The Patriots and Cardinals will try to snap their two-game losing streaks when they play each on Monday Night Football. The Patriots enter this late-season primetime contest as a 1.5-point favorite, while the total is set at O/U 43.5 points, according to BetMGM. While this isn’t an appealing MNF matchup on paper, there’s still enough offensive talent on both teams for DFS players to throw together a DraftKings Showdown lineup.
Before we get into our lineup and strategy, here are the key scoring settings for DraftKings Showdown contests: They’re full-point PPR and there are three-point bonuses for 300 passing yards, 100 rushing yardsand 100 receiving yards. The Captain pick costs 1.5 times a player’s original price, but he also gets his point total multiplied by 1.5.
MORE DK SHOWDOWN: How to win a Showdown contest
DraftKings Showdown Picks: Patriots vs. Cardinals Week 14 Monday Night Football
$50,000 budget, need at least one player from each team.
Captain (1.5x points, 1.5x salary): RB Rhamondre Stevenson ($13,200)
The 24-year-old running back had a solid outing last week against the Bills, despite not scoring a touchdown in the 14-point defeat. Stevenson recorded 13.8 DraftKings points, thanks to 88 total yards of offense on 16 touches. The second-year running back’s ability to be a competent pass catcher out of the backfield makes him an intriguing Captain play for Monday night. Stevenson will be going up against the Cardinals’ defense, which allows the 13th-most DraftKings points per game to RBs (24.7) and the eighth-most receiving yards to the position this season. If the Cardinals try to shut down Stevenson on the ground, he can easily hurt them in the passing game, where he’s averaging 6.2 receptions per game over the past five games.
FLEX QB Kyler Murray, Cardinals ($11,200)
The star quarterback has played well over his past three games, averaging 25.3 DraftKings points per game. Last week against the Chargers, Murray did it with his arms and legs, producing 26.2 DraftKings points (247 total yards, three total TDs, and an int). The veteran QB has thrown at least two TD passes in three-straight games and faces a Patriots’ defense that is middle-of-the-pack against QBs (17.3 DraftKings points per game) this season. However, the Pats do not give up a lot of passing yards (200.6) this season, making it a less-than-favorable matchup for Murray. That said, it’s hard to sit Murray in this spot, as the Cards will lean on him to make plays throughout the game.
FLEX QB Mac Jones, Patriots ($9,600)
The second-year quarterback is not the top option for most fantasy players across all platforms. However, with his salary and the matchup on Monday night, we have to put him in our showdown lineup. Last week against the Bills, Jones scored 12.5 DraftKings points (195 passing yards, 1 TD), which is what we are used to seeing from him. However, DFS players hope Jones can replicate his performance on Thanksgiving night against an opportunistic Vikings’ defense, where he posted 26.3 DraftKings points. Jones should be able to score at least 15-18 DraftKings points against the Cardinals’ defense, which allows the third-most DraftKings points per game to QBs (21.7) this season.
FLEX WR Marquise Brown, Cardinals ($7,600)
The veteran receiver played well in his first game off injured reserve last week against the Chargers. Brown had six receptions (eight targets) for 46 yards. If you had the speedy wideout in your lineup, he scored 10.6 DraftKings points. Brown will look to build off that performance on Monday night against the Patriots’ defense, which allows the ninth-fewest DraftKings points per game to WRs (31.7) this season. It’s a tough matchup for the veteran wideout. However, with DeAndre Hopkins playing on the opposite side, Brown should have some opportunities to create a few explosive plays.
FLEX TE Hunter Henry, Patriots ($5,600)
Henry has not looked like the same tight end we saw last season, who scored nine touchdowns. However, he has a great matchup in Week 14 against a Cardinals’ defense that struggles to cover the tight end. This season, the Cards allowed the most DraftKings points per game (19.4) and receiving yards to TEs. If you are a tight end looking for a bounce-back performance, you hope Arizona is on your schedule. Last week against the Bills, Henry was held to two receptions (five targets) for 13 yards (3.3 DraftKings points). While those stats don’t inspire a ton of confidence in Henry, you are not looking for a ton of value from him. If he can score a touchdown on Monday night, it will be a significant boost for your showdown lineup.
FLEX TE Trey McBride, Cardinals ($2,400)
Our final MNF showdown contest play will be rookie tight end Trey McBride. McBride hasn’t had a breakout game since taking over for an injured Zach Ertz. The rookie pass catcher has nine receptions (11 targets) for 46 yards in 11 games this season. If you are taking a flier on McBride, you aren’t expecting him to have Ertz-type numbers. Instead, you want McBride to be a threat inside the red zone and exploit a Pats’ defense that allows the 10th-most DraftKings points per game to TEs.
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