We are here to cover the 2022 DraftKings showdown slate for Thursday Night Football Week 7, New Orleans @Arizona. The Saints head to Glendale, Arizona to play the Cardinals after a disappointing loss to the Bengals. In that game they were without Chris Olave, their young starting receiver who should be back this week. The Cardinals are looking to bounce back from a painful loss to the Seahawks. In their last outing, they failed to convert on crucial third downs and score a touchdown. At the moment Vegas has the O/U set to 44.5 and Arizona winning by 2 points. For the Cardinals to win they will need to slow down New Orleans’ run game and find ways to put points on the board- the return of DeAndre Hopkins should help Arizona find the end zone.
DraftKings TNF Showdown 2022 – New Orleans @Arizona Captain Picks
Kyler Murray ($16,800 Capt/ $11,200 Flex)
In Arizona’s game last week they rushed for 144 yards, and Murray was responsible for 70% of the rushing production as he carried the ball 10 times and 100 yards. Also this week Eno Benjamin’s popped up on the injury report. If Benjamin is battling an injury and is on a snap count, Murray’s rushing ceiling increases. This week he will be without Marquise Brown but will have star receiver, DeAndre Hopkins. I like Murray’s ability to score fantasy points on the ground and through the air and expect a huge fantasy day, as scoring touchdowns will be emphasized by head coach Kliff Kingsbury.
Alvin Kamara ($15,900 Capt/ $10,600 Flex)
Kamara has been dealing with issues on and off the field. In week 5, he made his return from a rib injury and a couple of days later he was charged with a civil suit. Neither of these issues should be a concern as Kamara looked like his old self over the last two weeks (Week 5: 27.4 DK fantasy points, Week 6: 18.4 DK fantasy points). He has been given the bulk of his team carries and is featured in the Saints passing attack, averaging 7 plus targets in the last three games he played. Kamara makes a great captain pick because the Saints will funnel their offense through Kamara regardless if they have a lead or not- he is game script independent
DraftKings TNF Showdown 2022 – New Orleans @Arizona Flex Picks
DeAndre Hopkins ($10,200)
Hopkins was activated to the 53-man roster this week after missing the first six games of the season due to a suspension. The 30-year-old receiver may not be the same player as he missed time in 2021 due to an MCL sprain. However, he walks into a situation where the team desperately needs pass catchers and a spark on offense. I don’t like his high price tag, especially with the uncertainty of how he will perform with just a couple of days of practice under his belt but the expected production makes him worth rostering.
Eno Benjamin ($8,200 Flex)
Eno took over the backfield last week and finished the day with 15 carries and 3 targets. Benjamin should continue to get the bulk of production with James Conner and Darrel Williams still out. Arizona put Eno on the injury report this week and limited his participation in practice. This could be to keep him fresh on a short week. If we get any word, that is not the case and he is dealing with injury I would fade Benjamin. If no word, I would roster him and expect him to play the majority of the snaps.
Chris Olave ($7,400 Flex)
Michael Thomas has been ruled out, and Olave told reporters this week he is fully healthy and ready to go. In his last 4 games, he has averaged over 10 fantasy points and has been featured as a prominent fixture in the Saints’ passing attack. If Arizona can improve their scoring and gain an early lead, the Saints will have to move the ball faster and rely on Olave’s hands. I like pairing Olave and Taysom Hill in the same lineup because there is a chance Hill and Olave could connect for a big play.
Taysom Hill ($7,200 Flex)
Even though Andy Dalton is the current starter Hill is still getting playing time. He’s the team-featured gadget player- he threw the ball 4 times and rushed 5 times in the last game. Also, the Saints like to use him around the goal line, so he could steal a few rushing touchdowns from Kamara and Ingram
Zach Ertz ($6,200 Flex)
He is averaging 8.5 targets a game and has become a reliable pass catcher for Murray. He doesn’t have the best matchup this week as the Saints rank 6th in defensive vs TE position. It’s unclear how the target distribution will change for the Cardinals but he’s priced reasonably so I wouldn’t let that discourage you from rostering him
Rondale Moore ($5,800 Flex)
Marquise Brown should boost Moore’s fantasy production as he will see more targets. However, his fantasy ceiling remains the same as he will remain in the slot and primarily catch the ball around the line of scrimmage. In his last game, he had 10 targets and averaged 4.9 yards per target. Moore makes a great option to pair with Kyler Murray in the captain spot but will be highly owned. At the price, you could consider him as a cheap captain option. If you want to be more contrarian in the field, AJ Green ($2,600 Flex) is a good alternative.
Marquez Callaway ($4,800 Flex)
He lead the team in targets last week and could potentially be second in target share this week. Dalton threw more to Callaway than Tre’Quan Smith. Smith primarily plays on the outside while Callaway’s routes covered the middle of the field. I expect Dalton to continue to make the easier throws inside the numbers helping Callaway’s usage even with the return of Olave
Juwan Johnson ($3,000 Flex)
Johnson is a nice lower priced option on the slate. Currently, Trautman has been ruled out of the game and we could see Hill throwing the ball again. As a result, Johnson should be in line for another 5-6 targets. If he managed to fall into the endzone- golden.
Keaontay Ingram ($400 Flex)
If Benjamin misses time due to an injury, Ingram will be in line for a huge workload. Darrell Williams appears to be healthy, however, Kliff Kingsbury reported that he will not play this week. I love his price tag and would hope to get him at low ownership as we may not know Benjamin’s status til after lock.
DraftKings TNF Showdown 2022 – New Orleans @Arizona Kickers and DSTs
Since we don’t have many low-salary options this game, Will Lutz ($4,000) and Matt Prater/ Matt Ammendola (Both $4,200) are both viable picks to round out your lineups. Ammendola is filling for Matt Prater who is missing time with a hip injury. Lutz looked good and kept New Orleans afloat last week by making four 40-yard field goals. I’m indifferent between them, and there isn’t much to consider with the price difference.
The Saints DST ($3,400) and the Cardinals DST ($4,400) don’t feel like great options on the slate, with both teams towards the bottom in most defensive categories. When you then combine the fact that both units have been hit with injuries, you can safely look elsewhere. If you insist upon starting one, go with the team that you think is set to win the game- but honestly, I’d avoid them if I can.
So, there are our DraftKings selections for the 2022 Showdown of New Orleans @Arizona! Remember any DFS questions, you can check out our articles here. Or you can find us on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram.
Image Credit: Jasen Vinlove – USA TODAY Sports
