Thursday’s night NFL game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cleveland Browns seems likely to be a grind-it-out matchup, as oddsmakers have set the over/under at 40.5, and deemed the Browns a 2.5 favorite. On its face, it seems like a game that, in the DFS world, would favor running backs and defenses over mediocre quarterbacks Mason Rudolph and Baker Mayfield. Of course, in the NFL – and in DFS – anything can, and often, happens. With that, here are four players to consider.
Jarvis Landry, Browns WR
Odell Beckham, Jr. may have gotten more targets last week against the Bills, but it was Landry who led the team in receptions (nine) and receiving yards (97), while also scoring a touchdown. That makes two consecutive games where Landry has found the end zone after not scoring any TDs earlier in the season. He has also received at least 10 targets in each of the past three games. Landry will look to continue his chemistry with quarterback Baker Mayfield tonight.
Rashard Higgins, Browns WR
I don’t expect a massive game from Higgins, but he could make a great value play since his salary is just $4,400 on DraftKings, and $6,000 on FanDuel. Higgins had a strong 2018, and then missed six weeks of the 2019 season with a knee injury. He only caught one pass last week, but it was the winning TD grab. He and Mayfield will look to build momentum against the Steelers.
James Conner, Steelers RB
Conner is back from a shoulder injury tonight, and looks to continue to steamrolling the opposition on the ground the same way he did before he got hurt. In Week 8 against the Dolphins, he rushed 23 times for 145 yards and a touchdown while adding three receptions. He is averaging 18.4 DFS points per game on DK, and faces a Browns defense that is just 21st against opposing running backs in DFS.
Steelers D
Unstoppable force, meet…moveable object? The Steelers defense has picked off 14 passes and will meet Baker Mayfield, who has tossed 12 picks this year. If history repeats, we could see big points from this unit, which also has recovered 12 fumbles and made 33 sacks, averaging 13.2 DFS points per game on DK.
