Starting Week 6 of the action, the 2023 DraftKings showdown slate- Denver @Kansas City. The status of Kelce is in the air for this, which could really change the strategy for the slate. The Broncos have talent to make this a contest for a while, but ultimately that defense is just unable to make a stop of this offense. The O/U here is 47.5, and the Chiefs are favored by 10.5 points.
DraftKings TNF Showdown 2023 – Denver @Kansas City Captain Picks
Patrick Mahomes ($19,200 Capt/ $12,800 Flex)
Mahomes is box-office. The only worry that you need to consider is that he gets pulled if the margin of victory is too high. This Denver defense doesn’t look great, and Mahomes is going to carve it up. The question that follows is who (outside of Kelce) does he use? That’s the key to victory. Simply going to come to playing multiple lineups with different combinations. If pressed, it’d go for Rice and Watson.
Travis Kelce ($16,500 Capt/ $11,000 Flex)
The status of Kelce will be a big question for this game as the most talented pass-catcher on the slate. Left the game last week, before returning, but his status is questionable. I think if he suits up then you have to include him in your pool. Even less than 100% he is the best skill-position player on the field. Could see lower ownership too, with concerns around his injury.
DraftKings TNF Showdown 2023 – Denver @Kansas City Flex Picks
Russell Wilson ($9,600 Flex)
Wilson is getting a decent amount of negative press, but when you watch him you can see he is doing everything he can to get the offense moving. Had 2 games with over 300 passing yards and every game (other than the MIA disaster) thrown multiple TDs. If he manages to stop the needless turnovers, could have a decent time against this Chiefs defense (albeit they have been decent against the pass this season).
Isiah Pacheco ($9,400 Flex)
Pacheco is the early down back for the Chiefs, and McKinnon in for passing downs. Pretty clear split of work in the backfield. Scored in each of his last three games, and getting plenty of touches on the ground. Runs hard too. The thing is, the pricing hurts with his lack of goal-line work. You would really need to choose between Kelce or Pacheco, or take alot of shots at cheap plays on the slate. The Broncos are the worst against the run in the league. But, that has been skewed a little by that huge blow-out against Miami.
Jerry Jeudy ($9,000 Flex)
Jeudy has struggled to get going this year. Missed Week 1 with injury, but since then only had one game with over 55 yards. Hasn’t had more than 7 targets in any game, and only had more than three catches in two games. Sutton, on the other hand, has been doing great all season. Can’t discount him too much, but hard to fit in lineups with the price tag.
Courtland Sutton ($7,800 Flex)
Sutton has been a reliable target for the Broncos this season, leading the team in targets, receptions, yards and TDs. Quite a chunk cheaper than Jeudy. Has a good opportunity to have a strong game here if Wilson can keep the ball moving well with DK’s PPR scoring.
Javonte Williams/ Jaleel McLaughlin ($7,200/ $7,000 Flex)
The Broncos backfield is a mess- especially with Williams getting in some practice this week. Looks like a backfield that is a true split. Although McLaughlin has managed to look good in the last two weeks where his role grew without Williams in the rotation. Not sure if the team put Williams straight back in after having two weeks away but that could happen. Both are priced up at a level I’m just not overly happy with.
Rashee Rice ($6,400 Flex)
Outside of Kelce, the Chiefs receivers are a bit of a mess to navigate. Rice is the current lead receiver among the group (at least in targets and receptions). In a group of rotated options, Rice feels like he has some level of consistency. Favored option for me in a stack with Mahomes.
Skyy Moore ($5,400 Flex)
Moore is one of those receivers of the Chiefs that has the ability to have a big game, and dominate a showdown slate, but hasn’t got enough week-to-week to make you feel good about his involvement. Has only had two weeks where he has really done anything for fantasy this season. Constantly on the field though, and has the ability to break any touch into a TD. Volatile GPP play on the slate.
Jerick McKinnon ($5,200 Flex)
McKinnon is a player you just have to accept will get you nearly nothing, or a few scores through the air near the redzone. He has really taken on the role of pass-catcher for the backfield- especially on key 3rd downs and the goal-line. The pricing makes him a GPP-only play, even with DK’s PPR scoring.
Samaje Perine ($5,000 Flex)
Perine was a TD vulture with the Bengals. With the Broncos, there are no TDs to vulture. Perine is getting on the field more often than McLaughlin, but he isn’t being as effective when being handed the ball. With the backfield likely in an almost equal split, Perine feels like an easier add to lineups, given the price difference. Just know that it might end up being a game where the ground game is abandoned, or go another direction.
