NFL Monday Night Football FanDuel Player Picks: Steelers @ Bengals

This week, Monday Night Football features an AFC divisional battle! Let’s take a look at this game from a DFS/FanDuel perspective.

Before I discuss my FanDuel player picks for Monday Night Football, let’s take a look at the key DFS injuries for both teams and briefly review the rules for the FanDuel single game contest.

DFS Injuries

Steelers: OL Kevin Dotson (shoulder) OUT; RB James Conner (quad) QUESTIONABLE

Bengals: QB Brandon Allen (knee), LB Logan Wilson (ankle) OUT;  S Brandon Wilson (hamstring) QUESTIONABLE

Let’s shift our focus to the rules for the FanDuel single game contest. You have $60,000 to utilize on five players from either team. However, one of those players will be designated as your team MVP. The FanDuel MVP accumulates 1.5 times the standard FanDuel points value.

The remaining four players in your lineup will receive the standard FanDuel points value. Having stated that, it is highly important for you to identify the correct player for your MVP position if you hope to win a FanDuel single game contest.

If you have additional questions regarding the rules for the FanDuel single game contest, I recommend that you check out the FanDuel website for more details.

Here are my FanDuel Player Selections for Monday Night Football!

MVP

Ben Roethlisberger, QB $16,000

Yes, I know the Pittsburgh Steelers have lost two consecutive football games. I also know that the Steelers enter this week’s contest with a great deal on the line. I fully expect that Pittsburgh will be highly motivated and will win Monday night’s game. The real question is how will the Steelers get it done? Well, it won’t be accomplished by running the ball. The Steelers have been absolutely dreadful running the football on offense. More specifically, the Steelers are dead last in the NFL in total rushing yards gained this season.

In direct contrast to their inability to run the ball, the Steelers have been outstanding when it comes to passing on offense. Through 13 games played this season, Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has accumulated 3,292 passing yards and 29 passing touchdowns.

Now let’s shift our focus to the defense that the Pittsburgh Steelers signal caller will face on Monday night. The Bengals defense currently ranks 24th in the NFL in passing touchdowns allowed by opposing quarterbacks (25).

JuJu Smith-Schuster $14,000

In my opinion, Smith-Schuster has established himself as Ben Roethlisberger’s most reliable receiving target. To illustrate my point, let’s take a look at the data. In the Steelers last three games played, Smith-Schuster has accumulated 21 receptions, 120 receiving yards, and two receiving touchdowns.

Eric Ebron, TE $8,500

The 27 year old Pittsburgh tight end has been targeted by his quarterback early and often lately. Let me be more specific. In the Steelers last three games played, quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has targeted Eric Ebron 34 times. Ebron has turned those 34 targets into 20 receptions, 188 receiving yards, and a receiving touchdown.

Additionally, I like the fact that the Bengals defense has had it’s issues defending tight ends this season. Through 13 games played this year, the Cincinnati Bengals are currently 29th in the NFL in fantasy points allowed to the tight end position.

Additional Flex Plays I like: Diontae Johnson, WR $14,500: Tee Higgins, WR $10,000: Jalen Samuels, RB $7,000.

Fade of the Week

Ryan Finley, QB $13,500

Finley gets the start on Monday night due to the fact that Bengals quarterback Brandon Allen has been ruled out. I have watched Ryan Finley play this season and I have not been impressed. Frankly, my eyes tell me that Finley does not have the talent to be a quarterback in the NFL. I think the Steelers defense will have no problem causing problems for Finley. I strongly recommend that you fade Ryan Finley this week.

As always, good luck!