Another 2023 DraftKings showdown slate this time Chicago @Los Angeles. This one could have been alot better if Justin Fields, at least the version we saw against Denver and Washington, was able to play. Instead we have to see what Bagent can do in his second start. Both secondaries aren’t strong, so we should see both teams try and air it out. The O/U has been set at 46.5, with the Chargers currently favored by over a TD.
DraftKings SNF Showdown 2023 – Chicago @Los Angeles Captain Picks
Keenan Allen ($17,700 Capt/ 11,800 Flex)
Allen is an absolute target monster in this offense, and the Bears secondary just hands points to receivers. Allen could be in-line for another big game on DK if he manages to do something with those targets. PPR scoring and a decent yardage total is his floor, if he manages to get into the endzone, then he could easily end up as the highest scorer on the slate. If he isn’t your CPT, he has to be in your flex.
Austin Ekeler ($16,800 Capt/ $11,200 Flex)
Ekeler is back from injury now, and has a few games under his belt. Hasn’t done much in either of those games, at least to his standards, with a total of just 72 yards on the ground and 5 receptions for 36 yards. That’s less than his box score from the season opener against the Dolphins. In fairness, they were two tough matchups, and he should be better in this game against a Chicago defense that has allowed an average of 25.2DKPts to the position.
DJ Moore ($13,800 Capt/ $9,200 Flex)
If you want to have a Bears CPT, and I don’t really want to do that, it has to be the WR1 in the offense. Moore hasn’t been his normal self without Justin Fields at QB, but this Chargers secondary is a weak unit. As a result, Moore could end up having a big game against a secondary that’s giving up an average of 46.4DKPts to the position (the highest total in the league).
Joshua Palmer ($10,500 Capt/ $7,000 Flex)
Palmer is a nice pivot away from Allen and Ekeler as CPTs, offering a decent salary relief with good production potential. For full disclosure, Palmer has been on the injury report with a knee injury, but he has been fully expected to play. Getting around 7 targets a game, which should be plenty in this offense against this secondary. Feels like he is due to score a TD too, with his only one of the season coming against the Vikings in Week 3. Nice flex play if you don’t opt for him as a CPT play.
DraftKings SNF Showdown 2023 – Chicago @Los Angeles Flex Picks
Justin Herbert ($12,000 Flex)
Not sure I like Herbert too much here. That’s not to say that Herbert isn’t a good play, I just don’t know if you need him here. The Chargers offense is so funneled to Allen and Ekeler that you don’t need the guy handing them the ball- especially with DK’s PPR scoring. If gets a score on the ground, then he could hit value. Otherwise, he could be a little disappointing at this price.
Tyson Bagent ($9,000 Flex)
Bagent was a nice story last week, but he didn’t really need to force anything. Raiders and Brian Hoyer couldn’t really get a run on offense, and D’Onta Foreman was killing it on the ground. That made it a game that Bagent just had to be a game manager in, but he isn’t going to be able to do that here. He did look ok last week though, making plays through the air and running it on the ground. Could hit, but just know that there is a risk in taking a rookie undrafted QB at this price in his second start (and third game).
D’Onta Foreman ($8,000 Flex)
Foreman killed it last week, pure and simple. Ended up with 3 scores and over 100 scrimmage yards against the Raiders. But to put it into context, he was in a backfield without Khalil Herbert and Roschon Johnson, so was splitting carries with Darrynton Evans. Not the case here, with Johnson set to return. Not sure on how the carries get split here. So I’ll mix in Foreman and Johnson shares, in the hope that one of them takes a lead in the backfield, and it isn’t a case of an almost even split.
Roschon Johnson ($6,600 Flex)
Johnson is set to return after struggling with a concussion injury that kept him out for the last two games. Not sure what his workload is going to look like though, after Foreman had a huge game last week. Feels more likely to impact Foreman’s production with carries in the offense than have standalone value. As I said above, I’ll mix shares between the two, and hope Johnson falls into the endzone.
Cole Kmet ($5,600 Flex)
Kmet is second on the team in targets, and can have a blow-up game (as we save against Denver). Could even (if you really wanted to) put him as a GPP-only CPT play. Last week though, with Bagent throwing the ball, he had no targets. The week before he had two receptions for 9 yards. So he feels like a typcial boom-or-bust TE option. I’ll still have some shares in my flex, as the Chargers have given up an average to 14DKPts to the position. But, feels like he could be an expensive dud.
Joshua Kelley ($5,400 Flex)
When the Chargers needed Kelley to perform with Ekeler out, he had limited proudction. As soon as he comes back, he rips off a 49-yard run for a score. Not sure he gets too many touches here, unless this game becomes a blow-out. Entirely possible, but it’ll take that or you’ll be hoping for another long run in score on a busted defensive assignment.
Gerald Everett ($5,000 Flex)
Everett has been dealing with an injury, but should be able to play in this one. Almost feels like a lock for a high-single-digit/low-double-digit game with the targets he is getting in the offense. On a scoring run too, with a TD in each of his past two games.
