X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Value Picks
Compare Any Players
News and Alerts

Monday Night Football DFS Lineup Picks for FanDuel, DraftKings - Steelers vs. Bengals

Jorge's top NFL DFS lineup picks for FanDuel, DraftKings and Week 15's Monday Night Football Steelers vs. Bengals matchup. His daily fantasy football advice and value plays.

Monday Night Football has arrived and we get treated to an AFC North battle as the Pittsburgh Steelers take on the Cincinnati Bengals. The Steelers are trying to keep pace with other top teams in the AFC as teams are jockeying for playoff seeding positions while the Bengals look to play spoiler and hand Pittsburgh a loss. This game features an over/under of 40.5 with the Steelers being favored by 12 points.

In this article, I will be providing you with daily fantasy football picks on FanDuel and DraftKings for the Monday Night Football slate on December 21st (Week 15). These lineups can vary from higher-priced players and elite options to lower-priced players and value picks on both DraftKings and FanDuel.

If you have any questions you can follow me on Twitter @jorgepucks and fire away, or sign up for a premium RotoBaller NFL package and chat with myself and other NFL DFS analysts any time you'd like!

Be sure to check all of our fantasy football rankings for 2025:

 

DFS Quarterbacks

This looks to be a pretty easy choice when it comes to choosing to roster a quarterback on this showdown slate. No disrespect to Brandon Allen and Ryan Finley but it does not look like a great matchup to roster them in any format. The Steelers have one of the toughest defenses in the league and they make it very tough to move the ball on them as they allow 319 total yards per game and have one of the lower allowed point totals in the league The Bengals were only able to muster up 10 points in their first game and this was with a healthy Joe Burrow under center.  The Pittsburgh defense leads the league with 45 sacks on the year and the Bengals offensive line has been horrible as they have allowed 46 sacks on the season so far.

On the opposite side of this game sits Ben Roethlisberger who has played well all season long. Big Ben had himself a field day in Week 9 as he threw for 333 passing yards and four touchdowns. The Bengals Defense did not have an answer for this Steeler passing attack and it is safe to assume that they still won't have an answer for it this week as well. The Cincinnati defense has only generated 15 total sacks on the season which is tied for the second-worst sack total in the league so Roethlisberger should have a clean pocket to operate out of. Big Ben gets the ball out of his hand really quick as he has the quickest time to throw metric in the league (2.29 seconds). The Steelers are using quick throws to keep the chains moving and keep Roethlisberger upright which has been the key to their offensive success all season long.

Analysis: Ben Roethlisberger is a top captain option on this slate and should be viable in all formats while it is best to fade Allen and Finley in this matchup.

 

DFS Running Backs

The Steelers and Bengals have really struggled all season long to run the ball efficiently as they both rank in the bottom four teams when it comes to rushing yards per game. The Bengals have missed their main bell-cow back in Joe Mixon as he has been in and out of the lineup all season long tending to injuries. Cincinnati has chosen to not activate him from IR so this means that this is another week that the Bengals will be relying on their backup running backs to carry the load. Gio Bernard has carried the rock the most during Mixon's absence but was benched early last week after he fumbled early on in the game. Samaje Perine and Trayveon Williams split the workload as they both had double-digit carries in Week 14 and could see an uptick in carries should Bernard find himself in the doghouse yet again. The Steelers Defense has been very good against the run as they hold opponents to 100 rushing yards which is the sixth-best in the league.

The Steelers have been a very pass-heavy team which has hindered their rushing upside. James Conner has taken close to 60% of the Steelers rushing attempts and is still the defacto number one back in Pittsburgh. Over the last eight games played, Conner has had double-digit rushing attempts and averages three targets per game. While the Steelers have a plethora of backs to use, Conner sees the bulk of the workload while Benny Snell Jr. usually comes in as the change of pace back. The Steelers' run game has been bad as they average only 3.7 yards per carry which is second-lowest in the entire league. The Bengals rushing defense has been porous as they allow 131 yards per game which give a bump to the Steelers rushing attack. The Steelers have not had a rushing touchdown in over three games straight so this could be a get right opportunity for the Steelers running backs.

Analysis: Conner is the safest running back play on the slate and could be used in all formats. Bernard should get the first crack for the Bengals and could rack up points in the passing game but the risk is also there for him to get benched should he mess up early. All Bengals running backs and Snell Jr. for Pittsburgh are viable for MME player pools.

