Don’t look now, but we are already entering Week 10 of the NFL season. The week will kick off with a matchup between the Cincinnati Bengals and Baltimore Ravens with playoff implications. This will be the second time these two teams face off this season — the Ravens defeated the Bengals 41-38 in an overtime Week 5 matchup.
This has all the makings of one of the best Thursday night games of the season. Baltimore enters with a 6-3 record and has looked like one of the most dominant teams in the NFL over the past few weeks. Derrick Henry has been the missing piece in the offense, Lamar Jackson has only improved upon his MVP level of play, and Baltimore is 6-1 in their last seven games.
Like Baltimore, Cincinnati was forced to climb out of a poor start to the season and are 3-1 in their last four. They now hold +100 odds of making the playoffs and are -125 to miss the postseason following their slow start, making this an important game for the Bengals.
Baltimore enters the matchup as six-point favorites with -270 moneyline odds on DraftKings Sportsbook. The Bengals are considered +220 underdogs on the moneyline with the over/under set at 53.5 points.
We have plenty of articles for the game outlook, DFS, and Pick6 breakdowns, so here’s a look at some of the most intriguing player props ahead of Thursday night’s matchup.
Mike Gesicki Over 53.5 Receiving Yards (-110)
Mike Gesicki is coming off his best game of the season, tallying five receptions for 100 yards and two touchdowns last week against the Raiders. He also had 73 receiving yards the week prior and tallied 91 receiving yards in Week 2. It also is not a coincidence that Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins missed each of these games.
Heading into this matchup, Higgins remains on the injury report and is doubtful to play due to his quad injury. While Ja’Marr Chase will headline the aerial attack, Gesicki is second on the team in both receptions and receiving yards. Baltimore ranks 23rd in points allowed and 21st in yards given up on the season. They also rank dead last in passing yards allowed and 28th in passing touchdowns.
With the expected uptick in targets against a vulnerable Baltimore defense, count on Gesicki to continue his stretch of strong performances. Cincinnati will need to put forth an effective offensive attack to match the Ravens’ second-ranked scoring offense and Gesicki will need to be a part of this gameplan. Expect him to fill the gap that Higgins’ absence leaves for the third consecutive week and eclipse 50.5 receiving yards.
Diontae Johnson Over 22.5 Receiving Yards (-110)
The Baltimore Ravens rank second in the NFL in scoring and have tallied more yards than any other team in the league this year. However, they have not stopped trying to improve and made a trade shortly before the deadline, adding Diontae Johnson from the Carolina Panthers.
While Johnson was officially active last week, he logged just 17 snaps and did not register a target or reception. Heading into his second week with the team, Johnson has had more time to get familiar with the playbook and his new teammates. Baltimore traded for him for a reason, and now they must make a focused effort to get him up to speed.
The Bengals are not a bad opponent to begin working him into the offense against. So far this season, they rank 25th in points allowed and 19th in yards given up. The 22.5-yard line here is too low of a number based on Johnson’s talent, and I expect a focused effort from the Ravens to get him involved. Expect Johnson to have a handful of targets sent his way. With this in mind, he should clear 22.5 receiving yards as he truly starts his Ravens tenure.
Derrick Henry & Lamar Jackson to Combine for 150+ Rush Yards (-120)
The Ravens brought in four-time Pro Bowl running back Derrick Henry this offseason, which has fundamentally changed the outlook of their offense. Henry is a perfect compliment to Lamar Jackson and the duo makes up the most dynamic rushing attack in the NFL.
Through the opening nine weeks, Baltimore ranks first in total rushing yards, first in net yards per rush attempt, and fourth in rushing touchdowns. Derrick Henry leads the NFL with 1,052 rushing yards and an average of 116.9 per game. He has run for over 150 yards in three different contests all by himself this season. Lamar Jackson is averaging 56.1 rushing yards per game this season and has tallied as many as 122 rushing yards in a game.
Heading into this matchup, expect this to be an issue for the Bengals. Cincinnati ranks 18th in rushing yards allowed and 29th in rushing touchdowns given up. Either Jackson or Henry are capable of busting out a long run at any moment, and if they each just have average games, they will clear this number without an issue. You can find this bet in the player specials section on DraftKings Sportsbook.
Mike Gesicki Anytime TD (+215)
The “Gesicki Griddy” was finally able to be broken out last week as the Bengals’ tight end made his way to the end zone twice in the victory over the Raiders. One of these touchdowns was an 11-yard catch, while the other was a 47-yard strike.
With Higgins doubtful, expect this to be just the start of Gesicki’s touchdown production. While these were his first two scores this season, Gesicki has tallied five or more touchdowns in three seasons across his NFL career. Expect his target share to remain high if Higgins misses more time, and for Gesicki to be highly involved in the red zone.
These two teams combined for 79 points the first time they faced off this season, and each ranks in the top seven in scoring. Expect there to be plenty of offensive action and for Gesicki to have a few chances to score. Take advantage of the +215 odds for an anytime touchdown and keep an eye on his production moving forward as he begins to climb the hierarchy of tight ends across the NFL.
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