DFS Thursday Night Football: DraftKings Showdown for Week 1 (Fantasy Football)
Before we get into the specifics of this matchup and how to approach it for the DraftKings showdown slate, I want to point people back to a few pieces of evergreen content that I think are extremely valuable if you’re serious about winning showdown all season. I’d recommend reading/listening to this content before proceeding, especially if you’re new to showdown.
1. How to Win Showdown Contests: A detailed article looking at the data and strategy behind winning showdown lineups.
2. DFS Showdown Strategy Podcast: A thorough discussion on how to beat showdown, looking at the game theory and how to leverage the field.
DraftKings Sportsbook Lines
Spread: PHI -8.5
Total: 47.5
Team Totals: Eagles (28.5), Cowboys (19.5)
Game Outlook
We are baaaaack, baby! The 2025 season kicks off on Thursday night when the Super Bowl champs play host to the Micah Parsons-less Dallas Cowboys with Philly favored at home by 8.5 as of this writing. Worth noting, prior to the Parsons trade, the Eagles were a consensus 6.5-point home favorite, so the market has certainly adjusted to arguably the biggest trade in recent memory. Per ESPN’s Bill Barnwell, over the last four years Dallas was the NFL’s best defense in EPA/play with Parsons on the field. With Parsons off the field, the Cowboys’ defense was the second worst during that stretch. Among all 32 NFL teams playing in Week 1, the Eagles have the highest implied team total in the league. At home as a TD+ favorite, most ‘optimal’ showdown lineups are going to feature plenty of Eagles.
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