RADIO
Joe Nicely's DraftKings NFL DFS picks and lineup sleepers for Super Bowl LV. His top daily fantasy football recommendations to target for DraftKings DFS contests.
Hi RotoBallers, and thanks for joining me here for Super Bowl LV! It's been a great season and I really appreciate you spending some time with me throughout it. Each year, all roads lead to the Super Bowl and that's where we find ourselves this week. This game feels both right and unique, as we have an intriguing storyline of the past (Tom Brady) clashing with the future (Patrick Mahomes).
As for the actual matchup on the field, it's an interesting one...we have a Tampa Bay team that started the season as something of a novelty due to the acquisition of Brady and Rob Gronkowski - not to mention their midseason signing of Antonio Brown - but it has truly been their surprisingly-rugged defense that's put them in position to play in the Super Bowl. Kansas City is the defending Super Bowl champs, entered the season as the favorites, and have a high-octane offense that's continually lived up to the hype. This unique clash of styles is made even more intriguing by the fact that we must adjust to DraftKings' Showdown Captain Mode that will be in effect for this game.
These DraftKings DFS lineup recommendations are based on matchups, projected ownership, overall upside/talent levels, opportunity, and other factors such as Vegas odds, home-field advantage, and more. There are some great plays available, so read on to find out which players are the best Super Bowl LV. It's been an amazing season, let's Break The Slate together one last time!
Be sure to check all of our fantasy football rankings for 2025:- 2025 fantasy football rankings
- Running back (RB) rankings
- Wide receiver (WR) rankings
- Quarterback (QB) rankings
- Tight end (TE) rankings
- Defense (D/ST) rankings
- Kicker (K) rankings
- FLEX rankings
- Dynasty rankings
DraftKings DFS Captain Position - Super Bowl Picks
Patrick Mahomes - KC@ TB ($18,000)
We might as well discuss the elephant in the room. Patrick Mahomes is the highest-priced player on this slate and he will also be the most popular 'Captain' selection. It's hard to argue with him...he's simply the best QB in the game today. However, Mahomes will see some resistance from a stout Tampa Bay defensive line this Sunday. He'll be working behind a patchwork Chiefs offensive line against a Bucs pass rush that accrued 48 sacks this season, the fourth-most in the league. If he's given enough time to throw the ball, the superstar has a tremendous chance to find success against a Tampa Bay secondary that has allowed 5,135 passing yards over their 19 games.
Travis Kelce - KC @ TB ($16,500)
I'll be invoking the "Kelce Rule" for the final time this year. For those of you that don't regularly read this article, the "Kelce Rule" is pretty simple and goes like this: If Travis Kelce is available on the slate, you play him. Ignore his price. Ignore his ownership. Ignore his matchup. Just play him. It certainly applies in this matchup against a Tampa Bay defense that's struggled against the TE position. The Bucs have allowed 105 receptions to opposing TEs this season - the second-most in the NFL - and will likely struggle to slow down the main cog in this explosive Chiefs passing game.
Tom Brady - KC @ TB ($15,000)
It's tough to pivot away from Chiefs in the "Captain" spot, but Tom Brady presents a viable option on the Bucs side of the ball. We know Tampa Bay doesn't want this game to turn into a shootout, though it's not a stretch to envision a scenario in which the Bucs are forced to rely on Brady to keep pace with Kansas City. If his recent play is any indicator, the 43-year-old will be up to the task. Brady has topped 348 passing yards in four of his last six and has tossed a whopping 47 TDs this year. Tampa Bay hasn't needed him to put up those types of numbers in the postseason yet, but Brady's arm has looked lively and capable. Kansas City's defense ranked 26th in the NFL this season in DraftKings points allowed to the QB position, so while they're an overall solid unit, they are by no means impenetrable.
DraftKings DFS Flex Position - Super Bowl Picks
Tyreek Hill - KC @ TB ($10,400)
You can make a strong argument for using Tyreek Hill in the "Captain" position, but I prefer to use him in the "Flex" and pair him with Mahomes at "Captain", simply due to the inherent volatility that comes with the WR position. He brings off-the-charts upside to the table and has already torched this Bucs defense to the tune of 60.9 (!) DK points in Week 12 of the regular season. It's tough not to go right back to the well with the Cheetah, as the matchup against Sean Murphy-Bunting is one he can (obviously) smash, but Hill's aforementioned explosion against Tampa Bay during the regular season makes me think they will adjust their scheme in an attempt to "not let Hill beat them". Overall, this is a tremendous spot for Hill, though I have personally have enough small concerns to tag him as a "Flex" play, rather than as a "Captain" option.
Chris Godwin - KC @ TB ($8,800)
After battling injuries over the first half of the season, Chris Godwin has reestablished himself as a force in this Bucs offense as of late. He's been targeted 44 times over Tampa's last five games, bringing in 24 catches for 440 yards and four TDs. Godwin is set to tangle with KC's L'Jarius Snead, a player that's been extremely impressive in his rookie campaign, but is nonetheless a fourth-round rookie. As mentioned when discussing Tom Brady, there's a strong change that Tampa Bay will be forced to keep up with this high-powered Chiefs offense and Godwin will be huge benefactor if that scenario unfolds.
Cameron Brate - KC @ TB ($4,800)
Any time we're dealing with a single-game situation, we want to open our mind to alternate scenarios that could play out. It seems as though almost every Super Bowl has a player that comes out of nowhere to have a huge game. Tampa Bay's Cameron Brate sticks out as a viable candidate to be the breakout sleeper this year. Used little during the regular season, Brate has evolved into a trusted target for Tom Brady over the course of the Playoffs. The veteran TE has been targeted 16 times over Tampa's three postseason contests, racking up 11 catches for 149 yards and a TD. In addition to the increased workload, Brate also represents an opportunity to target a weak link in this KC defense, as the Chiefs have allowed the fourth-most receiving yards (1,071) in the NFL to the TE position this season.
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