Welcome into the NFL DFS Building Blocks designed specifically for showdown contests this season! If you’ve never read my main slate Building Blocks article, I will be highlighting my favorite overall plays and how I intend to build my main lineup. I will be providing both core plays and prop picks for every primetime game this season, and you can gain access to those here. With that being said, let’s dive into the first game of the season…
Top CPT Plays
Sterling Shepard
There’s always endless option for your CPT spot but I think most people that have read my content know that I lean towards WRs on *most* slates. Saquon Barkley is the highest projected owned CPT tonight, and I do think he’s a good play in all formats. That being said, this game features just a one point spread so playing it with the angle that NYG are trailing is a viable strategy. Kenny Golladay is clearly not in the coaches good graces, and it appears he is still at the bottom of the depth chart even with Wan’Dale Robinson and Kadarius Toney out. Shepard has been running as the clear number one WR for Jones since returning from injury. He was up over 90% of the snaps in Week 2, and I think he will continue to be his go-to target. If New York gets down, or it’s a close game throughout, Shepard could get fed on Monday night.
Noah Brown
CeeDee Lamb has actually played really well in his career with Cooper Rush at QB. I think Lamb is a fantastic play tonight, but he is also very expensive. If playing the angle that the Cowboys are trailing, we can look to Noah Brown for savings. Brown gets a nice bump with Michael Gallup expected out again. He posted over 90 yards and a touchdown in Week 2 with Rush throwing the ball. He also has ran a route on over 85% of Cowboy’s QB drop-backs this season. Brown should be very low-owned at the CPT spot and you can play him in lineups with Lamb as well.
Top Value Plays
Richie James Jr
I think pairing Daniel Jones with more than one WR is 100% playable in tournaments if playing the Giants are trailing angle. Shepard is the clear number one, but James has been second on the team in target-share and is the favorite for slot work on Monday. He essentially was splitting slot-time in Week 2, so with Robinson and Toney both out he has the potential to be the full-time slot WR against the Cowboys. There is always a chance Shepard slides in there some since we’ve seen that in the past — but James is very cheap for his expected role on Monday.
Jalen Tolbert
Tolbert is expected to make his NFL debut tonight with Gallup still out and Dennis Houston now off the roster. I was a fan of Tolbert in the draft and I think he certainly has big play potential. It’s unclear how much he will play tonight, but these are the exact type of players to take shots on in larger-field contests.
Jake Ferguson/Peyton Hendershot
It’s highly unlikely that Dalton Schultz plays tonight opening up tons of playing time for two minimum-priced players on DraftKings. I think Ferguson is looked at more positively because he saw more snaps in Shultz’s absence last week. I think both are fine plays, but if high-ownership ends up on Ferguson I prefer the pivot to Hendershot who actually might be more of/the better pass catcher. Either way, they don’t need to do much at these low of price tags tonight.
Written by Ben Hossler (Follow @BenHossler on Twitter)
