The (1-1) Pittsburgh Steelers travel to Sin City to take on the (1-1) Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday Night Football. These are two of the most iconic teams in the NFL, but they are both struggling right now. The Steelers offense only scored seven points vs. the 49ers and seven points vs. the Browns. The Raiders offense has not been much better. The Raiders scored two TDs vs. the Broncos and one TD vs. the Bills. Points will be at a premium tonight, so this game may be ugly. I know that defense travels, so I like the Steelers (+3) in a low scoring game.
Here are my Showdown Contest picks for the Prime Time games in Week 3…
STEELERS PICKS
Could the STEELERS DEFENSE/ST be the winning ticket at the Captain Position Sunday Night? Ugly games call for ugly lineup construction, so I would not rule it out. The Steelers scored 26 DK Points last week (39 if used in the Captain Position). I will use the “Steel Curtain” in the top spot in some lineups….. KENNY PICKETT is a “safe play” Sunday night. I like Pickett as the Captain Position in Cash Contests and I will use him in the Flex Position in some Tournament Contests…. GEORGE PICKENS is the Alpha WR for the Steelers with Diontae Johnson out of the lineup. He is a good contrarian play from the Captain position tonight. …. JAYLEN WARREN has been splitting carries with Najee Harris. Warren is clearly the better RB right now. I will take the discount and use Warren as a pivot from Harris… PAT FREIERMUTH has been garbage this year and that is why he will be one of my top plays in Tournament Contests. The Raiders allowed 5 receptions to Adam Troutman in Week 1 and Dawson Knox had 5 receptions vs. the Raiders last week. This should be a “get right” game for Freiermuth… CALVIN AUSTIN III has passed Allen Robinson II on the depth chart. Austin had a good Week 1 and then he was shut down by the Browns last week. I think Austin bounces back on Sunday Night Football…. A low scoring game means the kickers are in play. I use both kickers in the Thursday Night Football game and it paid off well. I will use CHRIS BOSWELL Sunday Night… My “punt plays” from the Steelers will be CONNOR HAYWARD.
LAS VEGAS RADIERS PICKS
Where has JOSH JACOBS been in 2023? He won the rushing crown last year and he had nine carries for negative two yards last week. Ouch!!! So, I guess we will fade Jacobs on Sunday Night Football, right? Absolutely not… I will play Jacobs from the Captain Position in some contests. The Steelers have the worst run defense in the NFL and it is not even close. I expect many people will fade Jacobs, so I will use him in Tournament Contests.
JIMMY GAROPPOLO will be in most of my Cash Contest lineups. I am not sure he offers enough upside to be used in the Captain Position, but he should be a safe play for Cash and Tournament Contests…. Of course DEVANTE ADAMS is a good play Sunday Night. He will be too popular to play in the Captain Position, but he should be in at least 80% of your lineups… JACOBY MEYERS looked like Jimmy G’s favorite target in Week 1. Meyers missed last week’s game because of a concussion. He is back this week and he will be a good play in the Captain Position and Flex Position…. DANIEL CARLSON is one of the best kickers in the NFL. He could be busy Sunday Night, so I will play Carlson in both Cash and Tournament Contests…. My two “punt plays” from the Raiders include KRISTIAN WILKERSON and MICHAEL MAYER.
DRAFTKINGS SHOWDOWN CASH CONTEST PICKS
DRAFTKINGS SHOWDOWN TOURNAMENT CONTEST PICKS
FANDUEL SHOWDOWN CASH CONTEST PICKS
FANDUEL SHOWDOWN CASH CONTEST PICKS
Good Luck Tonight!
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