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Thanksgiving NFL DFS Showdown: Lineup Optimizer Rules and My Favorite Angle in Giants-Cowboys

dak prescott's 2024 fantasy outlook

Our Lineup Optimizer is an incredibly powerful tool inside our Player Models, particularly when creating a large number of lineups. However, it’s just that — a tool. We still have to make decisions. Otherwise, everyone would have the same 150 lineups in each contest.

This is intended more as a teaching piece than a step-by-step guide. These rules are suggestions that can show you how to translate your read on this game into lineups.

Additionally, this piece focuses on DraftKings Showdown contests, but similar strategies are useful on FanDuel.

For my general Showdown strategy, you can read my Showdown primer.

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Lineup builder and optimizer

Real-time DFS models & projections

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My Favorite NFL DFS Angle in Giants-Cowboys Showdown

The Giants head to Dallas without their starting center, left guard, and right tackle, fresh off a brutal home loss to the Lions. If only the Cowboys had a defensive line that could capitalize on this situation…

Realistically this looks like a mismatch of epic proportions when the Cowboys defense, fresh off a seven-sack performance, is on the field. Similar to the first game of the day, this is another spot where I am going to aggressively limit my Captain pool as I’m not sure there is anyone on the Giants’ side that scares me from a ceiling perspective in this matchup.

As usual, Zeke and Pollard are both in play, and I will dive into the rules below for lineups that include both.

If making just one lineup, I think I would lean into Dak Prescott and the passing game just from a regression standpoint with how frequently the Cowboys have been scoring touchdowns on the ground lately.

Lineup Optimizer Rules to Consider

General

  • Max 3 players vs. opposing Defense
  • Minimum salary cap 90%

Player Correlations

  • Pair Captain Dak Prescott with at least two Cowboys pass-catchers
  • Pair Captain Daniel Jones with at least one Giants pass-catcher
  • Max one of CeeDee Lamb, Michael Gallup, and Dalton Schultz in lineups with both Dallas running backs
  • Decrease Dak by 15% in lineups with both DAL running backs
  • Increase Dallas Defense by 10% in lineups with both DALrunning backs
  • Pair Captain pass-catchers with at most one other pass-catcher from the same team

Player Groups

  • Max two kickers and defenses.
  • Max one Jake Ferguson and Peyton Hendershot
  • Max one Isaiah Hodgins and Kenny Golladay
  • Max one Lawrence Cager and Tanner Hudson
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Captain Pool (from highest to lowest priority)

Primary Targets

  • Tony Pollard
  • CeeDee Lamb
  • Ezekiel Elliot
  • Dak Prescott

Secondary Targets

  • Dallas Defense
  • Saquon Barkley

Large-Field GPP Fliers

  • Dalton Schultz
  • Michael Gallup
  • Daniel Jones
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Our Lineup Optimizer is an incredibly powerful tool inside our Player Models, particularly when creating a large number of lineups. However, it’s just that — a tool. We still have to make decisions. Otherwise, everyone would have the same 150 lineups in each contest.

This is intended more as a teaching piece than a step-by-step guide. These rules are suggestions that can show you how to translate your read on this game into lineups.

Additionally, this piece focuses on DraftKings Showdown contests, but similar strategies are useful on FanDuel.

For my general Showdown strategy, you can read my Showdown primer.

Start Your PRO Trial Today

Lineup builder and optimizer

Real-time DFS models & projections

Data-driven analysis & tutorials

My Favorite NFL DFS Angle in Giants-Cowboys Showdown

The Giants head to Dallas without their starting center, left guard, and right tackle, fresh off a brutal home loss to the Lions. If only the Cowboys had a defensive line that could capitalize on this situation…

Realistically this looks like a mismatch of epic proportions when the Cowboys defense, fresh off a seven-sack performance, is on the field. Similar to the first game of the day, this is another spot where I am going to aggressively limit my Captain pool as I’m not sure there is anyone on the Giants’ side that scares me from a ceiling perspective in this matchup.

As usual, Zeke and Pollard are both in play, and I will dive into the rules below for lineups that include both.

If making just one lineup, I think I would lean into Dak Prescott and the passing game just from a regression standpoint with how frequently the Cowboys have been scoring touchdowns on the ground lately.

Lineup Optimizer Rules to Consider

General

  • Max 3 players vs. opposing Defense
  • Minimum salary cap 90%

Player Correlations

  • Pair Captain Dak Prescott with at least two Cowboys pass-catchers
  • Pair Captain Daniel Jones with at least one Giants pass-catcher
  • Max one of CeeDee Lamb, Michael Gallup, and Dalton Schultz in lineups with both Dallas running backs
  • Decrease Dak by 15% in lineups with both DAL running backs
  • Increase Dallas Defense by 10% in lineups with both DALrunning backs
  • Pair Captain pass-catchers with at most one other pass-catcher from the same team

Player Groups

  • Max two kickers and defenses.
  • Max one Jake Ferguson and Peyton Hendershot
  • Max one Isaiah Hodgins and Kenny Golladay
  • Max one Lawrence Cager and Tanner Hudson
Get Your First Deposit Matched Up to $100!

Sign up and deposit up to $100

Your deposit will be fully matched

New users only

Captain Pool (from highest to lowest priority)

Primary Targets

  • Tony Pollard
  • CeeDee Lamb
  • Ezekiel Elliot
  • Dak Prescott

Secondary Targets

  • Dallas Defense
  • Saquon Barkley

Large-Field GPP Fliers

  • Dalton Schultz
  • Michael Gallup
  • Daniel Jones
Get a 100% Deposit Match up to $250!

Sign up and deposit up to $250

Your deposit will be fully matched

New users only