Monday Night Football DFS: Eagles vs. Bears DraftKings Showdown Picks | NFL Week 3
Eagles vs. Bears Monday Night Football DraftKings Showdown picks with Captain ownership projections, FLEX core, GPP leverage and lineup construction.
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Monday Night Football closes Week 3 with Philadelphia at Chicago. Caleb Williams, Dallas Goedert and Hollywood Brown are out. Saquon Barkley and DeVonta Smith are available. Tyson Bagent cleared concussion protocol, but Chicago prepared Case Keenum throughout the practice week and current reporting favors Keenum starting. The Bears quarterback is the one item we still want confirmed before lock.
- Game setup
- Favorite Captain options
- 1. DeVonta Smith, CPT $15,900 | FLEX $10,600
- 2. Jalen Hurts, CPT $16,200 | FLEX $10,800
- 3. D’Andre Swift, CPT $14,400 | FLEX $9,600
- 4. Saquon Barkley, CPT $15,000 | FLEX $10,000
- 5. Dontayvion Wicks, CPT $6,600 | FLEX $4,400
- 6. Rome Odunze, CPT $11,100 | FLEX $7,400
- CTS Captain ownership projections
- Flex core
- Jalen Hurts, $10,800
- DeVonta Smith, $10,600
- D’Andre Swift, $9,600
- Saquon Barkley, $10,000
- Dontayvion Wicks, $4,400
- Kalif Raymond, $3,800
- GPP and leverage plays
- Kyle Monangai, $5,600
- Luther Burden III, $7,600
- Colston Loveland, $7,000
- Johnny Mundt, $2,200
- Zach Ertz, $2,600
- Darius Cooper, $2,000
- Eagles DST, $5,200
- Jake Elliott, $4,800
- Cairo Santos, $4,600
- Players we are more cautious with
- Lineup construction
- 3-3 is our neutral starting point
- 4-2 Eagles is our favorite tournament structure
- 4-2 Bears is real leverage
- 5-1 should tell a blowout story
- Receiver Captain usually wants the quarterback
- Running back Captain can fade the quarterback
- Do not force all $50,000
- Favorite build scripts
- CTS final core
The slate revolves around three decisions: how aggressively to pay for Jalen Hurts, whether DeVonta Smith can outscore the quarterbacks from Captain, and how much Chicago offense we want with a backup quarterback. Our favorite large-field approach keeps Hurts in most builds while using Smith, D’Andre Swift and Saquon Barkley as the primary skill-position Captains.
Game setup
Philadelphia is a 3.5-point road favorite with the total around 41.5. That makes 3-3 and 4-2 the natural starting structures. Chicago should lean on its backs and shorter throws, while Philadelphia can win through Hurts, Barkley or a concentrated passing attack led by Smith.
Smith is coming off 10 catches on 13 targets for 117 yards and a touchdown. Dontayvion Wicks has 73 and 74 receiving yards in his first two Eagles games. Goedert and Brown being out further condenses the passing tree. Chicago’s D’Andre Swift handled 16 carries and five catches last week, while Kalif Raymond has drawn 14 targets through two games and costs only $3,800 FLEX.
Favorite Captain options
1. DeVonta Smith, CPT $15,900 | FLEX $10,600
Our favorite large-field skill-position Captain. Goedert and Brown are out, Smith already showed a 13-target ceiling, and a ceiling game can beat Hurts at the multiplier while still allowing Hurts in FLEX.
2. Jalen Hurts, CPT $16,200 | FLEX $10,800
The safest raw Captain and our projected ownership leader. Passing plus rushing touchdown equity is difficult to match. The downside is salary and duplication, so Hurts Captain builds need differentiation elsewhere.
3. D’Andre Swift, CPT $14,400 | FLEX $9,600
Our favorite Chicago Captain. The backup quarterback environment should preserve rushing volume and can add checkdowns. Swift has multiple paths to a 20-plus touch game.
4. Saquon Barkley, CPT $15,000 | FLEX $10,000
A strong leverage Captain after the Week 2 stinger crushed his workload. He practiced fully and is available. A normal workload plus two touchdowns can beat Hurts while directly leveraging Hurts’ goal-line ownership.
5. Dontayvion Wicks, CPT $6,600 | FLEX $4,400
Our favorite salary Captain. His downfield role has already produced 73 and 74 yards. At only $6,600 Captain, one explosive touchdown can unlock nearly every premium FLEX.
6. Rome Odunze, CPT $11,100 | FLEX $7,400
Our Bears receiver moon shot. The quarterback downgrade should suppress ownership. We are betting on one high-value touchdown plus an explosive play, not a high-volume Chicago passing game.
CTS Captain ownership projections
These are CTS estimates for large-field DraftKings Showdown contests, not observed ownership. They assume Case Keenum starts. If Tyson Bagent starts, the quarterback and Bears pass-catcher estimates should be adjusted.
| Captain | CPT Salary | CTS CPT Own. |
|---|---|---|
| Jalen Hurts | $16,200 | 27% |
| DeVonta Smith | $15,900 | 19% |
| Saquon Barkley | $15,000 | 14% |
| D’Andre Swift | $14,400 | 13% |
| Case Keenum | $12,600 | 6% |
| Dontayvion Wicks | $6,600 | 5% |
| Rome Odunze | $11,100 | 4% |
| Luther Burden III | $11,400 | 3% |
| Colston Loveland | $10,500 | 2.5% |
| Kyle Monangai | $8,400 | 2% |
| Eagles DST | $7,800 | 1.5% |
| All other Captains | Varies | 3% |
Hurts is the clear ownership leader. Smith is our favorite way to beat a Hurts-heavy Captain field without fading Hurts entirely. Swift is the best Chicago Captain because he can score through rushing or receiving. Wicks is the salary-driven leverage Captain.