Quentin Johnston ($4,800 Flex)
Johnston hasn’t really done it. Struggling to get targets in this offense, even with Mike Williams out. At some point it should click, but at the moment I don’t feel like you can consider him too much at this price point. I mean, his box score on the season (7 receptions for 64 yards) is what you can expect from Keenan Allen or Josh Palmer in a single game.
Donald Parham Jr ($4,200 Flex)
TD-or-bust. Gets plenty of looks in the redzone. If Everett isn’t a full go in this one, then he is likely to see a few more targets. But, more likely than not, he is going to need to get into the endzone to hit value here.
Darnell Mooney ($4,000 Flex)
Mooney is the WR2 in the offense, but there is a decent gap between Mooney and Moore in targets. I mean, even Kmet has 8 more targets this season. But Mooney’s deep threat means he only really needs to get on the end of one or two bombs and he will hit value. Feels like a nice play at the price, but you’ll need him to not do what he has done in 3 games this season- not catch a single pass.
Tyler Scott ($1,200 Flex)
Scott has seen 7 targets in his last two games, and is mixing in some rush attempts too. He has been on the field loads too, as the WR3 in the offense. At this price point, he offers great relief which will allow you to spend up elsewhere on the slate.
Dart Throw Plays (Various)
Instead of writing up a line for a few options with their own sections, thought I’d list out a few in one area. Not really worth considering these as core plays, only in multi-entry GPPs:
- Nathan Peterman (QB, CHI) $6,000 Flex – Quick note on Peterman. Normally I’d never consider the backup QB. And really, I might just have one lineup with him in. If Bagent struggles to get the ball moving, the Bears might be forced to put in the veteran. Just to make it very clear- Peterman is the biggest ‘dart’ of any of these, and has a big chance of not seeing the field at all.
- Darrynton Evans (RB, CHI) $2,000 Flex – Just missed out as a ‘core’ play, but a decent dart-throw if Johnson is eased back into the offense. You’ll need to keep an eye on that situation, as if Johnson is back, Evans is going to be relegated to the RB3 role.
- Derius Davis (WR, LAC) $800 Flex – Gadget player in the offense. So in play in GPPs, but hard to really trust for cash. Gets a few targets in each game, and sees some usage in the backfield too (interestingly, so far this season he has more rush attempts than targets).
- Marcedes Lewis/ Robert Tonyan (TE, CHI) $200 Flex – I wanted to mention Lewis, just because I forgot he was still in the league until he popped up with a reception last week. 18 years in the league and still going, can’t really consider him- even at min-price. Tonyan is worth some consideration though. Didn’t get a target last week, but had five in the three games before that. Has ability in the redzone too, but not shown it yet with Kmet ahead of him. At min-price he is worth taking a shot on for GPPs.
- Velus Jones Jr. (WR, CHI) $200 Flex – Absolute punt on the slate. Has speed, and getting some usage in the offense through the air and some designed runs. Has some return duties too, which is where I feel it’s more likely he finds the endzone than anything.
My favorite plays from the above is Davis and then maybe a shot with Tonyan. Davis gets some decent usage, and gadget players are always worth a shot in GPPs. Equally, Tonyan might flop into the endzone and smash his min-price value.
DraftKings SNF Showdown 2023 – Chicago @Los Angeles Kickers and DSTs
DraftKings must be seeing a swing to kickers on these showdown slates, with Cameron Dicker ($5,200) costing a bit of a chunk now. Dicker has been solid this season, only missing one kick (from 50+ yards, back in Week 3. But, he has only had 9 FG attempts this season. That is the issue- lack of volume. Against the Bears defense, the Chargers should be able to finish drives in the endzone, rather than settle for a kick. Instead, I prefer Cairo Santos ($4,400) on the slate. Has only missed a single PAT this season, converting all 11 of his FGs this season. Think he could see a few long-range attempts as the Bears offense stalls out against the Chargers DST.
The DSTs are somewhat viable here too. The Chargers DST ($5,800) feels a little overpriced, considering the talent they have. But really, it’s more the matchup. The pass-rush of the Chargers is one decent point for the team, and should put Bagent under pressure. If he starts to feel that pressure, the rookie QB could have a few turnovers too. Priced at ceiling, but could get there here. The Bears DST ($3,400) have some individual playmakers that can get after the QB, and force some turnovers. While the Chargers offense has been good, Herbert has been sacked 15 times in 6 games, and has 4 INTs, as well as the team having 5 fumbles this season. If the team manage to take a turnover to the endzone, they smash value outside of an absolute blow-out loss.
So, there are our DraftKings selections for the 2023 Showdown of Chicago @Los Angeles! Remember any DFS questions, you can check out our articles here. Or you can find us on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram.
Image Credit: Jim Rassol – USA TODAY Sports
