Welcome to NFL Week 3 Sunday Night Football. What better way is there to end your week than a little NFL DFS Showdown on DraftKings and FanDuel? Tonight’s prime-time matchup brings us two underachieving teams in the San Francisco 49ers and the Denver Broncos. The game is now a 45-point total with the Niners favored by 1. The 49ers opened the season on a bad note getting beat by the Chicago Bears and then beat the Seahawks in Week 2 but losing their starting quarterback. The Broncos have only scored 32 points in the first two games, losing to the Seahawks on Monday Night Football and then barely beating the bad Houston Texans. So, something has to break between these two teams and we will witness it all tonight on Sunday Night Football DFS Showdown! There is a full rundown of players and suggestions below and you can always take a look at our Weekly Match-Up Report and use NFL DFS Tools like our DFS Lineup Generator (a.k.a. the DFS lineup optimizer). We have everything you need to build a winning DFS lineup. 

First of all, from the words of our fearless leader at Fantasy Alarm, Howard Bender:

Now before we begin, for those who are new to the process, please take a moment to understand what exactly you are getting yourself into by playing single-game Showdown Slates. We love to have some skin in the game, for sure, but these slates are, for all intents and purposes, a lottery ticket. Sure, there are times when the chalk hits and everyone shares in the prizes, but, more often than not, you need to hit on that random dart-throw that differentiates your lineup from that of the herd in order to claim the top prize. As a result, we encourage you to play responsibly and not over-invest. Stick to the GPP contests (single-entry preferred), don’t blow your whole bankroll, and understand that, unless you are a max-entry player, you should prioritize having fun.

OK. Lecture over. Let’s get to tonight’s action.

 

 

San Francisco 49ers at Denver Broncos

Spread: 49ers -1.0

O/U: 

  • Open- 45.5
  • Live- 45.0

Weather: 66 degrees/32% humidity/0% precipitation/Wind E 8 mph

Notable Injuries:

San Francisco 49ers

Denver Broncos

2022 DVOA Defensive Rankings:

San Francisco 49ers 

  • vs Pass: 7th 
  • vs Run: 5th 

Denver Broncos

  • vs. Pass: 6th 
  • vs. Run: 8th 

**Please note that players not listed below are not necessarily a complete fade and any player listed can certainly be used as the MVP/Captain. These are merely suggestions for players to use when setting Showdown lineups.

MVP/CAPTAIN

Russell Wilson (DEN) I like Wilson more as an MVP on FanDuel and in the utility role on DraftKings. On FD the MVP spot does not cost you 1.5x salary like it does on DK so you are just trying to get the highest-scoring player in that top spot. Wilson has not been putting up huge numbers through the first two weeks but if you ignore the stat sheet, he has the Bronco offensive machine rolling. Russ has thrown for 559 yards with two touchdowns, and an interception with a 16.4 DK fantasy point average. The Niner defense has performed well but they have only faced Justin Fields and Geno Smith. Wilson should be able to do better than both with the talent that he around him, but this still should be a low scoring game and Wilson’s once dual-threat skills have diminished a bit over time. 

George Kittle (SF) Kittle makes his debut tonight and should see his targets bumped up due to the presence of Jimmy G under center.  He is expected to play 2/3 of the snaps and when the ball is in his hands, he is one of the best. The Broncos have also given up the third most fantasy points to tight ends and his blocking will also be a boost to the running game. Kittle makes a solid GPP captain with Jimmy G in a utility spot. 

Deebo Samuel (SF) Deebo, Kittle and Brandon Aiyuk give the Niners a receiving corps that is among the best in the league. Samuel has had back-to-back double-digit fantasy point games and he should be utilized out of the backfield once again with Elijah Mitchell and rookie Tyrion Davis-Price out due to injury. Deebo will not come cheap, but he has the highest ceiling of the slate, and his rushing floor will be sky high due to the injuries in the RB room. This will be a high-owned play but well worth the expense. 

Brandon Aiyuk (SF) With Aiyuk at captain we will get leverage on the likes of Jeff Wilson and Deebo who will much higher owned in the top spot. With injuries in the backfield Jimmy G will be trying to get Aiyuk and Samuel involved early. Aiyuk is the downfield threat and coming a nice week bounce-back week against Seattle where had five catches on eight targets for 63 yards after a disappointing opening week.  Make sure to have Jimmy G in the utility spot in these Aiyuk-Capt. lineups.

UTILITY/FLEX 

Courtland Sutton (DEN) Sutton is a good receiver. He has earned the trust of Wilson and with the Broncos receiving corps banged up we may see a near-30% target share.  The wideout is cheaper than Javonte Williams and is the alpha WR1 averaging 17 DK fantasy points through the first two games. Sutton is still looking for his first TD of the year but always has a chance of benefitting from the DK 3-point bonus for 100 receiving yards. 

Jimmy Garoppolo (SF) If rostering Samuel/Aiyuk/Kittle at captain then Jimmy G should be in the utility spot. needs to be used strategically in lineups this week. Garoppolo made his debut last week against the Seahawks with Trey Lance suffering a season-ending ankle injury and he did a did a solid job under center (13/21 for 154 yards and touchdown, plus he run one in). Jimmy G is not going to win you a GPP every week, but he is efficient enough to put up enough points to be viable in cash games. One suggestion – correlate him with the receivers since running backs like Jeff Wilson will nullify Garoppolo’s value if they score a touchdown or two. 

Melvin Gordon (DEN) I love Gordon as a leverage play tonight off of especially Javonte Williams. Most will stay away from Gordon due to his status behind the more effective and popular Bronco running backs and receivers, but he will get enough opportunities to run one or two in tonight. 

Javonte Williams (DEN) Williams has the talent and ability to be a big fantasy point producer and do a bit of everything. He has taken the lead of the backfield and it is looking closer to a 70/30 split, but I still like the sneaky upside of Gordon if he gets the touches. Gordon is always going to have a role as long as he can stay healthy, but Javonte is heading towards being clear lead back, 

VALUE

Jordan Mason (SF) Mason will back up Jeff Wilson tonight and Wilson’s backup last week, (Davis-Price) carried the ball a solid 14 times. Will Mason be involved that much? I doubt it but with both Mitchell and TDP on the shelf Shanahan will have no other option but Mason to give Wilson a breather. Plus, Mason did well enough this offseason to send Trey Sermon packing so he could be a legitimate option if the Niners keep up the two-headed running game.

KJ Hamler (DEN) Hamler is a deep threat and with Jeudy not 100% he could use his speed and big play ability to score double digit fantasy points.  He did not play in Week 2 due to injuries but played 61% of the offensive snaps in Week 1. The former Penn State receiver didn't register a target in that Week 1 game but could have a significant role depending on Jeudy’s status. 

Albert Okwuegbunam (DEN) AA only had two targets on Sunday and did not catch either of them, but Russ Wilson has a long history of leaning on the tight end in the red zone. This is a risky play due to AA not living up to the preseason hype so far but it’s been two games and if Jerry Jeudy does not play we may see more opportunities here. 

Brandon McManus (DEN) Over the last three years is 16-for-26 from 50 yards or more

Robbie Gould (SF) The veteran is still one of the most consistent kickers inside 45. Both kickers are viable in cash games, but you play at most only one in each lineup. 

Denver DST The Broncos have the the eighth best rushing DVOA and the sixth best passing DVOA, plus homefield advantage. Expect a couple of sacks and turnovers.