Showdown contests are mostly won at one spot, the captain. Pick the right captain, build around a clear idea of how the game will play out, and the rest of the lineup tends to follow. Nearly every other choice in a single game contest comes back to those two decisions.
How single game contests work
A single game contest uses players from just one game. On DraftKings the format is called Showdown, and it has a Captain slot that scores 1.5 times the points at 1.5 times the salary. FanDuel's single game contests use an MVP slot with a point multiplier of their own. Formats change over time, so check the exact rules and roster slots in the app before you build.
Because the player pool is so small, everyone sees the same options. That makes it hard to stand out, and it means ownership matters even more than on a full slate. In football, kickers and team defenses are usually part of the pool too.
Choosing a captain
Here is a made up example using the DraftKings Captain rules.
| Player (example) | Flex salary | Captain salary | Flex projection | Captain projection |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quarterback | $11,000 | $16,500 | 22 | 33 |
| Top receiver | $9,400 | $14,100 | 17 | 25.5 |
| Lead back | $8,600 | $12,900 | 16 | 24 |
Notice that the captain multiplier raises points and salary by the same amount, so each player's value per dollar does not change. The real questions are who has the highest ceiling and who the field is choosing.
The quarterback is the most common captain, because he usually scores the most. In tournaments that makes him popular, perhaps 30 percent or more at captain in a game like this one. A receiver who catches two touchdowns can outscore him, and that receiver might be the captain in only 8 percent of lineups. In cash games, take the safest big scorer. In tournaments, give real thought to the captain fewer people pick.
Write a game script first
Before picking players, decide how you think the game will go. Here are three common scripts.
- Shootout. Both quarterbacks throw a lot. Load up on passers and their receivers from both sides.
- One team in control. The favorite builds a lead and runs the ball late. Its lead back and its defense do well. The trailing team's receivers pile up catches, but its running game disappears.
- Low scoring grind. Drives stall, field goals pile up, and kickers and defenses suddenly matter a lot.
Build each lineup around one script. A lineup that mixes all three rarely wins, because the game can only go one way.
Correlation inside one game
On a full slate, players from different games have little to do with each other. In Showdown, everyone is linked.
- A quarterback and his receivers rise together. That pairing is the core of most builds, just like a classic football stack.
- Players from the other team often come along too, because a high scoring game feeds both sides.
- Some pairs work against each other. A defense rarely scores well when the opposing quarterback has a great day. Two running backs from the same team usually split the work.
For every lineup, ask a simple question. Do these players all want the same game to happen?
Kickers and defenses
Kickers and defenses are usually cheap, which makes them useful salary relief when you want two expensive stars. A kicker fits a low scoring script, where drives end in field goals. A defense fits a script where the opponent turns the ball over or falls far behind and has to take risks.
Putting a kicker or defense at captain is an idea for tournaments only. It almost never makes sense in cash games. In a large field, though, it can set you apart when the game script supports it.
Cash games and tournaments
For cash games, pick a safe captain, often the quarterback or the lead back, and fill in with steady players. For tournaments, build several lineups around different scripts, vary your captains, and use ownership as a guide.
The same ideas carry over to single game contests in basketball and other sports. The football hub has more on full slate play, and our DraftKings review covers where Showdown fits on that site.