The NFL is treating us to a matchup between two teams that have not lived up to expectations to begin the season with the Colts traveling to take on the Broncos to kick off Week 5 on Thursday night. The Colts are 1-2-1 in the first four weeks despite a ton of hype surrounding the team after bringing in Matt Ryan to replace Carson Wentz at quarterback.
Meanwhile, the Broncos are 2-2 this season following a blockbuster trade that landed them Russell Wilson from the Seahawks. Both teams are dealing with injuries to their starting running backs as Javonte Williams has been ruled out for the season with a torn ACL, while Jonathan Taylor has ankle/toe injuries he’s dealing with ahead of Thursday’s contest.
With Taylor’s status for Thursday up in the air, I’ll be leaving him out of my showdown contest picks on DraftKings for this week’s game. In a battle between two teams that want to get on the right track this week, here are my favorite captain and flex picks for the showdown contest on DraftKings in Week 5.
Captain Spot Considerations
Courtland Sutton ($14,100)
It’s early in the season, but it appears that Wilson’s favorite wide receiver to target on the Broncos is Sutton. Sutton owns the ninth-highest target share (26.7%) among wide receivers through the first four weeks and Jerry Jeudy has yet to develop solid chemistry with Wilson.
The big-bodied wideout hasn’t seen fewer than seven targets in a game this season and he’s posted 16+ points in three straight weeks, giving us a solid floor. If you’re using Sutton as your captain, you’ll want to pair him with Wilson as the Broncos could have success through the air against Gus Bradley’s zone-heavy defense at home.
Melvin Gordon ($13,200)
Yes, I understand that Gordon has fumbled the ball four times in the first four weeks of the season. But with Williams out for the rest of the season, Justin Outten (the offensive coordinator of the Broncos), revealed that Gordon—not Mike Boone—is going to be the featured back entering Thursday’s game despite the veteran dealing with a neck injury he suffered in Week 4.
Even though Gordon is averaging only 3.8 yards per attempt, he’s still recorded only 0.1 fewer yards after contact per carry compared to Williams this season, per Pro Football Reference…
Each week, Skyler Carlin will be writing up his top picks for TNF DraftKings Showdowns throughout the 2022 season. Don’t miss out on his DFS advice this year. Make sure you join our Patreon to help bring home big winnings this season.