Marvin Mims ($4,600 Flex)
Mims has been able to get some highlight plays, looking dangerous seemingly every time he gets the ball. Some good punt and kick returns (one kick return score) mixed in with his ability to catch a deep ball make him an interesting option. But, as with many receivers on this slate, there isn’t much of a floor here. GPP only with his limited usage in the offense
Kadarius Toney ($4,000 Flex)
The Chiefs clearly don’t want to give up on Toney, giving him 6 targets last week and a rush attempt, despite not being on the field all that much. Feels like a trap, but he has the ability to make big-plays with his speed. At the price, I’m happy to take some shots.
Marquez Valdes-Scantling ($3,400 Flex)
Valdes-Scantling seems like he is always on the field, but not getting many targets with just 11 targets on the season. Has the ability to catch a deep pass for a big-play, just hasn’t really done that this season. Cheap boom/ bust option on the slate as a decent Mahomes stack option.
Greg Dulcich ($3,200 Flex)
Dulcich could be back after his stint on IR. Obviously only worth consideration if he is made active. Has a good chance of walking straight back into a big role on offense. Happy to put him straight into lineups.
Justin Watson ($2,200 Flex)
Watson is on the field a decent chunk (generally around 45% of snaps). Has the ability to get downfield in a hurry and feels like little due to score a TD this season. The floor is very low, as you could get the Week 4 performance of a single catch for 5 yards. But I’ll take a chunk of shots at the price.
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:
- Noah Gray/ Blake Bell (TE, KC) $4,400/ $200 Flex – Gray has been priced at a point to account for Kelce’s injury. If Kelce isn’t limited or ruled out, he is a pivot from Kelce. Bell is an absolute dart throw. Only had his involvement this season in the opening game……..where Kelce was inactive.
- Adam Trautman (TE, DEN) $2,800 Flex – not sure what happens to Trautman with the return of Dulcich. Has been doing fine this season. I’ll have a few lineups with him in, incase Dulcich were to have a setback, but not expecting a massive amount from him.
- Brandon Johnson (WR, DEN) $1,200 Flex – Johnson had some big games to start the season, but has really seen his production dry up over the last 2 weeks. In the past two weeks, he has caught both of his targets for 13 yards and a single score. Dart throw at best. But, if you want to be positive he is on the field for a decent chunk (around 50% of offensive snaps).
- Clyde Edwards-Helaire (RB, KC) $1,000 Flex – CEH is back as a dart-throw. The clear third option in the backfield now. Has a literal zero floor, but he could have some value in a blowout victory for the Chiefs.
- Justyn Ross (WR, KC) $600 Flex – Ross hasn’t done anything massive this season. But, he was much more involved last week in the offense (4 targets), despite only being on the field for…..six snaps!? Mahomes clearly likes something he brings, and the pricing means he doesn’t need to do much to hit value here.
- Lil’Jordan Humphrey (WR, DEN) $300 Flex – no really getting involved in the offense now with the team returning to health. The pricing is nice, but going to be a zero far more often than not.
DraftKings TNF Showdown 2023 – Denver @Kansas City Kickers and DSTs
The kickers in this game are both accurate and have the leg ability to kick from distance. Wil Lutz ($4,200) has only missed one kick this season- a 55-yard attempt in Week 1. Getting a few FG attempts each week as the offense stalls out. Harrison Butker ($4,800) playing at home would be my preference. Should see more attempts overall, be that a PAT or FG.
The Chiefs DST ($5,600) feel a little overpriced. But, they can put up fantasy points with the playmakers they have. The team has had 13 sacks and forced 6 turnovers to start the season, and Wilson has struggled with turnovers (2 INTs and 3 Fumbles) and getting caught in the pocket (15 sacks on the season) with the Broncos to start the season. Think the pricing should help the ownership here. Not interested in the Broncos DST ($3,000). They have recorded 12 sacks and forced 8 turnovers this season, but alot of that has come in two games against poor opposition (Bears and Jets).
So, there are our DraftKings selections for the 2023 Showdown of Denver @Kansas City! Remember any DFS questions, you can check out our articles here. Or you can find us on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram.
Image Credit: Mark J. Rebilas – USA TODAY Sports
