Getty Gallery: 2/5
Chiefs vs. Patriots Showdown: Captain Choices & Strategy
We're looking at a game that could have a massive number of points, and in turn, finding value to get in top plays is key. Players like Mahomes, Brady, Tyreek Hill and Travis Kelce aren't cheap to fit into lines. Fortunately, there are a few names which jump out as salary-saving plays.
The captain spot is going to be especially big on this slate, and there are a few players I think could be underrated options or even low-owned plays who get overlooked. While often times using a less-expensive player seems appealing so you can potentially fit in two or three stars, choosing whether or not to do that depends on the specific game.
I'll break down the spots a bit more as we move forward with the lineups, and detail my thought process on each captain I use. The captain breakdown is the place to start, though, and while I'm going to list out my favorite options on the slate, this doesn't mean I won't stray from these names.
The potential captain players are names I think are in the best spots, either based on matchup or salary. In turn, there are many times they don't work in the top spot of my optimal, 150-max or single entry line.
When I begin building lineups, I'll select 4-5 players to consider for the captain spot, mixing up expensive and cheaper options. From there, you can spread those players across multiple lineups and mix in the other top plays with them.
Here's a look at the options I'll be targeting for the captain spot in Week 6 (with captain pricing of 1.5x more):
– Patrick Mahomes ($17,100)
– Tom Brady ($16,800)
– James White ($13,800)
– Travis Kelce ($12,900)
– Rob Gronkowski ($11,400)
– Sammy Watkins ($9,300)
*Note: I'll be using both kickers and at least a little of Josh Gordon in the captain spot.
Favorite expensive captains: James White, Travis Kelce
Top value-saving captain: Sammy Watkins
I'll break down the optimal lines for 150-max formats and single-entry contests, as well as one optimal lineup which I'm comfortable using in any spot.
*Note: If any players currently listed as questionable are ruled out, but are in lineups, I will update this BEFORE lock.