Getty Gallery: 2/5
Favorite Captains for Redskins vs. Cowboys
A good way to start when looking at captains can be to get an idea of the expected game flow/outcome of the matchup. Obviously, things don't always play out this way, but the Cowboys are currently favored by more than a touchdown with a low total at 40.5, per OddsShark. Due to Smith's injury, that's not all that surprising, but it's worth noting what oddsmakers think here.
For the captain choices in this matchup, I'll offer a handful of options to consider and evaluate my favorite targets. This doesn't mean I'll use all the players listed, but I want to remain flexible while constructing lineups and recommend spreading your captains around a bit. The names I'll evaluate below for the Cowboys-Redskins DraftKings showdown below feature captain pricing of 1.5x more than standard.
– Ezekiel Elliott ($19,500)
– Dak Prescott ($14,700)
– Amari Cooper ($13,800)
– Adrian Peterson ($12,900)
– Jordan Reed ($11,400)
– Trey Quinn ($7,200)
*Cowboys DST ($7,800), Maurice Harris ($4,800), Michael Gallup ($3,600) also names to consider
Favorite expensive/mid-range captains: Ezekiel Elliott, Amari Cooper
Top value-saving captains: Jordan Reed, Trey Quinn
There's quite a bit that jumps out about this game on both sides of the ball. Obviously, this is not only a revenge spot or the Cowboys but one that could place them squarely back in the mix for an NFC East title. On their home field against a backup quarterback (albeit, a good one) in Colt McCoy, there are a few interesting ways to approach the captain spot.
McCoy is $12,300 in the captain spot and I do believe he deserves consideration as an option. The biggest question mark is how he'll look after so much time off from regular-season NFL action. The Cowboys defense is also strong, but have had some issues with opposing wideouts, but are a mid-tier team against quarterbacks.
Ezekiel Elliott's price is tough, and most will likely use him as a flex play because of this. In turn, we can differentiate our lineups somewhat by using him in the captain spot. There's value in other spots, so it's more than possible. Elliott has been red-hot, ripping off over 122 rushing yards in each of the past two games. He's also received 25 and 30 touches over that span, making him the most elite option here.
I like quite a few options in the captain spot for this showdown game, so I'll likely try to get a bit creative. Plus, the matchups for a few names jump off the page, although things can always get a bit crazy in Thanksgiving games.
Let's start with the optimal lineup and I'll dive deeper into the specific plays.