 

DFS Wide Receivers

The Steelers were able to find success through the passing game in the first matchup against the Bengals earlier this season. Diontae Johnson led the group in receiving yardage as he accumulated 116 yards on six catches on 11 total targets. Chase Claypool hauled in two receiving touchdowns on four total receptions and JuJu Smith-Schuster led the team with nine catches on 13 total targets. This was a tough matchup for the Bengals Defense and we can anticipate them experiencing the same struggles as they did back in Week 9. Over the three most recent games played, JuJu has led the team with 26 targets and is arguably the safest receiving option from this group because of his role in this Steelers offense. Johnson struggled against the Bills as he experienced some drop issues but a guy with his talent can't be overlooked in a soft matchup against the Bengals. Claypool has been a little shaky with his overall target numbers but could end up being a good tournament play, especially if he gets looks in the red zone once again. James Washington has seen a slight increase in targets and would be a deep tournament option that saves some salary.

The Bengals have a solid receiving group themselves but this squad definitely misses their young quarterback in Joe Burrow and without him playing, it truly hinders their upside from a receiving perspective. Over the last three games played, Tee Higgins and Tyler Boyd have been the two main receiving threats for Cincinnati. They have combined for 39 total targets (20,19) and have recorded a combined nine receiving touchdowns on the season. The Bengals should be playing from behind in this game which makes them viable in all formats since they should see an increased volume in targets and opportunities. AJ Green rounds out the Bengals receiving trio and while he isn't the AJ Green of old, he still is averaging over six targets per game on the season and would be worth taking a stab on in tournament lineups. In their lone game against Pittsburgh, Higgins led the way with seven catches on nine targets for 115 receiving yards and a touchdown. Boyd was right behind him with six catches on eight targets for 41 yards and AJ Green saw five total targets but was unable to record a catch.

Analysis: There are plenty of receiving options on this slate and JuJu looks to be the safest option based on his consistent targets and role in this Steelers offense. Boyd and Higgins are the safest receiving options for the Bengals and both could be rolled out in all formats. Johnson and Claypool could be rolled out in cash games but also are a tad riskier so they are better suited as strong tournament plays from the Steelers offense. Green and Washington remain in play but would only be viable if making several lineups and are wanting to be unique with your builds.

 

DFS Tight Ends

With how loaded the receiving group is, the tight ends in this game could go overlooked, specifically in tournaments. Eric Ebron has really flourished as the main tight end in the Pittsburgh Steelers offense as he is seeing over five targets a game and has seen 27 total targets over the last three games played. He has four receiving touchdowns on the season and draws a very favorable match against a Bengals defense who have allowed the most receiving yards to tight ends (867) and the most overall targets to tight ends as well (108). Ebron had a quiet outing against the Bengals in Week 9 as he recorded two catches on six targets for 38 yards. On the other side of this game sits Drew Sample who has done a solid job filling in as the top tight end for the Bengals once CJ Uzomah went down with a season-ending injury. Sample is averaging five targets per game over his last four games played and is still searching for his first receiving touchdown on the season. The Pittsburgh defense has been very stingy when it comes to opposing tight ends as they have held them to just 496 receiving yards and two total touchdowns on the season.

Analysis: Ebron is the top tight end play on the slate and could be utilized in all formats while Sample could be a sneaky low-owned tournament option, especially if he is able to rack up a few catches and find the end zone.

 

DFS Defense/Special Teams

This game seems to be pretty one-sided and with the low total factored in as well, there is a defense that you can play. The Steelers Defense has been one of the top defenses in the league and despite their recent stumbles against Washington and Buffalo, they get a very good matchup against the Bengals. Cincinnati is only averaging 18.8 points per game and generating 319 total yards of offense per game which ranks 29th overall in the entire league. The Steelers defense is holding opponents to just 18.2 points per game and is tied for the league-lead in generating turnovers as they have caused 25 takeaways on the season. Cincinnati has allowed the 4th most giveaways as they have turned the ball over 22 times and it doesn't seem like their turnover problems will slow down anytime soon. With how lop-sided this game could be, Chris Boswell is certainly in play for Pittsburgh as the offense should be able to generate drives and put them into scoring position early and often.

Analysis: The Steelers defense is in a prime matchup and should be able to generate some turnovers against this Bengals offense. They could be used in the captain spot while Chris Boswell could be used in tournament lineups. It is a hard fade for the Bengals Defense as Pittsburgh should generate points and Randy Bullock could be used as a tournament play but carries major risk.

