Andrew Ortenberg
Show Bio
Week 8 of the NFL season kicks off with a matchup between the Packers and Cardinals with 6-1 Green Bay heading into Arizona to face the league’s lone remaining undefeated team. As if going on the road to face an undefeated team wasn’t going to be challenging enough for the Packers, they will have to do so without their two top receivers in Davante Adams and Allen Lazard as both landed on the COVID-19 list this week. These two teams have put on some epic performances in the past and this should be another entertaining primetime matchup.
Now before we begin, please take a moment to understand what exactly you are getting yourself into by playing single-game Showdown Slates. We love to have some skin in the game, for sure, but these slates are, for all intents and purposes, a lottery ticket. Sure, there are times when the chalk hits and everyone shares in the prizes, but, more often than not, you need to hit on that random dart-throw that differentiates your lineup from that of the herd in order to claim the top prize. As a result, we encourage you to play responsibly and not over-invest.
Stick to the GPP contests (single-entry preferred), don’t blow your whole bankroll, and understand that, unless you are a max-entry player, you should prioritize having fun.
Be sure to check out our full game preview for Green Bay Packers vs Arizona Cardinals
**Please note that players not listed below are not necessarily a complete fade and any player listed can certainly be used as the MVP/Captain. These are merely suggestions for players to use when setting Showdown lineups.
Captain/MVP
Kyler Murray, QB, Cardinals
The top priced play on tonight’s slate, Murray continues to put up elite fantasy numbers, completing 73.5-percent of his passes for 2,002 yards with 17 touchdowns passing while adding 126 yards and three scores rushing. The Packers defense ranks 21st against the pass in DVOA and even with a hobbled DeAndre Hopkins, there are plenty of receivers for Murray to target and get the job done.
Aaron Jones, RB, Packers
The Packers are decimated at receiver tonight which makes me think we could see a lot of Aaron Jones as the Packers look to not only run the football here against the Cardinals but also feature Jones in the team’s passing game. I could legitimately see an Alvin Kamara-esque stat line from Jones tonight where he sees 8-to-10 targets while carrying the football close to 15 times. He is going to be the best skill position player on the field for the Packers tonight.
Aaron Rodgers, QB, Packers
You can never really count out Rodgers, even if his top receivers tonight are going to be Randall Cobb and Robert Tonyan. We have seen Rodgers do more with less in years past and a multi-touchdown effort is not out of the question.
James Conner, RB, Cardinals
If you want to get a little contrarian with your captain play tonight then maybe you take a look at James Conner. Conner has six rushing touchdowns on the season and has seen double-digit carries in all but one game this season. He has two games with multiple touchdowns which is what we are looking for here tonight against this 23rd ranked DVOA rush defense.
Don’t forget to read our same game parlay for Packers vs Cardinals (+1144 odds!)
Other Picks
DeAndre Hopkins, WR, Cardinals
Hopkins is dealing with a hamstring injury but is expected to play tonight. He has yet to have a 100-yard game this season but he already has seven touchdowns on the year with four of those seven coming over the last three weeks. There is still no Jaire Alexander for Green Bay which means Hopkins will have himself a beatable matchup as long as his hamstring holds up.
Christian Kirk, WR, Cardinals
While a lot of the defensive focus will lean the way of Hopkins, there is plenty of upside still with Kirk who has touchdown catches in each of the last two games while totaling nine receptions on 13 targets during that stretch.
Randall Cobb, WR, Packers
He is going to be the top receiver for the Packers tonight given all the issues they are facing at the position. Cobb was brought to the Packers this season via trade at the request of Aaron Rodgers and now tonight is the night that trade will be the focus. We saw Cobb come up big back in Week 4 when he had five catches for 69 yards and two touchdowns, but that has largely been it from the veteran receiver.
Robert Tonyan, TE, Packers
Tonyan broke out last season when the Packers had nobody else to catch the football. Last week he turned in his best performance of the season, catching four passes on five targets for 63 yards and a touchdown. The Cardinals are a strong defensive team against opposing tight ends but just out of necessity there should be a decent target volume for Tonyan tonight.
Dart Throws
Equanimeous St. Brown, WR, Packers
Could very well be the No.2 wide receiver today for the Packers, ESB has struggled when given increased opportunity to produce but he will be thrusted into another spot where Rodgers will have to consider him an option due to the lack of healthy bodies. He is the epitome of a dart throw play in tonight’s matchup.
Find out our best touchdown scorer prop bets for TNF!
For a more in-depth breakdown and showdown analysis, be sure to check out DFSAlarm.com for all of your daily fantasy sports needs.
