Yearly Record: 6-11
I desperately need to recover. Monday night brought forth one of the greatest HOSE jobs of all-time. I felt like LeBron James; I lost “not one, not two, not three, not four” but five props. All five of my props missed in miserable fashion. Thursday Night Football provides a beautiful opportunity to bounce back.
Don’t let anybody tell you the Pittsburgh Steelers facing the Cleveland Browns deserves less fanfare than last week’s Chargers-Chiefs showdown. Each game provides a unique football-watching experience. It’s not everyday you get to witness two quarterbacks of Jacoby Brissett’s and Mitch Trubisky’s ability face off. Fantasy newsflash – if you need to stream a defense this week, tonight provides two decent options.
Jacoby Brissett Under 189.5 Passing Yards (-115)
In the past two games, Brissett has passed for 147 yards against the Carolina Panthers and 229 against the New York Jets. Pittsburgh has a much more impressive secondary than both teams with Minkah Fitzpatrick, Ahkello Witherspoon, and Cameron Sutton. The Steelers also boast an impressive pass rush – even without T.J. Watt – that could force Cleveland to dink and dunk, limiting deep ball pressure. HAMMER THE UNDER.
Pat Freiermuth Over 35.5 Receiving Yards (-115)
Pittsburgh hasn’t solidified a true No. 1 pass catcher, but tight end Pat Freiermuth provides Mitch Trubisky with an incredibly efficient target. He’s averaging 4.5 catches and 48.5 yards per game this season.
Additionally, Cleveland’s defense is no stranger to allowing decent yardage to opposing tight ends. Panthers tight end Ian Thomas had 53 yards in the season opener, and in Week 2, Jets tight end Tyler Conklin had 40 yards. I’m confident that Trubisky will find Freiermuth enough to hit the over.
Nick Chubb Any Time TD (-110)
Lock. I’m calling Nick Chubb any time touchdown a LOCK. The running back has three touchdowns this year through two games and Pittsburgh appears vulnerable to rushing attacks, allowing 128.5 rushing yards per game this season. Chubb is one of the leagues top backs and finds pay dirt often on the ground, but is a threat through the air, too.
Alex Highsmith Over 0.75 Sacks (+155)
This is the riskiest option, but Highsmith has given me confidence. With three sacks in Week 1 and T.J. Watt going down, Highsmith is the team’s top pass rushing option. Last week, Highsmith failed to deter a much larger offensive tackle facing Trent Brown. However, Cleveland does not possess the physical stature of Brown with any exterior linemen. With Teryl Austin’s help bringing pressure, Highsmith becomes a prime candidate to take down Brissett tonight.