We are here to cover the 2022 DraftKings showdown slate for Thursday Night Football Week 8, Philadelphia @Houston. While the Phillies and Astros duke it out, we look to pick up where we left off last week, with another showdown slate writeup. The Eagles are a near 2TD favorite going into this one, with an O/U of around 45 points. This slate feels very much like you want to take a shot with one piece of the Texans and then load up on Eagles.
DraftKings TNF Showdown 2022 – Philadelphia @Houston Bay Captain Picks
Jalen Hurts ($17,000 Capt/ $11,800 Flex)
Hurts is the offense for the Eagles, and he has been showing up well for fantasy too. He is going to be highly owned on the slate, but it’s clear to see why. He is used on the ground and in the redzone, giving him a great floor, and the ability of his receivers gives him a great ceiling. If things go remotely the way they should Hurts is likely the highest-scoring player on this slate.
Miles Sanders ($15,600 Capt/ $9,000 Flex)
This is going to be a bit long. So stay with me. Sanders has to be one of the most frustrating fantasy football players this season, he has been getting plenty of touches, but being vultured by your QB is never great. The pricing is pretty high too, considering that he has struggled to reach 20 points this season. If Hurts does struggle in this one, then it’s pretty much set that it will because of what Sanders does on the ground against this poor Houston defensive front.
DraftKings TNF Showdown 2022 – Philadelphia @Houston Flex Picks
A.J. Brown ($11,200 Flex)
Well, Brown had a great game last time out which is why his price tag is up this high. That’s what 156 yards and 3 TDs does. His ceiling is sky-high in this offense, but his floor is also really quite low if this game just becomes a ground-and-pound with Hurts leading the way. If you are getting Brown and Hurts in a lineup, you are going to make some serious concessions further down the line.
David Mills ($9,000 Flex)
Mills has been ok this season, but at times has really struggled to make an impact. But, on a showdown slate, you always have to at least consider both QBs. Mills has only had one game with over 250 yards through the air. With a number of receivers questionable or ruled out in this game, he is nothing more than a pivot option in this one. But really, I’m not having him in strong consideration.
Dameon Pierce ($8,600 Flex)
Pierce is the workhorse back for the Texans, on the field getting the vast majority of snaps, and getting touches on the ground and through the air. His floor is pretty high with the volume that he is getting in the offense, and has a decent ceiling with the work in the redzone. On a slate with a lot of question marks for the Texans, Pierce is the clear option.
Devonta Smith ($8,200 Flex)
There is no doubt that Brown is the primary receiver in the offense, but Smith has been getting plenty of work too in the offense. He has an average of just over 7 targets per game, and has 15 or more points in 4 games this season, so a decent floor. Smith also has that blow-up ability, like Brown, as he did in Week 3 with his 169-yard game with a score. A nice pivot away from Brown on the slate.
Brandin Cooks ($7,200 Flex)
So Cooks is questionable, and might not play. So all of this could mean nothing. But, Cooks comes into this one after not having found a trade partner, despite voicing his want to get out of town. He is the clear primary receiver in the offense, but the offense just isn’t that great. The Eagles defense equally only really needs to deal with Cooks through the air. The Texans are likely to need to throw the ball early and often, which should lead to more targets, but I’m not sure if production will really follow. At the price, it feels like a meh play.
Dallas Goedert ($6,600 Flex)
The 27-year-old TE has been a critical part of this offense. He had a decent game against Pittsburgh, pulling in 6 catches for 64 yards. One downside is he is rarely used in the end zone and I don’t envision the Eagles needing to come up with any design plays using Goedert to score against the Texans. I do think if you go non-Eagle player fantasy points will be scarce, so I rather have Goedert than someone like Brandin Cooks $7,200 or Chris Moore $5,400
Chris Moore/ Phillip Dorsett II ($5,400/ $4,000 Flex)
With Nico Collins likely out for the game, and Brandin Cooks also questionable, one of these two is going to see the ball more often than they had been. It’s not going to be pretty, because the ball still needs to come from Davis Mills who is going to come under pressure from this Eagles defense.
Kenneth Gainwell/ Brian Scott ($5,000/ $1,800 Flex)
The Eagles backfield could be a really odd place if the Eagles get out to a comfortable lead. We could see the team just move away from their starters, and instead look to their backups to see out the game. With the pricing, I’d opt for Scott with a huge saving, as you need some studs elsewhere to help manage the risk of a poor performance.
Zach Pascal/ Quez Watkins ($2,800/ $1,400 Flex)
These two receivers have some appeal, as they are both cheap upside plays- perfect for GPPs. Both are overlooked in the offense, with Brown, Smith and Goedert getting 155 of the 204 targets in the offense. That doesn’t leave alot for either of these to do anything, but they have both had big games. Of the two I’d opt for Watkins, who has been used for returns.
O.J. Howard/ Brevin Jordan/ Jordan Akins ($1,600/ $1,000/ $800 Flex)
Nico Collins is out with a groin an injury so David Mills is going to need all the help he can get. I think we can lump all of these together, given they all have a similar outlook on this slate. With a number of the Texans receivers out, or limited in this one, these TEs are likely to see more targets than they would normally. You really want to try and get some exposure to all three, which is manageable given their pricing. As always, I’ll likely have more of Akins and Jordan as they offer a little bit of a saving over Howard, but broadly I’m considering them all the same.
DraftKings TNF Showdown 2022 – Philadelphia @Houston Kickers and DSTs
A showdown slate offers more kickers talk, as valuable cheap options on the slate. Both are in play for me. Jake Elliott ($4,800) is appealing, as the Eagles are likely going to be scoring relatively often, which should lead to plenty of opportunities for Elliott to make an impact. Ka’imi Fairbairn ($3,800) is probably my favored option on slate, as he is a full $1k cheaper than Elliott and offers the ability to tick your box of the Texans player in your lineup.
The Eagles DST ($7,000) would have more appeal to me if they weren’t so highly-priced. Yes, the Texans offense is bad, and the Eagles defense is great. But to hit value on the slate you need the Eagles to convert a turnover into a score, or have them shut the Texans out. Both of these are possible, but the price just makes me reduce my ownership of them. There is little appeal for me in taking the Texans DST ($3,200). Hurts has been great in protecting the ball, and there is little doubt that the Eagles score points. There just isn’t the appeal for me with his one.
So, there are our DraftKings selections for the 2022 Showdown of Philadelphia @Houston! Remember any DFS questions, you can check out our articles here. Or you can find us on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram.
Image Credit: Bill Streicher – USA TODAY Sports