 

Good luck, RotoBallers, and remember to mix it up and don't be afraid to be different in these large field GPPs!



Download Our Free News & Alerts Mobile App

Like what you see? Download our updated fantasy football app for iPhone and Android with 24x7 player news, injury alerts, rankings, starts/sits & more. All free!

More Weekly DFS Analysis




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Value Picks
Compare Any Players
News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

RJ Barrett

Considered a Trade Candidate
NBA

Warriors "Remain Very Confident" About Signing Al Horford
NBA

Jahmir Young Agrees to Deal With Heat
Kyle Tucker

Played Through Hairline Fracture in Hand, Now Healthy
Landen Roupp

Carted Off With Apparent Knee Injury
Devaughn Vele

Traded to Saints
Demarcus Robinson

Issued Three-Game Suspension
Lamar Jackson

Dealing With Minor Foot Injury
Lamar Jackson

Suffers Apparent Hand Injury
Félix Bautista

Felix Bautista has Surgery on Torn Rotator Cuff
Hideki Matsuyama

Looks to Bounce Back at Tour Championship
Corey Conners

Looking to Reverse Struggles at East Lake
Joe Mixon

Could Begin Season on PUP List
Cameron Young

Stays Hot Ahead of Tour Championship
Harris English

Aims for Complete Game at East Lake
Sepp Straka

Back in Action at East Lake
Ben Griffin

a Strong Value Play at East Lake
Bubba Chandler

to Join Pirates on Friday
Rory McIlroy

Chasing Another Win at East Lake
Patrick Cantlay

Finishes Tied for 30th at BMW Championship
Ludvig Aberg

Finishes Tied For Seventh at BMW Championship
Collin Morikawa

Finishes Tied for 33rd at BMW Championship
Keegan Bradley

Finishes Tied for 17th at BMW Championship
Robert MacIntyre

Finishes Second at BMW Championship
J.J. Spaun

Finishes Tied for 23rd at BMW Championship
Scottie Scheffler

Wins BMW Championship
Brian Robinson Jr.

Not Expected to Play for Commanders This Year
Kenley Jansen

Considered Day-to-Day With a "Physical" Injury
Rashee Rice

Could be Facing 4-6 Game Suspension?
Harry Hall

Hot at the Right Time for Tour Championship
PGA

Sungjae Im Wants to Rebound at Tour Championship
Jacob Bridgeman

has One Weakness Heading to Atlanta
Nikola Vučević

Nikola Vucevic Not Expecting to Be Moved Before the Season
Nick Taylor

a Long Shot to Win Tour Championship
Josh Giddey

Bulls Not Interested in Sign-and-Trade Deal Involving Josh Giddey
Brian Harman

Trying to Crack Top 20 at Tour Championship
Andrew Novak

Attempts to Bounce Back in Atlanta
Oscar Tshiebwe

Signs New Two-Way Deal With Jazz
Justin Rose

Seeks Even More Success at Tour Championship
Washington Wizards

Alondes Williams Joins Wizards for Training Camp
Washington Wizards

Wizards Add Skal Labissiere for Training Camp
Francisco Alvarez

Needs Thumb Surgery, May Play Through Injury
Willy Adames

Out With Side Soreness on Tuesday
A.J. Brown

on Track to Play in Week 1
Jacob deGrom

Being Skipped in Rotation Due to Shoulder Fatigue
Adley Rutschman

Scratched on Tuesday With Abdominal Discomfort
CBJ

Brendan Smith Joins Blue Jackets on Tryout Deal
STL

Milan Lucic Joins Blues for Tryout
DET

Red Wings Pick Up Travis Hamonic
Austin Riley

Doesn't Appear Ready to Return Any Time Soon
Aaron Judge

Unikely to Throw Normally Again This Year
Jalen McMillan

Could be Out Through Week 9 Bye
Indiana Pacers

Pacers Coach Rick Carlisle Agrees to a Multiyear Contract Extension on Tuesday
Washington Wizards

John Wall Retires After 11 NBA Seasons
Daniel Jones

Named as Colts Starting Quarterback
Jalen McMillan

Will Not Be Ready for Season Opener
Collin Sexton

Hornets Have High Hopes for Collin Sexton
Rui Hachimura

Likely to Start Season Without Contract Extension
Jaime Jaquez Jr.

