DraftKings NFL DFS Picks for 49ers vs. Rams Showdown Slate: Puka Nacua & CMC Headline The Australia Slate
Jason Cohen breaks down how to approach the Week 1 TNF slate in Australia between SF and LAR on DraftKings.
We’re back for our second night of the 2026 NFL season. Tonight's contest features the San Francisco 49ers versus the Los Angeles Rams, an exciting matchup showcasing two teams with big expectations for this season! We get a DraftKings NFL DFS Showdown to break down for this Thursday night matchup.
First, I'll highlight some players that I like in the captain spot, who get a 1.5x FP boost. A high-scoring captain (and one who's lower owned) can be the key to winning you a tournament. I'll give some of the players and spots to target in the flex position to fill out your lineups, too. Let's dive into it!
RELATED: FanDuel NFL DFS Picks For 49ers vs. Rams Single-Game Slate
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DraftKings NFL DFS Picks For SF vs. LAR TNF Week 1 (Australia)
Captain Picks For SF vs. LAR DraftKings Slate
Christian McCaffrey - SF RB ($15,900): Let's start off with CMC, who, to no one's surprise, is the Niners' top option on offense. McCaffrey led the entire league in touches in 2025, showing his engine is still running strong at 30 years old. We are getting McCaffrey at a price that I feel is very reasonable, and with the trend of soft pricing that DK has on all Week 1 slates, I like targeting CMC at the captain before he gets back up to the $12k (flex) price range.
Puka Nacua - LAR WR ($16,800): Next is the star WR for the Rams. Puka is the highest-priced player on this SD, and that is no mistake. He and CMC are neck and neck in projections, but I'd give the edge in ceiling to Puka. As I said with CMC, pricing is soft here, and I like spending up to one of the studs at captain. Puka fits that narrative perfectly. We know just how high his ceiling is, with 10 or more receptions in the range of outcomes.
Terrance Ferguson - LAR TE ($4,800): Value is thin on this SD, as the top players will be the stars of the show and then some. But we do have one play here in Terrance Ferguson that I like to target for upside. He was featured in the Rams' 3-TE sets a ton in the 2025 season and has received a ton of positive feedback in training camp. This is a complete boom-bust spot here, but if looking for a cheap captain, this is the spot to be. One catch is all it takes.
Top Flex Picks For SF vs. LAR DraftKings Showdown Slate
Matthew Stafford - LAR QB ($9,800): I like rostering both QBs here, but if picking one to highlight, it's going to be Matthew Stafford over Brock Purdy. Stafford is coming off a ridiculous 2025 MVP campaign, with absolutely staggering fantasy numbers. He looks to continue that into the new season vs the Niners. Having Nacua and Davante Adams as your top targets helps as well. Look for both to be very involved, and give Stafford much opportunity to rack up 25+ fantasy points.
Blake Corum - LAR RB ($4,600): The Rams are going to have a two-headed RB attack this season. Kyren Williams is going to be the more relied-upon piece of the backfield, but there is no doubt that Corum is a name to be mentioned here. With a slate that's thin on value, Corum at $4.6k seems like a great spot to get to. He is currently sitting on the books with a 44.5-yard rushing prop, and has self-reported that he has been working on his receiving game and feels more confident there. Kyren is the head of the monster, but let Corum get hot, and I would not be surprised if they extend his time on the field. A touchdown would most likely be needed to maximize his potential.
Harrison Mevis - LAR K ( $5,000) and Eddy Pineiro - SF K ($4,800): Adding to the conversation of lacking value here … the kickers on this slate may be essential pieces to building a winning lineup. I have been a fan of kickers on showdowns for years now. We have seen kickers slowly rising in price in recent years, but I still love getting to them in SDs that lack skill position value. They are usually safe for a floor of 5+ FPs with ceilings of 15+ FPs. Roster construction and optimal lineup building make one of these kickers a perfect fill-in option to round out your lineup.
Our second showdown slate of the 2026 season gives us a matchup dominated by stars, which is always entertaining. Value is thin, but we talked about plays to get to, including Terrance Ferguson, Blake Corum, and kickers. Good luck building your lineups, and I hope for us all to end up in the green at the end of the night!
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