NFL DFS: Week 5 MNF Showdown – Chargers vs. Saints

The Week 5 MNF Showdown for DFS on DraftKings features the Chargers versus the Saints. Both teams have dealt with their fair share of injuries to start the season, and their records reflect these woes. The Saints are looking to get back on track Monday night in what will be their last game without WR Michael Thomas. This will be the Chargers’ first game without star running back Austin Ekeler.

The Saints are home favored by 7 points at home with an over/under of 50 according to DraftKings Sportsbook.

How does a Showdown lineup work?

Showdown lineups are a bit different from your standard DraftKings lineups. You select a captain in these contests and five flex players while staying under the $50,000 salary cap. Captains score 1.5 times their regular points, but their salary is also multiplied by 1.5. You need to be smart when selecting your captain, as this is by far the most critical player in your lineups.

Another difference between Showdown lineups and regular lineups on DraftKings is that you can select kickers and defenses as flex options. Due to the limited amount of viable players for you to choose from, a defense or a kicker is a viable option for DFS in Week 5 MNF Showdown lineups.

Best plays at Captain for the Week 5 MNF Showdown – Saints vs. Chargers

When choosing your captain for DFS Showdown lineups, you need to focus on the one player you think will have the best fantasy game. That being said, if there is a player with a lower salary that could have just as good of a game as a player with a higher salary playing him at captain to save salary could be a good play as well.

*Captain salaries are multiplied by 1.5*

Alvin Kamara ($18,000)

Kamara should be the most popular choice at captain by far, but playing him here doesn’t come without a cost. His hefty price tag will take up 36 percent of your salary cap, but he will be the highest-scoring fantasy player in this game. The Saints’ offense runs through Kamara when Thomas is out, and he draws a favorable matchup against the Chargers.

Kamara has scored 20+ fantasy points every game this season, making him a must-play at the captain position in cash game contests. In GPP contests, putting Kamara in the flex position and playing another high profile player at captain could be a solid play.

Keenan Allen ($14,100)

The Saints secondary is hurting right now with Janoris Jenkins already ruled out of tonight’s matchup, and Marshon Lattimore listed as questionable. That’s good news for Allen, who has shown good chemistry with rookie QB Justin Herbert over the past three weeks. With Herbert at QB, Allen has seen double-digit targets in every game this season.

If Mike Williams isn’t able to play on Monday night, that should lead to added targets for Allen. With the Saints being touchdown favorites in this game, the Chargers could find themselves playing from behind for most of the game. This would be the best-case scenario for Allen to have a monster fantasy performance.

Justin Herbert ($15,300)

The rookie signal-caller has been a solid fantasy producer so far, and that should continue Monday night against the Saints. Last week against the Buccaneers, Herbert threw for 290 yards and three touchdowns. That was the first week that he hasn’t thrown for over 300 yards.

This sets up well for Herbert as the Saints have surrendered 11 passing touchdowns through 4 games to opposing quarterbacks. A multi-touchdown game with over 300 passing yards could be in the works for Herbert. He’s been a DFS superstar so far, and that should continue in the Week 5 MNF Showdown.

Joshua Kelley ($12,300)

The opportunity is there for Kelley to establish his role in the Chargers’ offense with Ekeler sidelined for at least three weeks. Ekeler went down early in Week 4, and the Chargers’ offense struggled to run the ball after that. Kelley finished with only seven rushing yards on nine attempts. He was able to contribute in the passing game reeling in three receptions for 26 yards. Week 4 was rough for the Chargers’ rushing attack.

While it is risky to play Kelley at the captain position, it will be a low owned lineup build that could result in you cashing if he establishes himself as the Chargers lead back. The Saints have been solid against the run thus far, but Kelley has the ability to contribute in the passing game. Pass catching backs are game-changers in DFS, and Kelley could be just that in the Week 5 MNF Showdown.

Best plays at Flex for the Week 5 MNF Showdown – Saints vs. Chargers

After choosing who you want at the captain position, salary construction becomes much more critical. The impact of your captain’s salary dictates how many other high-profile players you can have in your lineup. Outside of the players mentioned above, here are other options for you to choose from to complete your Week 5 MNF Showdown lineup.

Drew Brees ($10,400)

While I do like Brees in this matchup, you more than likely won’t be able to play both him and Herbert. I like Herbert a lot more this week from a DFS perspective. Brees has struggled to put up big numbers without Thomas, and that’ll likely continue in Week 5 against the Chargers. He’ll likely have a multi-touchdown game, but the Saints should be in control of this game throughout limiting Brees’ fantasy ceiling.

Related | Fantasy waiver wire replacements for Dak Prescott after his Week 5 injury

Emmanuel Sanders ($5,600)

I don’t love Sanders here, but he’s $1,400 cheaper than Tre’Quan Smith, who he out targeted last game. While Smith did catch two touchdowns last game against the Lions, I don’t see that happening again in Week 5. I prefer Sanders to Smith, but both players are touchdown dependent at this point.

Hunter Henry ($7,800)

The Saints have struggled against opposing tight ends this season, and Henry could be in line for a big day. I don’t love the salary attached to his name, but he could have a multi-touchdown game. I prefer Allen to Henry by a large margin, but if you can make both players fit in your lineups, it would be a low-owned combination.

Justin Jackson ($4,400) 

I definitely prefer Kelley to Jackson, but at such a cheap salary, I think it’s okay to have both players in your lineups. I don’t see Jackson getting nearly as much work as Kelley in this game, but he could vulture a touchdown, and that opportunity cost isn’t figured into his price. He’s a great value play across the board.

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