We are here to cover the 2022 DraftKings showdown slate for Monday Night Football Week 17, Buffalo @Cincinnati. This is a game to start the new year with! Two strong offenses, two teams looking to try and win it all. With fantasy championships won, lost or in the balance, give this showdown a whirl! The O/U has been set at 50.5 points, with the Bills favored by around a field goal. There are alot of CPT plays on the slate. It’s really getting together a core and finding flex plays to fit.
DraftKings MNF Showdown 2022 – Buffalo @Cincinnati Captain Picks
Josh Allen ($17,100 Capt/ $11,400 Flex)
Allen feels a little cheap on the slate after his previous showdown salaries. Has a huge ceiling, and a safe floor with his legs. At the prices, I prefer Burrow, but I’m fine with Allen as a CPT here. If Allen is forced to air it out, could smash here. If Buffalo get up early he could struggle to hit value.
Joe Burrow ($16,200 Capt/ $10,800 Flex)
Burrow is my favorite CPT play, offering $900 savings on Allen, but with pretty much the same level of upside here. Should be able to cause the Buffalo secondary plenty of issues assuming that his offensive line can protect him for long enough. Pairing him with Chase and you are well on your way to success on the slate.
Ja’Marr Chase ($15,900 Capt/ $10,600 Flex)
Chase is a fantastic play, and should be able to eat against this secondary. Getting near double-digit receptions is definitely achievable, which should put him in good position for the 100-yard bonus, if he manages a TD to go along, he is going to be one of the highest-scorers on the slate. Pairing him with Burrow is a very nice way to start your lineup here.
Stefon Diggs ($15,600 Capt/ $10,400 Flex)
Diggs hasn’t been as dominant in recent weeks as he was when he started the season. His target share has been eaten into with the Bills spreading the ball a little more, and his efficiency has been hit too. If the Bills suffer with a slow start has a good opportunity to impress and make a statement ahead of the playoffs.
Tee Higgins ($14,700 Capt/ $9,800 Flex)
Higgins is a nice pivot from Chase, and has been performing well in the offense with four TDs in his last four (meaningful) games. Also has 3 100+ yard games in his last five. I’m going to have some lineups with him as CPT to save salary for Burrow/ Chase in the flex.
Joe Mixon ($13,500 Capt/ $9,000 Flex)
Mixon has been getting a great workload in this offense, and more importantly with DK’s PPR scoring, getting targets in the offense. With the headline offensive receivers on the slate, Mixon is going to be overlooked. If Mixon finds a gap, he has the burst to break off a long run, and has a decent floor with the dump-offs and check-downs he’ll get from Burrow.
Dawson Knox ($7,200 Capt/ $4,800 Flex)
Last CPT play I’ll recommend (alot more that a normal slate) is Knox. Has scored each of the last three weeks, and is priced nicely on the slate that if he scores- he realistically hits value. The price point allows you to do plenty with lineup builds too, stacking your flex spots with high-end plays.
DraftKings MNF Showdown 2022 – Buffalo @Cincinnati Flex Picks
Devin Singletary/ James Cook ($7,000/ $5,600 Flex)
Singletary is still the leadback for the Bills, despite James Cook getting involved. The way this offense is put together, they give Singletary the ball to start the game and then give Cook the ball on select plays. With his lack of involvement in the passing game too, will need multiple TDs to hit value here.
Cook has scored each of the last two weeks, but he is still the secondary back here. Last week he had plenty of volume, but has only had double-digit carries in 4 games this season. Not much of a floor with that lack of volume, but could smash the slate if he gets into the endzone at the price.
Gabe Davis ($6,400 Flex)
Davis is the ultimate showdown piece. Has the ability to pop in any game with his deep threat, and ability to get into the endzone. Doesn’t really have much of a floor, with his target share, but has a great ceiling and a nice pivot from Diggs on the slate.
Tyler Boyd/ Trenton Irwin ($5,000/ $4,400 Flex)
Boyd has been struggling with a finger injury, but is still getting out on the field a decent amount. The ownership is going to be really low, with the other pieces of the Bengals offense and people chasing the points of Trenton Irwin.
Speaking of which, I’m not sold on Irwin. There are going to be people that are happy to chase the points here, with his 2 scores last week, but with Boyd another week on from his injury and the return of Hayden Hurst could really see his opportunity fall off.
Samaje Perine ($4,600 Flex)
Perine doesn’t have the touches to back it up, but he is getting on the field a fair bit with around 40% of the snaps in the offense. Has found his way into the endzone a decent amount this season too, vulturing Mixon. If Mixon struggles in the game, or gets injury Perine is the next man up and can handle the workload.
Hayden Hurst ($3,000 Flex)
Hurst is set to return to the offense after missing time with a calf injury. With the way this slate has been priced, you need to find savings somewhere and Hurst is a great cheap play on the slate. Stays on the field, and has been used as a check-down option for Burrow this season.
Isaiah McKenzie ($2,800 Flex)
McKenzie is the third receiver for the Bills, and has had some games where he has killed the game as the slot receiver. Hasn’t done anything since Week 12 though, but has seen his snap count stay largely consistent. Worth a shot at the price, just know there really is not much of a floor at all.
DraftKings MNF Showdown 2022 – Buffalo @Cincinnati Kickers and DSTs
The kickers are inplay, with the floor that they provide, but I’m not sure I’m really looking for floor on this slate. Tyler Bass ($4,200) hasn’t been hitting the highs of previous seasons, with the Buffalo offense scoring fewer TDs this season. Has been pretty solid this season and has a good opportunity for low double-digit points. Evan McPherson ($4,000) has struggled with misses this season, with 90% of PATs and 82% of FGs converted on the season. Despite those misses, he is still relied upon in the offense with his long leg. Could get double-digits here.
I’m not really looking to play either DST here, with the strength of the offenses. Buffalo DST ($3,600) are going to need to switch it on defense or be picked apart through the air. They should be able to bring some pressure, but don’t have the same threat they did earlier in the season. The Bengals DST ($3,400) would be my selection of the two. Allen has struggled with turnovers recently and has been getting sacked too. That could mean a decent outing for the Bengals. The risk is that the Bills offense clicks and limits turnovers, and as a result they do next to nothing for fantasy.
So, there are our DraftKings selections for the 2022 Showdown of Buffalo @Cincinnati! Remember any DFS questions, you can check out our articles here. Or you can find us on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram.
Image Credit: Katie Stratman – USA TODAY Sports
