NFL DFS Monday Night Showdown Advice (CLE @ PIT) – Week 17

We have made it to the end of the road in 2022, the final Monday Night Football game of the season is here. We get an AFC rivalry matchup tonight as Cleveland will try to spoilers in the Steel City. The Browns playoff hopes ended yesterday when Cincinnati won the division. But Pittsburgh will put all their chips in the middle in a must win game, in which could be Ben Roethlisberger’s last game at Heinz Field. 

In what looks like to be a low scoring defensive outlined game, Cleveland will look to punish the Steelers with their running game and grind down the clock. Nick Chubb has been leading the way at the position for the Browns, averaging 20 touches per game, and 1,143 yards on the season. Pittsburgh’s run defense has been in shambles late in the season, Chubb should see plenty of volume tonight. 

Here’s a look at a Monday Night NFL DFS Showdown Core (CLE @ PIT) (Using DraftKings Values)

Captain/MVP:

Diontae Johnson ($15,600 DK/$13,000 FD) Big Ben’s favorite target will get plenty of balls thrown in his direction in a must win situation tonight. Pittsburgh’s offense has lived and died in the short range passing game, Johnson went for six catches and 98 yards in their first meeting this season.

Who to Fade:

Baker Mayfield ($9,200 DK/$14,500 FD) The Cleveland former number one pick has just not panned out what he was anticipated to be, and it has shown this season. Battling injuries and struggling with a receiving core who cannot hold onto the balls thrown to them, other than Jarvis Landry, is just not worth spending up for in this format.

Other Studs We Like:

Jarvis Landry ($8,400 DK/$11,000 FD) See above. Mayfield will force feed the ball to him in passing situations, and in a PPR format, we like that. Landry will see plenty volume again (ten targets in first meeting) tonight as Cleveland looks to end their rival’s playoff hopes. 

Pat Freirmuth ($6,600 DK/$9,500 FD) He’s another beneficiary of Ben’s noodle arm. The rookie tight end has had a breakout season thus far thanks to the Pittsburgh offensive scheme. He’s caught seven touchdowns for the year including one against Cleveland in their first matchup.

Value Plays:

Ray – Ray McCloud III ($3,400 DK/$6,500 FD) The wideout saw eight targets last week catching four of them for 25 yards. If he can replicate that performance tonight he will be a sneaky value play.

Harrison Bryant ($3,000 DK/$7,000 FD) Cleveland is a run first, throw to its tight ends second offense. He is the least expensive of the three on their roster, and has caught a touchdown in his last two games. Although there are a lot of mouths to feed in Cleveland, Bryant appears to be their red zone man. 

James Washington ($2,200 DK/$7,500 FD) He has been pushed down the receiving depth charts for the Steelers, but when he sees the field he can get open. In the team’s pass heavy offense, Washington is too cheap to say no to, with big shot play potential for a 40 plus yard catch.

General Strategy: These low scoring games are tough to draft. You tend to want to spend as much salary as possible, but in some cases, the winning lineups leave a lot of money on the table. Cleveland loves to run the ball and eat away at the clock, and Pittsburgh’s steel curtain defense has become a shower curtain. Chubb is a lock tonight to have a great game, especially if Kareem Huntdoes not play again. Even D’Ernest Johnson who is third in line will be viable if Hunt is out, so start up the Cleveland run game. Both teams sadly may not land in the endzone much tonight, and fall short in the red zones, so kickers are a good play as well. Pittsburgh’s Defense is also a good one to slide in, as Mayfield threw four picks last time out on the road, and being it may be Ben Roethlisberger’s last home game, it could be inspiration for the team to send him off in style. 

Now go and win with your showdown lineup and let us know how you did.

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