Analysis

2/11/23

5 min read

Three Chiefs, Eagles' Players to Target in Super Bowl LVII DFS Lineups

Jan 21, 2023; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Chiefs running back Jerick McKinnon (1) is introduced prior to an AFC divisional round game at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

After a long and eventful NFL season, we have finally made it to Super Bowl LVII. This Super Bowl brings us arguably the two best offenses in the NFL, which means one thing: there will be plenty of valuable players to choose from for your DFS lineup.

When making a lineup for a single game, there is little room for error. If you miss a single player who has a good game it could be enough to cost you your matchup. There is also the additional pressure of picking the right captain whose points will be multiplied by 1.5. With both teams having so many explosive weapons on offense, it will be difficult to narrow it down to just six players in your lineup.

 

Fortunately, there are the players who I am expecting spectacular performances from on Sunday, including one player who I believe is the best pick for captain.

For one last time this season, here’s what I’ve got for this week:

Travis Kelce ($15900) CAPTAIN

Many people making a lineup for this week believe the captain spot should be reserved for either Patrick Mahomes or Jalen Hurts. I disagree. The Kansas City Chiefs offense has been great all year and their biggest weapon has always been Travis Kelce. For the offense to run successfully, Kelce has to be heavily involved.

Mahomes has shown he is not afraid to throw to Kelce time and time again. Against the Jacksonville Jaguars in the Divisional Round, Kelce saw 17 targets. Getting 1.5 points for every reception Kelce notches could be lethal considering the amount of volume he is poised to see. Kelce also has three touchdowns in the two playoff games this season. He is Mahomes’ favorite red zone target, especially in big moments.

All this being said, both Mahomes and Hurts are both reasonable picks for a captain. They have both proved they are capable of stepping up in big moments, and I expect that to continue from both of them in this game. However, picking Kelce as captain separates your lineup from everyone who picked a quarterback as theirs, and has the potential to pay off in a big way. 

Kenneth Gainwell ($5000)

Finding a few cheap yet valuable players is essential for your Super Bowl lineup. When it comes to a player with a low cost and high ceiling, Kenneth Gainwell is your man. Gainwell has established himself as a key part of the Philadelphia Eagles' running committee. In the playoffs, Gainwell has more yards, more receptions and nearly the same amount of carries as Miles Sanders, yet Gainwell is $3800 cheaper.

While Sanders has been considered the Eagles RB1 all season, it’s hard to say he doesn’t split carries 50/50 with Gainwell at this point. There is no reason for such a major discrepancy in price between these two; it seems like they will be getting a similar workload on Sunday. Aside from his value over Sanders, Gainwell has been excellent in the playoffs and has definitely earned a role in the Eagles' offense game plan for the Super Bowl.

He rushed for 112 yards and scored a touchdown vs. the New York Giants and played a key role in burning the clock and getting big first downs in the Eagles' win over the San Francisco 49ers. His $5000 price tag makes him arguably the most valuable player available. I realize my two picks so far are reliant on both Kelce brothers having a great game, but I believe that will happen. They are motivated by something much more powerful than a Super Bowl championship — sibling rivalry.

 

Jerick McKinnon ($6800)

I am picking Jerick McKinnon for the second week in a row despite him only giving me 3.8 points last week. McKinnon has had some high highs, and some low lows this season, but I believe he is going to go out with a bang. With Mahomes’ ankle still seemingly not at 100%, the Chiefs must find ways to move the ball downfield with Mahomes staying in the pocket.

McKinnon has a 0.7-yard average depth of target, which is the lowest of any player in the Super Bowl. He should be the recipient of plenty of quick passes from Mahomes. Of course, I made this claim last week and then Isiah Pacheco proceeded to steal the majority of his targets, but I do not believe that will happen again.

McKinnon is the much more experienced player, and while I believe Pacheco will still play a legitimate role in the Chiefs' game plan, I’m betting McKinnon will be more involved than he was last week. Picking McKinnon at $6800 along with a player like Gainwell opens up tons of choices for you to add star power to your lineup. It would be unwise to spend on a more expensive running back when you could have either of these two.

Just like that, I have no more NFL DFS predictions to make until September. I hope there was someone out there who took my advice and profited off of it at some point. I thoroughly enjoyed dispensing DFS wisdom this season, and I hope I can end on a high note. Like many, I am excited about the Super Bowl, but I am not prepared for the sorrows of the NFL offseason. Until next season, good luck.

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