The Monday night game between the Steelers and Bengals is the ultimate BINGO crapshoot. So rather than worry about loading up on Showdown entries for that game, I would focus on the Mon-Fri slate and let your money just hang out there for five days. What better way to make Christmas a fun sweat than to have some action riding on a Saints-Vikings Christmas afternoon/evening game.
Steelers at Bengals
This to me projects as a Steeler get right blowout game. Not one though where Ben comes out and throws 4 or 5 touchdown passes, but more one where their defense dominates, they run the ball with ease and Ben throws 2 touchdowns within the 30 yard line. I went in immediately and did a teaser on the Steelers and teased down the total and immediately regretted it because I’m not sure how the Bengals put up any offense tonight and doubt Pittsburgh scores more than 30. So I am hoping for a 34-10 type final but I expect something more like 31-3.
Vikings at Saints
Minnesota is all but eliminated with a bad home loss to the Bears on Sunday and the Saints are really banged up on offense (at WR) and their defense was just on the field for 92 snaps in a physical game with the Chiefs. It’s a short week and Minnesota has two things on offense that can give the Saints fits.
Dalvin Cook has done well vs them and Malcolm Brown (Saints DT) has been out lately which has helped opponents rushing. The other spot is Adam Theilen against the Saints secondary — he’s owned Marshon Lattimore but I expect Janoris Jenkins to draw him the most this Friday because of that.
New Orleans offense though should control this game on the ground and it screams a ton of Latavius Murray. All total, I expect the game to be relatively low scoring but the one we want more from in DFS due to volume and pricing. A lot in DFS depends upon injury news which we just don’t have yet.
QB
Drew Brees
Ben and Brees are the logical plays here. Saints pass defense is too strong and even though Theilen is a viable option I don’t see Cousins being able to push 300 yards passing. This should be Drew Brees final regular season home game but comes with little to now fans in the stadium. Either way, he’s obviously my play.
RB
Latavius Murray & Dalvin Cook
Alvin Kamara or James Conner
I want three RB on this slate and Latavius Murray is definitely one of them. The second without a doubt is going to be Dalvin Cook so our key decision will be rolling with a Steelers RB or doubling down on Alvin Kamara with two Saints RB. This game screams James Conner if the Steelers will trust him but I don’t see him pushing north of 10-12 carries. So while Conner or Snell are viable options on the Steeler side, I prefer to lean back to the Friday game. New Orleans should get Kamara 5-7 touches in the passing game but Murray is going to push close to RB1 type usage.
UPDATE: Conner ruled out. Lock in Benny Snell.
WR
Ju-Ju Smith Schuster
Adam Theilen
One of those two touchdowns should go to Ju-Ju and Diontae Johnson’s drop struggles should get worked out making him a nice PPR machine for Pittsburgh. I don’t mind using two Steeler WR and no Ben, but really it comes down to Ju-Ju or Claypool for the TD variance.
Adam Theilen should be locked into our lineups as he’ll have a high volume catch game and I know Justin Jefferson returns to Louisiana, but I am not forcing him into lineups just yet. We need injury news information on the Saints regarding Tre’Quan Smith and Marquez Callaway (IR). Callaway is min priced at $3,000 and if activated he is a must own.
TE
Eric Ebron, Jared Cook
Brees and Cook had some miscommunication on Sunday, theyll get that worked out early on Friday.
DEFENSE
Pittsburgh
Not much to say here, Pittsburgh is the play to pay up for. Saints are the second option.