Flex core
Jalen Hurts, $10,800
The closest thing to a core lock. His rushing and passing touchdown equity is difficult to replace.
DeVonta Smith, $10,600
The clearest Philadelphia receiving core play with Goedert and Brown out.
D’Andre Swift, $9,600
Our preferred Chicago skill player. The quarterback change can increase the importance of his rushing and checkdown roles.
Saquon Barkley, $10,000
Available after the stinger. He remains a primary Philadelphia goal-line option and gives us leverage against Hurts rushing scores.
Dontayvion Wicks, $4,400
At $4,400, one of the best salary-adjusted plays on the slate. His downfield role means he does not need huge target volume.
Kalif Raymond, $3,800
Our favorite Bears salary value. Fourteen targets and 13 catches through two games at only $3,800.
GPP and leverage plays
Kyle Monangai, $5,600
A direct Swift leverage play. His $5,600 price prevents him from becoming automatic value. Best in Bears-control and low-scoring builds.
Luther Burden III, $7,600
An uncomfortable $7,600 price should control ownership. If Chicago manufactures touches and Burden catches the primary passing touchdown, he can beat similarly priced options.
Colston Loveland, $7,000
A touchdown-access tournament tight end. We like the role, but we are not assuming a backup quarterback automatically funnels targets to him.
Johnny Mundt, $2,200
Goedert is out and Mundt played 64% of the snaps after Goedert exited last week. At $2,200, three catches or one touchdown can be enough.
Zach Ertz, $2,600
Only $2,600 and familiar with Philadelphia’s offense. His role is uncertain, which is exactly what can keep ownership down if he is active.
Darius Cooper, $2,000
A $2,000 salary-relief receiver. Brown being out creates routes. One red-zone target or a few catches can make him useful.
Eagles DST, $5,200
Our favorite non-skill leverage play. A backup Chicago quarterback plus a 41.5 total creates sack and turnover paths at $5,200.
Jake Elliott, $4,800
Useful in Eagles-control builds where Philadelphia moves the ball but stalls in the red zone.
Cairo Santos, $4,600
The Chicago version of the same low-total thesis. Field goals can beat secondary receivers who need a touchdown.
Players we are more cautious with
Case Keenum $8,400: viable if confirmed as the starter, but not mandatory. Chicago can score through its backs without a strong quarterback fantasy score. Tyson Bagent $8,800: available, but avoid unless he starts or we intentionally build for multiple quarterbacks playing. Tank Bigsby $5,000: Barkley is available, so last week’s expanded role should not be treated as the new baseline. Hollywood Brown $2,800 and Dallas Goedert $6,600 are out.
Lineup construction
3-3 is our neutral starting point
The spread is close enough that balanced builds remain viable, especially with Smith or Swift Captain.
4-2 Eagles is our favorite tournament structure
Hurts or Smith Captain with three additional Eagles and one or two concentrated Chicago pieces fits the most natural game script.
4-2 Bears is real leverage
If Chicago wins with a backup quarterback, much of the field will be built incorrectly. Swift Captain plus Monangai and a Bears receiver is a coherent upset script.
5-1 should tell a blowout story
Hurts Captain in a 5-1 Eagles build is viable if Philadelphia dominates. The lone Bear should be someone who can accumulate production while trailing.
Receiver Captain usually wants the quarterback
Smith and Wicks Captain should normally include Hurts. Odunze or Burden Captain generally wants the starting Bears quarterback.
Running back Captain can fade the quarterback
Swift Captain can leave the Bears quarterback off. Barkley Captain can leave Hurts off in the most aggressive multiple-rushing-touchdown builds.
Do not force all $50,000
Showdown duplication matters. We are comfortable leaving $800, $1,500 or more unused when the lineup remains logically correlated.
Favorite build scripts
- Smith ceiling: Smith CPT + Hurts + Wicks, with Swift and one or two Bears pieces.
- Hurts controls everything: Hurts CPT + Smith + Wicks or Mundt, then two Chicago pieces. Barkley can be faded when betting on Hurts goal-line scores.
- Saquon rebound: Barkley CPT + Eagles DST or Elliott + Smith. Hurts is optional in the most aggressive version.
- Swift workload game: Swift CPT + Monangai + one Bears receiver, with Smith and Hurts coming back.
- Wicks salary unlock: Wicks CPT + Hurts + Smith + Swift + another premium FLEX, then one low-owned value.
- Ugly backup-QB game: Eagles DST + one or both kickers + a running back Captain. Embrace the low total instead of manufacturing a shootout.
CTS final core
Captain pool: Smith $15,900, Hurts $16,200, Swift $14,400, Barkley $15,000, Wicks $6,600 and Odunze $11,100.
Flex core: Hurts $10,800, Smith $10,600, Swift $9,600, Barkley $10,000, Wicks $4,400 and Raymond $3,800.
Favorite GPP FLEX: Monangai $5,600, Burden $7,600, Loveland $7,000, Mundt $2,200, Eagles DST $5,200 and Darius Cooper $2,000.