Divisional foes collide when the Ravens and Bengals square off on Thursday Night Football.
DraftKings is offering a primetime DFS contest for the chance to win $300,000. I’ve gone through the contest and identified a pair of under-the-radar options that can help give you a critical edge.
Set your DraftKings fantasy football lineups here: NFL $1.25M Thursday Night Showdown [$300K to 1st] (CIN @ BAL)
DraftKings Showdown Value Picks
Diontae Johnson ($4,800)
A talented receiver joining a club with championship aspirations with an MVP quarterback slinging the rock is a recipe for success. In his first year in Carolina, Diontae Johnson was one of the lone bright spots in a bleak season for first-year coach Dave Canales. The speedster had a few solid campaigns in Pittsburgh, but a blend of injuries, problems with drops, and inconsistent quarterback play ravaged his development. Despite catching passes from Bryce Young and Andy Dalton, Johnson was able to get off to a solid start, having three outings with over 75 receiving yards.
In a much better situation, Johnson won’t have the chance to dominate target share and be the premier player on offense. Baltimore pass catchers have historically struggled in recent years with consistency, but the aerial attack has been unleashed, which has helped receivers’ numbers take a clear uptick.
During his first game in purple and black, Johnson was relegated to the sideline as he was still familiarizing himself with the new team. In his first matchup against Cincinnati, he reeled in seven of his 13 targets for 83 yards and a score. The secondary had no answer for him, and I’m expecting more of the same.
Chemistry takes time to build, but when a guy opens, he will get opportunities. This is the lowest value Johnson will have in DFS settings for a long time, which makes him an ideal budget option.
Andrei Iosivas ($3,400)
One of my early All-Value First Team nominees, Andrei Iosivas, has continued to impress in a limited role. The Princeton product operates from the slot and isn’t afraid to challenge the middle of the field. A superstar on the track in college, the impressive quickness after the catch shows up on tape. His route-running has improved each week, and he’s starting to look more comfortable as a WR3.
Tee Higgins is likely to miss another contest with a quad injury, which dramatically raises Iosivas’ floor. He’s coming off a one-catch performance but found the endzone in the dominant victory against Las Vegas. The key will be whether he can get work in early downs and be a safety valve underneath. If he can get more “dump off” looks, the chance of garnering more receptions will skyrocket.
Set your DraftKings fantasy football lineups here: NFL $1.25M Thursday Night Showdown [$300K to 1st] (CIN @ BAL)
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All odds provided by DraftKings Sportsbook and all odds subject to change.
I am a promoter at DraftKings and am also an avid fan and user (my username is xaiver-aguiar) and may sometimes play on my personal account in the games that I offer advice on. Although I have expressed my personal view on the games and strategies above, they do not necessarily reflect the view(s) of DraftKings and do not constitute a representation that any particular strategy will guarantee success. All customers should use their own skills and judgment in building lineups. I may also deploy different players and strategies than what I recommend above. I am not an employee of DraftKings and do not have access to any non-public information.
