Welcome back, RotoBallers! It is the final week of the regular season, and we have a couple more showdowns left, including a big game for the AFC North. The Pittsburgh Steelers (10-6) host the Cincinnati Bengals (8-8). The Bengals are still alive for a playoff spot but need some help, along with a win. The Steelers can still win the AFC North but need the Cleveland Browns to take down the Baltimore Ravens.
We have been pretty successful so far with these showdown slates, and hopefully, that trend will continue from last year into this year. Most of us started our fantasy journeys with football, so it's always nice when it comes around. Thanks to today's advanced analytics, I'll do my best to provide you with as much in-depth analysis as possible regarding positional matchups.
I will provide you with daily fantasy football picks on FanDuel and DraftKings for the Steelers vs. Bengals NFL DFS showdown slate on January 4th. These NFL DFS lineup picks 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 X @DFSKoby and fire away, or sign up for a premium RotoBaller NFL package and chat with me and other NFL DFS analysts whenever you'd like!
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MVP/Captain Plays
Joe Burrow - QB, Cincinnati Bengals - $15.9K (DK), $15K (FD)
Key Stats
- 2024 Stats: 4,641 passing yards, 42 touchdowns, eight interceptions, 202 rushing yards, and two rushing touchdowns
After seeing what Burrow did last week, I don't see a realm where you can't play him in a game with playoff implications.
The Bengals need a win here to keep their hopes alive and they will be heavily relying on Burrows' passing attack. Burrow has finished with 28+ FP in five of his last eight games and had 25 in his last matchup against the Steelers. As long as Burrow can avoid T.J. Watt then I expect a big game once again out of him.
George Pickens - WR, Pittsburgh Steelers - $13.8K (DK), $12K (FD)
Key Stats
- 2024 Stats: 97 targets, 58 receptions, 900 receiving yards, three touchdowns
Pittsburgh needs Pickens this week to be the star that he can be. He gets a very advantageous matchup against Josh Newton who he should line up against. Newton is giving up .29 FP per route run this season. This should give Pickens a solid advantage, especially after their last matchup, where he had 15 FP and 74 yards. I expect Pickens to be one of the top scorers from this Pittsburgh offense.
Steelers:
- Playoff scenario: Playing for AFC North champs or No. 5 seed.
- Mike Tomlin intends to play starters for a strong finish.
- Players to consider starting: George Pickens, Jaylen Warren, Najee Harris, Russell Wilson, and Pat Freiermuth.— 💥Fantasy Threads 🧵 (@FantasyThread) January 1, 2025
Other Captains/MVPs: Ja'Marr Chase, Russell Wilson, Tee Higgins
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DFS Flex Plays
Tee Higgins - WR, Cincinnati Bengals - $9.6K (DK), $13.5K (FD)
Key Stats
- 2024 Stats: 104 targets, 69 receptions, 858 receiving yards, 10 touchdowns
I'm going back to Tee Higgins again, and I believe the price difference between him and Chase is enough to warrant going down to Higgins when the output hasn't been that much of a difference. Higgins had 18 FP in his last matchup against the Steelers, and with the season on the line, I expect him to continue to ball out like he did last week with a 44 FP bomb!
Pat Freiermuth - TE, Pittsburgh Steelers - $4.8K (DK), $8.5K (FD)
Pat is lined up for a great matchup, in fact back at the beginning of December these two teams played and Pat ended up with his best game of the season. He was targeted seven times and caught six for 68 yards and a touchdown.
Cincinnati is giving up the most fantasy points to opposing TEs this season. Pat hasn't been as heavily targeted this season but he did see eight targets last week against the Chiefs, hopefully, that continues into this week.
Other Flex Options: Russell Wilson, Chase Brown, Jaylen Warren
DFS Value Plays
Khalil Herbert - RB, Cincinnati Bengals - $4K (DK), $10.5K (FD)
Fanduel prepared for Chase Brown to be out. This is more of a DK play, as he is dirt cheap and has a decent chance to produce if Chase Brown is out.
He rushed four times for 23 yards in the time he played in the fourth quarter last week. Herbert should have no issue leading this backfield if he is the starting back. With his price being what it is on Fanduel however, I would avoid him as that is a bit steep for my liking.
Zack Moss's last game with the Bengals was on October 27th.
This is the first carry by a RB not named Chase Brown since then.
Welcome to the show, Khalil Herbert. pic.twitter.com/EeDapwZZW2
— Goodberry (@JoeGoodberry) December 2, 2024
Chris Boswell - K, Pittsburgh Steelers - $5.4K (DK), $9.5K (FD)
I have loved some kickers this year. They have come up clutch in multiple spots this season. He is much cheaper on DK, but if you take my advice and play Higgins over Chase, then you'll have the extra money to spend elsewhere.
Boswell has been one of the best kickers this season, missing only three FGs all season long for a 93% hit rate. He has scored in double digits on seven different occasions this season, and his long is 57! He finished with 16 FP in his last game against the Bengals and that was even with missing one. Expect Boswell to be dialed in for this game.
Other Value Plays: Calvin Austin III, Andrei Iosivas, Mike Gesicki
Enjoy your week, and good luck, everyone!
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