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The first Sunday Night Football in almost ten years offers a deep pool of Fantasy playmakers for the Sunday Night DFS showdown slate. These strategies can assist Fantasy managers in determining who should be in their lineups for what is expected to be a high-scoring affair.
Playing Darren Waller or Sam LaPorta at Captain
The tight ends are two mid-range values with touchdown upside, making either Waller (DK: $4,400 / FD: $6,000) or LaPorta (DK: $6,600 / FD: $7,200) worth playing. Both tight ends are heavily involved in the end zone, as Waller is tied for the most receiving touchdowns on the Panthers, and LaPorta is tied for third among all tight ends with five red-zone targets. Their touchdown potential allows Waller and LaPorta to outperform their salaries, which would be especially beneficial at the captain spot. Placing Waller or LaPorta at captain enables DFS players to fill the rest of their lineup with other Fantasy studs. Jahmyr Gibbs (DK: $12,000 / FD: $13,800), Jared Goff (DK: $10,000 / FD: $12,200), and Bryce Young (DK: $9,800 / FD: $11,800) can be included without having to resort to bottom-tier options when either tight end is captain.
Going Double Kicker
For DFS players who prefer to play one of the higher-salary players, going with two kickers in the lineup allows for more studs to be added. Both kickers should have ample kicking opportunities in this anticipated shootout. Ryan Fitzgerald (DK: $4,800 / FD: $6,400) carried the Panthers offense last week, making four field goals on his way to a 15.0 Fantasy point performance. Fitzgerald's lowest output this season is 8.0 Fantasy points, which would be a decent showing in this showdown contest. Jake Bates (DK: $5,000 / FD: $6,800) hasn't seen a heavy volume of field-goal attempts early in the season, but extra-point attempts have kept Bates relevant in Fantasy. Bates averaged only one field-goal attempt per game early on, but averaged 7.0 Fantasy points through the first three games. If Bates can see multiple field-goal attempts, the Lions kicker can add valuable points alongside the other Fantasy studs in the lineup.
Fading Amon-Ra St. Brown
Amon-Ra St. Brown (DK: $11,000 / FD: $12,600) has been on a hot streak early in the season, scoring at least one touchdown in each game. St. Brown's red-zone success makes the Lions wide receiver an intriguing option in the showdown slate, but his price point makes him a fade. With the multitude of high-priced stars in the player pool, St. Brown will have to be the odd man out. Plenty of other players at lower price points can outperform their salaries, whereas St. Brown may struggle to do so. The Panthers rank second in fewest Fantasy points allowed to opposing wide receivers, which hurts St. Brown's Fantasy prospects. Other receivers at lower salaries, such as Tetairoa McMillan (DK: $9,000 / FD: $9,400), Jameson Williams (DK: $7,000 / FD: $7,800), and Jalen Coker (DK: $9,800 / FD: $7,400), will have an easier time outperforming their salaries and allow DFS players to fit more studs into their lineups. Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800-GAMBLER.
More Fantasy Sports on SI News: Jeff Salcedo is a writer for Fantasy Sports on SI with extensive experience covering the NFL, MMA, NBA, and soccer. A dedicated fantasy sports enthusiast, he has competed in fantasy leagues and daily fantasy sports (DFS) contests for more than a decade. Before joining Fantasy Sports on SI, Salcedo worked as a senior sports reporter for BYU's student newspaper, The Daily Universe. Follow Jsalcedosports.