The Sunday Night Football DFS slate brings Tampa Bay and Chicago into the spotlight, and there’s a clear path for lineup builders who want to get creative. One of the sharper routes is at kicker, where both Cairo Santos and Chase McLaughlin can be used at captain to open up salary for the bigger names.
That approach makes plenty of sense given how both kickers have performed. McLaughlin has posted at least 11 Fantasy points in six of eight games this season, while Santos has reached double digits in five games.
If there’s a kicker to lean into, Santos stands out the most because of how Tampa Bay has handled opposing kickers. The Buccaneers are allowing 9.9 FPPG to the position, which gives Santos a strong setup for this week.
The Buccaneers’ backfield is another spot DFS players should pay close attention to, and the name to circle is Kenneth Gainwell. Bucky Irving has been the louder fantasy play lately, especially after back-to-back games with 20-plus Fantasy points, but Gainwell matched Irving’s snap share last week and turned that role into 140 rushing yards in Tampa Bay’s historic win over the Atlanta Falcons. The former Pittsburgh Steeler has momentum, and Sunday night gives him a chance to keep it rolling.
Gainwell’s appeal goes beyond the ground game. His receiving ability gives him an edge over Irving, especially with Baker Mayfield only attempting 14 passes over the past two games.
That stretch helped Irving’s fantasy output, but a more normal passing script would work in Gainwell’s favor. At his price, he also helps DFS players fit in more high-end pieces elsewhere.
On the Chicago side, Rome Odunze is the receiver who looks ready to pop. He’s been stuck in the shadows of Luther Burden III and Colston Loveland in the target pecking order, but the usage says a breakout could be close. Odunze is on the field constantly, regularly playing between 84% and 95% of the snaps, and while he ranks third on the Bears in targets, he has still maintained a steady role in the offense.
The red zone usage is where Odunze’s case gets even stronger. He hasn’t scored a touchdown yet this season, but he has five red-zone targets, second among Bears wide receivers. He also led Chicago pass catchers with 87 receiving yards, another sign that the production is starting to show up even if the touchdowns haven’t followed yet.
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