DraftKings Showdown Optimizer
A DraftKings Showdown optimizer builds six-player lineups from one game: one Captain, who costs 1.5 times his salary and scores 1.5 times his points, and five Flex players, with at least one player from each team. Because every player is in the same game, the choices are tied together far more than on a full slate.
The rules that shape every lineup
| Rule | What it means |
|---|---|
| One Captain, five Flex | Six players from the two teams in one game |
| Captain multiplier | 1.5 times the salary and 1.5 times the fantasy points |
| Both teams | At least one player from each team |
| All positions eligible | Kickers and defenses can fill a slot beside quarterbacks, backs and receivers |
Sites revise their rules. The rules page of the contest you enter is the authority.
Why the Captain decides the build
The Captain slot multiplies both cost and score, so it sets how much salary is left for the other five. A cheaper Captain frees salary for more starters; an expensive one forces a cheap Flex or two. Each Captain implies a story about the game, and the Flex players should fit that story.
Why one game needs simulation
On a single game every outcome is linked. If the quarterback has a big night, some of his receivers do too, and the opposing defense does not. A lineup is a bet on one version of the game. Simulation plays the game out many times and shows which combinations finish well together, which a list of single-player projections cannot do.
Captain and Flex are different rows
When you export or import projections for a Showdown slate, check the role. Do not assume a Captain row is the same as a Flex row. Use the export that matches your contest format, then spot-check a player in each role. The import guide has the full checklist.
Build Showdown lineups
Open the NFL tool and choose the Showdown slate for the game. Each prime-time game also gets its own slate page under slate pages once its simulations have run. Simulation results and exports are part of Squirt Squad VIP and Apex; compare memberships. Model results do not promise a finish or a payout.
Questions
What is a DraftKings Showdown optimizer?
It is a tool that builds lineups for DraftKings single-game contests: one Captain and five Flex players from one game, under the salary cap, with at least one player from each team.
How does the Captain slot work?
The Captain costs 1.5 times his normal salary and scores 1.5 times his fantasy points. Any player in the game can be the Captain.
Should the quarterback always be the Captain?
No. The quarterback is often the most popular Captain, which means more lineups share the result when he does well. The right Captain depends on salary, role and how you expect the game to go.
Is Showdown the same on FanDuel?
The shape is the same and the numbers are not. FanDuel's single-game format has one MVP and five AnyFlex players, and the MVP costs 1.5 times his salary and scores 1.5 times his points. FanDuel uses a $60,000 cap, its own salaries and half a point per reception, so lineups and projections do not carry over. FanDuel single-game lineups covers it.
Can I export Showdown projections?
Yes. Set the Showdown slate first and use the export that matches the contest format. Exports are part of Squirt Squad VIP and Apex.
More by site and sport
Projections by site
- DraftKings NFL projections
- DraftKings NBA projections
- DraftKings MLB projections
- FanDuel NFL projections
- FanDuel NBA projections
- FanDuel MLB projections
Ownership
Simulators
Lineup building
Showdown
Contest types