DraftKings Week 1 Monday Night Showdown: Picks, advice for Steelers vs. Giants NFL DFS

Steelers vs. Giants begins Week's 1 Monday Night Football doubleheader on ESPN. Ben Roethlisberger is back and healthy for Pittsburgh, while New York QB Daniel Jones begins his second season against a strong defense. Our DraftKings Showdown tournament picks hope to take advantage of that gap in experience as we look for the right DFS studs and values to put together a winning lineup.

Early in the season, our inclination has been to create pretty balanced lineups. Monday's first game is the first Showdown lineup of the season where we're fading one of the QBs -- and we're further embracing that fade by using our first D/ST of the season, too.

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DraftKings Showdown Picks: Steelers vs. Giants

CAPTAIN (1.5x points, 1.5x price): WR Diontae Johnson, Steelers ($8,700)

Johnson emerged as a productive player in 2019 despite poor Pittsburgh quarterbacking. With Roethlisberger back, Johnson could have an even better season in '20. He has the right combination of reception volume and deep speed to make for an intriguing captain play at a medium value.

FLEX: RB Saquon Barkley, Giants ($10,800)

It would be bold to fade the Giants entirelybecause Barkley has the most assured volume in Monday's game. He's also game-flow proof, getting carries while ahead and receptions while trailing. Barkley's ownership will be sky high, and we'll at least own him if he has a big game.

MNF INJURY UPDATES: Golden Tate | Courtland Sutton

FLEX: QB Ben Roethlisberger, Steelers ($10,200)

Early training camp worries about Roethlisberger's elbow seem to have gone by the wayside, and he gets a matchup with a New York secondary devoid of much NFL talent. The Giants allowed the fourth-most DK points to QBs in 2019, and they definitely didn't get better in the offseason. Playing Roethlisberger also gives us some piece of WR production on Pittsburgh that comes away from Johnson.

FLEX: RB James Conner, Steelers ($9,600)

Hopefully, Roethlisberger and Johnson get us off to a fast start and Conner can help run the clock out on a win. New York's run defense was closer to league average last season, but it's nothing to write home about, either.

FLEX: D/ST Pittsburgh Steelers ($5,400)

There doesn't feel like a huge risk of Pittsburgh giving up tons of points, so then you look at the positive point-gaining stats: Sacks and turnovers. Daniel Jones is susceptible to both, and the Steelers have the talent up front and in the secondary to take advantage of that.

FLEX: WR Darius Slayton, Giants ($5,200)

You could play James Washington here and totally fade the Giants. Slayton showed a good enough connection with Jones in 2019 that we'll take the chance at least on garbage-time stats here for the second-year player, especially if Golden Tate (hamstring)is out.