Finishing off the first Saturday of the 2022 season- the DraftKings showdown, Las Vegas @Pittsburgh. This game is the battle of the volume running backs, with Josh Jacobs and Najee Harris getting plenty of touches in their offenses. With the low O/U of 38 I can see this game being a battle of the defenses, and the Steelers getting an edge over Derek Carr- leading to turnovers. I’ll look to attack the ground game in this one, and take some shots with receivers.
DraftKings SNF Showdown 2022 – Las Vegas @Pittsburgh Captain Picks
Josh Jacobs ($16,800 Capt/ $11,200 Flex)
Jacobs is looking fantastic this season, dealing with the high-volume of touches he has been getting in the offense. Getting more than 20 carries in every game since Week 10! If it isn’t broke, don’t fix it, so I can’t see him struggling for volume in this one either. If he manages to break one off he smashes value- and as a bonus you don’t need to rely on Derek Carr here either.
Najee Harris ($14,400 Capt/ $9,600 Flex)
Another player getting volume is Harris, and quite right too. The offensive line for the Steelers isn’t doing any favors for either QB, but they have managed to find the odd gap for Harris. With the Raiders defensive line struggling to defend the run, he is a nice play here. If he doesn’t get pipped to the endzone by Jaylen Warren he could get a great total here.
DraftKings SNF Showdown 2022 – Las Vegas @Pittsburgh Flex Picks
Davante Adams ($12,400 Flex)
The Raiders version of Adams isn’t the same as when he was with the Packers, as he can be stopped. Last time out he only managed to haul in four passes for 28 yards. With the volume the team give to the ground game, and the struggles of Derek Carr, I prefer Adams in the flex on the slate (get ready for a HUGE game now).
Derek Carr ($10,400 Flex)
I don’t know what to make of Carr. He has a solid run-game, a top-tier receiver as well as solid options elsewhere through the air. Despite that, he has been hugely inconsistent and struggling with turnovers. I’m not completely out on him, as the Steelers secondary is a weak unit, but I’m not going crazy with him. If T.J. Watt gets to him early, this could be a bad week for Carr.
Kenny Pickett ($9,200 Flex)
Pickett is a low-level flex option here. Hasn’t really done that much for fantasy in his rookie season, but the Raiders defense can make an QB look good (don’t forget Baker Mayfield led the Rams to victory just two weeks ago). I can’t see it really happening for him in this game though, unless he tucks the ball and gets in the endzone.
Diontae Johnson ($8,000 Flex)
Johnson is currently trending to play, after missing time this week, so just prepared in case he is a late inactive here. Johnson’s production has really matched the performance of the Steelers. When he has been good, he has been good, when he has been bad…..it’s been ugly. At the price, I’m not confident in the floor or ceiling being there. I’d rather take a shot elsewhere.
Darren Waller ($7,800 Flex)
Maybe Waller just needed some rest to kick his season into gear, after returning from IR to get into the endzone last week. With his hit-or-miss season, with a drop in target share, feels like a decent flex option. If the Steelers keep the pressure on Carr, we could see a decent performance here with a number of dumpoffs.
George Pickens ($6,800 Flex)
Pickens is suffering with the QB position not giving him consistent (accurate) targets. With the Raiders defense he could have a good game here- he has shown he can blow up earlier this season. The issue is, there is next to no floor here.
Mack Hollins ($6,600 Flex)
Hollins has had a tidy season, the best of his career, for the Raiders this season. Stepped up when the Raiders receiving group was hit with injury, and has kept the role that he carved out now the receivers are returning to health. With his deep threat, he doesn’t need much to complete many attempts to hit value. If Adams struggles here too, Hollins could be a great play.
Pat Freiermuth ($5,800 Flex)
The ‘Muth I thought was having a better season than he is. Only 2 scores on the season for a big-bodied receiver feels wrong. Last week he was needed to block, as the Steelers felt the pressure of the Panthers pass rush, and didn’t get a target. With the volume through the air he is getting, he is going to need to get into the endzone to hit value.
Hunter Renfrow ($5,200 Flex)
Renfrow hasn’t looked great this season, certainly not the same player he was last season. After returning from IR this past week, he only managed three targets and a single 14-yard catch. I don’t know if it was the matchup or if he is needing to shake the rust off still, but he is going to need to improve in this soft matchup. A nice pivot, as the field are likely to overlook him with his struggles this season.
Jaylen Warren ($4,600 Flex)
Warren has shown that he can play, he just needs to be given the opportunity. Last time out against the Panthers, managed to get 11 carries and get in the endzone twice. Should see his role remain somewhat similar, being given the ball to spell Harris and could steal a TD. I think you could even play Warren and Harris in the same lineup if you wanted, given the struggles of the Raiders against the position.
Ameer Abdullah/ Zamir White ($2,200/ $2,000 Flex)
For either of these to hit value it’s going to need Jacobs to get injured. That could happen, given the sheer volume of carries that he has had, but you have to be comfortable that they could get zeroes. Abdullah gas at least been getting some receptions, so might not zero out, but both are going to need to get a score to hit value here.
Keelan Cole ($1,200 Flex)
Cole has been a punt play all season, but after actually catching a TD last week he has seen his salary increase a decent amount. After what happened last week, I would expect a bump in his ownership, but I’ll still have him- just allows you to do alot elsewhere.
DraftKings SNF Showdown 2022 – Las Vegas @Pittsburgh Kickers and DSTs
The kickers here are in-play, I’m loving kickers on showdown slates this season as they have a great floor for the price. There isn’t a huge amount of upside, but you can get that elsewhere. Daniel Carlson ($4,000) has been a consistent performer for fantasy, with his accuracy and leg meaning he is constantly in play on the field. Preferred to Chris Boswell ($3,800), who I would consider here with the fact the Steelers offense stall out plenty. If this game just becomes an exchange of FGs, he is going to have value- otherwise I’m just going to spend the $200 extra for Carlson.
The defenses are in play to a degree. The Raiders DST ($4,400) made a big play to finish the game last week but I wouldn’t really expect too much of the same here. Pickett has limited his turnovers recently, but still getting sacked behind the Steelers poor offensive line. I’m more interested in the Steelers DST ($4,200) given the Raiders struggles with their offensive line. If they can get to Carr early, we could see plenty of sacks and turnovers, with seven turnovers in his last four games.
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Image Credit: Darren Yamashita – USA TODAY Sports
