Week 11 of the NFL season kicks off with a Thursday night battle between two AFC North rivals with the Steelers visiting the Browns.

The total on this game is 41.5 with the Browns a slight 3 point home favorite and this is the first of two meetings between these teams this year.

KEY PLAYERS

STEELERS 

Mason Rudolph ($8,400) … Anytime you can get a QB on discount on a Showdown slate I love to consider them in the CORE.  With James Conner likely playing tonight it reduces the luster for both him and Jaylen Samuels who has been a high volume player the last few games with Conner out.  I expect both to actually remain in the offense tonight and would get exposure to the Steelers with Rudolph first.

Vance McDonald ($5,400) … Watch for both Diontae Johnson and James Washington to end up as higher owned players tonight than McDonald, but it’s Vance who should be in your lineups.  He has 7 targets in each of the last two games and Cleveland’s decent at the CB position but can give up some easy catches to McDonald and at his price he’s a perfect Showdown play tonight.

BROWNS

Odell Beckham ($9,200) … I am the last person on the earth who will come at you with OBJ! OBJ! OMG! OBJ!  Especially since I correctly identified him as a no no no in fantasy for this season.  But if there’s one spot to love OBJ it’s a prime-time game and with the Steelers pass D playing really well of late folks will make the mistake of passing on OBJ.  He gets a big TD tonight.

Baker Mayfield ($9,000) … I like the Browns to win tonight at home and they don’t do that without Baker and their defense having good games.

CAPTAINS PICKS

Baker Mayfield, Browns Defense, Vance McDonald, Mason Rudolph

PLAYER POOL

CLE:   Mayfield, Chubb, Hunt, OBJ, Browns D

PIT:  Rudolph, Conner, Smith-Schuster, McDonald, Steelers D, Boswell