Hopes to Bounce Back in 2025-26
Stephen Curry

Ready to Go for New Season
Orlando Magic

Lester Quinones Agrees to Deal With Magic
Luka Dončić

Luka Doncic Cleared to Play on Tuesday Night
Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

Pulled With Hamstring Tightness
MLB

Game 2 of Brewers-Cubs on Monday Postponed
Bryce Miller

to be Activated on Tuesday
Kyle Tucker

to Get Multiple Days Off
Shane Bieber

to Make Season Debut on Friday
Joe Mixon

Could Start Season on NFI List
Zack Wheeler

has Surgery to Remove Blood Clot
De'Von Achane

Unlikely to Practice This Week
Justin Jefferson

Returning to Practice
Chris Godwin

Bucs Chris Godwin Likely to Start Season on PUP List
Joe Flacco

Browns Name Joe Flacco as Their Week 1 Starter
Jalen McDaniels

Inks Deal With New Orleans
N'Faly Dante

Signs Deal With Hawks
Matthew Stafford

Practicing on Monday
Dru Smith

Agrees to Deal With Heat
Austin Dillon

Scores an Upset Victory at Richmond
William Byron

Clinches the Regular Season Championship Title at Richmond
Denny Hamlin

Pit-Road Struggles Impede Denny Hamlin's Chances of a Top Finish at Richmond
Joey Logano

Earns A Fourth-Place Finish at Richmond
Kyle Larson

Rallies to A Top-10 Finish at Richmond
Malik Nabers

Dealing With Back Injury
Khamzat Chimaev

Is The New UFC Middleweight Champion
Dricus Du Plessis

Gets Dominated At UFC 319
Aaron Pico

Suffers Knockout Loss In His UFC Debut
Lerone Murphy

Scores Stunning First-Round Knockout
Leodalis De Vries

Earns Promotion to Double-A
Nathaniel Lowe

Finalizing Deal with Boston
Geoff Neal

Suffers First-Round Knockout Loss
Ketel Marte

Arizona Could Trade Ketel Marte in the Offseason
Carlos Prates

Gets Back In The Win Column
Michael Page

Dominates At UFC 319
Jared Cannonier

Gets Outclassed
Tim Elliott

Gets Submission Win
Kai Asakura

Still Winless In The UFC
Austin Cindric

has Arguably his Best Run of the Season at Richmond
Ryan Blaney

Contends for First Richmond Win but Comes Up Short
Alex Bowman

Finishes Second but Loses Ground in Playoffs
NASCAR

Bubba Wallace Sets Personal Laps-Led Record at Richmond
Chris Buescher

Falls Out of Playoffs After Miserable Richmond Run
Coby White

Bulls Not Interested in Trading Coby White
Dereck Lively II

Expected to be Ready for Camp
Brian Robinson Jr.

Commanders "Shopping" Brian Robinson Jr.
John Metchie III

Texans Trade John Metchie III to Eagles
Victor Scott II

Placed on 10-Day Injured List
Trey Hendrickson

Bengals Listening to Trade Offers for Trey Hendrickson
Denny Hamlin

the Heavy Favorite to Win at Richmond
Christopher Bell

Has Been Great at Richmond
Ryan Blaney

Can Ryan Blaney Finally Break Through at Richmond?
Joey Logano

Will Start Last at Richmond After Practice Trouble
Chase Elliott

Lack of Top-Line Speed Hurts his DFS Potential
Kyle Larson

Recent String of Crashes Make Him a Big Risk at Richmond
William Byron

Probably Slightly Too Inconsistent at Richmond to Start for DFS
Ryan Preece

on Pole at Richmond as Playoff Deadline Looms Closer
Brad Keselowski

Probably the Best RFK Racing DFS Option at Richmond
Chase Briscoe

Still Figuring Out Richmond
Chris Buescher

a Solid Choice for DFS Play, but Teammates Look Faster
Khamzat Chimaev

A Favorite At UFC 319
Dricus Du Plessis

Set For His Third Title Defense
Aaron Pico

Set For UFC Debut
Lerone Murphy

Looks To Remain Undefeated
Geoff Neal

Looks For His Second Win In A Row
Michael Page

Set For His Second Middleweight Bout
Jared Cannonier

Looks To Win Back-To-Back Fights
Kai Asakura

Looks For His First UFC Win
Tim Elliott

Set To Open Up UFC 309 Main Card

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP