Thursday Night Football Preview
Game: Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Minnesota Vikings
Line: Steelers -3 | O/U 43.5
Week 14 begins with two middle-of-the-road football teams fighting to stay alive in the playoff picture as the Pittsburgh Steelers head to Minnesota to face the Vikings. Each team enters the game with injuries surrounding significant stars. The Vikings could be without Dalvin Cook and Adam Thielen, while the Steelers aging quarterback Ben Roethlisberger also shows up on the injury report. Which team will be able to navigate around their injuries, and how should they approach the game Thursday night? Let’s break it down below.
How Do The Pittsburgh Steelers Win This Game?
The Vikings’ defense is weak in a plethora of areas in 2021. Their biggest struggle is stopping wide receivers from producing against them. This year the Vikings’ defense is third-worst with touchdowns allowed to the wide receiver position. They are also the third-worst when it relates to yards allowed to the same position. This game could bend towards Diontae Johnson and Chase Claypool leading the team down the field to put points on the board.
How Do The Vikings Win This Game?
The Vikings can lean on their running backs to help them win this game, especially with star wide receiver Adam Theilen more than likely missing the game. The Steelers’ defense is the sixth-worst defense against running back rushing yards. They are allowing nine total rushing touchdowns to running Backs this season, placing them eight worst in the NFL. If Dalvin Cook misses the game, expect Alexander Mattison to handle the majority of the carries and be placed in an excellent position to produce high numbers in this game.
Now that we know how each team will approach the game, let’s break down the best plays for your DFS Showdown lineups.
Quarterback
Ben Roethlisberger ($9,000)
I know the thought of starting Big Ben Roethlisberger in your lineup makes you squirm. However, we outlined earlier how wide receivers are playing against the Vikings’ defense, which helps Big Ben stat line for this game. He is also coming off a game where he threw for 236 yards and two touchdowns. Therefore, I may lean towards the cheaper option with these two quarterbacks to allow my lineup more flexibility.
Kirk Cousins ($10,400)
Kirk Cousins is having a great season that is falling under the radar. 25/3 TD-Int ratio while scoring 21.5 fantasy points a game for your lineups. Cousins seems like the safe bet for your lineup; the issue is Kirk Cousins struggles in prime-time games. The Steelers defense is 15 best against quarterbacks this year, allowing 212.46 to the position. That averages out to 17.7 points a game. You may find better production elsewhere for your lineup.
Running Backs
Najee Harris ($10,000)
Najee Harris had a solid start to this season; however, in his last two games, he scored 15.7 fantasy points(week 13) and 6.7 fantasy points(week 12). With his expensive pricing, you can use him but know he hasn’t scored 20 fantasy points since week 10. Therefore, you could earn a better result with a cheaper option in your lineup.
Dalvin Cook ($10,800)/ Alexander Mattison ($9,800)/ Kene Nwangwu ($1,600)
Dalvin Cook was a limited participant in practice, which means you need to watch the reports leading up to this Thursday Night Football game. Even if he does play, I may fade this expensive option due to his injury combined with the short week. In my eyes, Mattison is the safer play, especially if Cook sits, as he should lead the backfield in carries.
Kene Nwangwu is a dart throw/salary relief for your lineups only. He would need to have a home run shot to produce immensely for your lineup.
Wide Receiver
Diontae Johnson ($10,200)/ Chase Claypool ($7,400)/ James Washington ($5,000)
This position is where I would attack the slate. As we spoke earlier in how the Steelers should attack this game, the Vikings are weak against the wide receiver position. Diontae Johnson is Big Ben’s favorite target as he has recorded double-digit targets in every game since week nine. This level of production needs to be in your lineups. With this offense, Chase Claypool can be hot/cold and provides a high ceiling but a low floor. At the same time, James Washington is the very definition of a dart throw this week as he has had six total targets in the last three weeks.
Justin Jefferson ($11,000)/ K.J. Osborn ($5,600)
With Adam Theilen being doubtful for the game, we skip over him and head to Justin Jefferson. Jefferson is a stud wide receiver; his price point does make lineup creation difficult within this slate. If you can sneak Jefferson in your lineup, by all means, do it. He has had 44 targets in the last four weeks. Just know if you use Jefferson, you will need a dart throw play to finish your lineup.
This week, K.J. Osborn is everyone’s waiver wire darling, but he should be the third option behind Jefferson and Tyler Conklin in the receiving options for Cousins.
Tight End
Pat Freiermuth ($6,600)
This rookie sensation has been lighting it up for fantasy managers all season. The Vikings have only allowed three touchdowns all season this year. However, with how poorly the Vikings handle the wide receiver position, this is the game I lean away from Pat Freiermuth.
Tyler Conklin ($6,200)
Tyler Conklin, another waiver wire darling, is in a challenging position this week. The Steelers have only allowed two touchdowns all season to the tight end positions, second-best in the NFL. As a result, I am looking to fade the tight ends of this game as both teams handle the position well.
Kicker and Defense
Vikings DEF ($4,400)/. Steelers DEF ($4,200)/ Greg Joseph ($4,000)/ Chris Boswell ($3,800)
You can take a shot with the Cousins is terrible during prime time games narrative and aim for the Steelers defense to put up points. However, I will be looking at the kickers in this game. First, you have Greg Joseph with the Vikings, who average 2.3 field goal attempts per game, the fourth-highest in the NFL. Then we have Chris Boswell for the Steelers, as he hit 96% of his field goals this year. With a lower over/under in this game, I may use the kickers as cap relief in my lineups.
Prediction and DFS Showdown Cash Lineup
Vikings defeat the Steelers 21-17
DFS Showdown Cash Lineup
- Diontae Johnson ($15,300) *CAPTAIN*
- Chase Claypool ($7,400)
- Justin Jefferson ($11,000)
- Greg Joseph ($4,000)
- Alexander Mattison ($9,800)
- Kene Nwangwu ($1,600)
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