagles at Cowboys on Sunday Night Football. Our expert analysts are breaking down DraftKings Showdown picks with our in-house NFL DFS lineup optimizer. Sign up for RotoGrinders Premium for full access to our NFL lineup optimizer and fantasy football projections all season long.

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It’s a big game for both teams tonight, as the winner of this game will be a huge determinant in who wins the NFC East, while both teams are still pretty much locks for at least a Wild Card spot. Philly is coming off an embarrassing home loss to SF and will be looking for a big rebound game, and the return of Dallas Goedert is a big boost to their offense. Dallas has won four straight after losing to Philly in Week 9 and now has the home field advantage while also getting a TE back from injury in Peyton Hendershot.

NFL DFS Showdown Picks: Eagles at Cowboys Week 14

Currently, this game is sitting at a 51.5 total, with the Cowboys favored by 3.5 points. This just shows how big of a home field advantage Dallas has, as they’ve scored 30+ points in every home game and have scored 40+ points in their last four home games. The Eagles have given up 42 and 34 points in their last two games, so I think this line could end up being a bit low for Dallas, the team I’m expecting to win, but with the highest game total of the slate, we should be in for a great game that is hopefully close toward the end.

Quarterback

Assuming all of the TDs Dak Prescott ($10,600) throws don’t go to one person, he will likely be the optimal captain play and is the first guy to lock in your cash game lineup. The Eagles are allowing the 4th most pass yards per game (260.3) and 7th most points per game (23.5). Dak has scored an additional 11.7 FPPG at home this year. It’s another smash spot for the Cowboys, and Dak has just way too much upside to consider fading in pretty much any lineup you make.

Jalen Hurts ($11,000) is a bit pricier than Dak, has a tougher matchup against the 5th ranked pass defense, and has scored 4 FPPG less on the road. Even with all of these factors against him, I still think he’s worth jamming in to your cash game lineup, as his rushing floor and the likely game script still gives him a massive ceiling.

Running Back

Tony Pollard ($8,000) has gone for 17+ FP in three straight games, scoring a TD in each, and with 4+ targets in all of those games, I think he’s just too cheap for someone likely to see 20+ touches as a home favorite. He’s a solid contrarian captain play, as most lineups will likely have a QB or WR in the captain spot, but for cash games, I would find a spot for him in a flex spot.

DAndre Swift ($7,400) is just a GPP play for me today, as he’s gone for under 10 FP in three of his last four games including this same matchup with Dallas. He’s going to need a TD to have value unless he has 5+ catches and/or can break a long run or catch, so I’d rather go with guys more involved in the passing game, especially on the Philly side.

Wide Receiver

CeeDee Lamb ($11,200) is the highest upside play in this game and should be in the majority of your lineups stacked with Dak. It’s going to be hard fitting both QBs with Lamb if you use one of the three in the captain spot, but I’m currently doing my best to jam all three in my main build. Brandin Cooks ($7,000) is the only other Cowboys WR I’d consider for cash games, and in GPPs, he should be on every lineup that doesn’t have Lamb on it for max leverage.

AJ Brown ($10,000) and DeVonta Smith ($8,400) are both elite targets, as they each scored a TD in their last matchup with Dallas, and game script should favor the Philly passing game. They should be all over your GPP teams in the captain and flex spots, and for cash games, I give the slight edge to Smith since he’s $1,600 cheaper.

Tight End

Jake Ferguson ($6,800) and Dallas Goedert ($5,400) are both strong value plays, with Ferguson getting the edge for me even at a higher price. Goedert may not get a full workload as he gets back into game shape, while Ferguson has entrenched himself as a go-to target for Dak, especially in the red zone.

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Defense / Special Teams

Both DSTs are just GPP plays for me. The kickers are around $5,000 and are fine cash game flex plays if you need to fill a final spot.

Sunday Night Football NFL DFS Strategy

I like going Dallas heavy in cash games with a 4-2 or 5-1 build, while all lineup variants are in play in GPPs. I don’t mind going with a cheaper captain like Smith, Pollard, or even Ferguson if it lets you fit in Dak and Hurts along with a top WR.

DraftKings DFS Showdown Rankings

1. Dak Prescott – Cash game must play with the highest upside of anyone in this game.

2. Jalen Hurts – Game script should force Hurts to throw a ton here, and his rushing upside just gives him a huge floor/ceiling combo in all formats.

3. Tony Pollard – His $8,000 price is just too cheap for a guy likely to see 20+ touches, especially as a home favorite involved in the passing game.

4. DeVonta Smith – He’s my favorite p/$ WR in this game at $8,400 and is easily the best way to get exposure to the Philly pass game for cheap.

5. Jake Ferguson / Brandin Cooks – At around $7,000, both are excellent values for more Dallas exposure.

NFL DFS Lineup Optimizer for Sunday Night Football

Check out LineupHQ for this Showdown slate! It’s your one-stop shop for all of the tools you need to build and edit multiple lineups with one click, such as excluding certain players, adjusting your ownership and stack preferences, and doing any mass late-swap edits.

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About the Author

naapstermaan
Erik Wardenburg (naapstermaan)

Erik Wardenburg (aka naapstermaan) has been playing fantasy sports since 2005 and DFS since 2010. He went to UC Davis, majoring in Economics, and began working with RotoGrinders in 2015. He currently manages the lineups page for MLB, NBA, and NFL, provides Consensus Value Rankings for MLB and NBA, and manages The Situation Room for NBA. Erik has made multiple Live Finals in MLB, NBA, and NFL on a variety of sites and enjoys grinding small/medium stakes every day. Follow Naap on Twitter – @naapstermaan