The NFC's top two seeds clash with a trip to Super Bowl LVII on the line as the Eagles host the 49ers in the first conference championship game on Sunday's slate (3:00 p.m. ET, FOX). While the football season is nearing an end, NFL DFS players still have a few more opportunities to construct a competitive DraftKings Showdown lineup that will hopefully lead them to some cash at the game's conclusion.
Since we're rolling with the Eagles to return to the Super Bowl for the first time since 2018, we've constructed an Eagles-heavy lineup that includes a bevy of high-usage studs. While we would have liked to go with a more contrarian route for our Captain spot, it's hard to pass up on Jalen Hurts and his dual-threat abilities. The rest of our lineup consists of players who see reliable volume that should result in some solid DFS production.
Before we get into our picks and strategy, here are the key scoring settings for DraftKings Showdown contests: They're full-point PPR and there are three-point bonuses for 300 passing yards, 100 rushing yards, and 100 receiving yards. The Captain pick costs 1.5 times a player's original price, but he also gets his point total multiplied by 1.5.
MORE DK SHOWDOWN: How to win a Showdown contest
Playoff DraftKings Showdown Picks: Eagles vs. 49ers
$50,000 budget, need at least one player from each team.
Captain (1.5x points, 1.5x salary): QB Jalen Hurts, Eagles ($16,500)
Hurts will have his hands full against a 49ers defense leading the league in EPA/play (-0.112), but he and the Eagles' offense are dynamic enough to overcome a tough matchup. From watching his play last weekend, it didn't seem like his right shoulder hampered him much at all. We're hoping he puts together another 20-point effort, as his dual-threat ability figures to stress the 49ers' defense. Philadelphia might also be looking to generate explosive plays, and with an elite cast of pass-catchers, Hurts has a chance to connect on a long completion or two. He willingly took shots against the 49ers' defense in last season's meeting, and with Hurts sporting the fifth-highest deep-ball accuracy rating, we could see him connect on an explosive pass play in an enticing matchup outside.
MORE EAGLES-49ERS:
Betting preview | Best props | Same Game Parlay | FD lineup
FLEX WR DeVonta Smith, Eagles ($8,800)
Smith could very well be the beneficiary of a long completion for Hurts, as the second-year wideout is averaging almost two deep targets per game (1.9). Smith has really shown out the past seven games, averaging 21.7 DK points over that span. He's also been one of the most efficient pass-catchers this season, sporting the ninth-most expected points added among WRs (+64.9 EPA). With the 49ers' defense being a bit stouter against the run than the pass, it could force the Eagles to maintain a more pass-heavy approach to consistently move the ball, boding well for Smith's fantasy prospects.
FLEX WR Deebo Samuel, Eagles ($8,400)
While the Eagles' pass defense enters the NFC Championship game donning the league's lowest drop-back EPA (-0.103), we can't stomach omitting Samuel from our Showdown lineup. Samuel is always a threat to see 10-plus touches given his ability to aid in both the passing and running games, resulting in a stable floor for the dynamic playmaker. His aDOT of 4.2 yards is extremely low (102nd among WRs), but with 480 of his 632 receiving yards coming after the catch, an explosive play is always in his back pocket.
FLEX TE Dallas Goedert, Eagles ($6,800)
Goedert put together an efficient divisional round performance, hauling in all five targets for five catches for 58 yards and a score. Over his past two games, Goedert's caught 11-of-12 targets, and his strong rapport with Hurts could lead to another respectable fantasy showing this week. This season, 94.1 percent of Goedert's targets have been deemed catchable (second among WRs), as Hurts' accuracy puts Goedert in a prime position to make plays. Additionally, Goedert leads all tight ends in yards per target (10.3), so he's not just an underneath option.
FLEX WR Brandon Aiyuk, 49ers ($5,800)
We can't pass up rostering Aiyuk at only $5,800, as the 49ers leading receiver has seen his salary plummet after three straight disappointing showings. There's a chance Aiyuk ends up leading all 49ers in receiving given his elite ability to create separation (49.6-percent route win rate). Just like Samuel, Aiyuk possesses elite run-after-catch skills, and as long as the ball is in his hands, he has a chance to make a big play.
FLEX D/ST Eagles ($3,600)
The Eagles' defense is certainly stepping up in class this week, but we still think it's capable of putting up 10-plus DK points as it has in three of the past four games. Philadelphia's pass rush racked up the most sacks by a wide margin this year (70), while also ranking second in pressure rate (25.5 percent). What aids in their ability to consistently get to the quarterback is how sound the Eagles are in the secondary. Their elite pass defense can lead to a handful of coverage sacks on Purdy, as it's done all season. Purdy's done a phenomenal job of playing mistake-free football, but don't be surprised to see a miscue or two this week.
