Heated rivals will meet on Thursday night for a pivotal AFC North matchup. The Steelers are riding high, having won four of their first five games. It’s a far different story for the Bengals, playing without franchise quarterback Joe Burrow. However, Cincinnati’s trade for veteran Joe Flacco could give its offense a major boost.
In this primetime clash, which lesser-known players could deliver for fantasy football managers? Here are two value plays to consider in all DFS contests ahead of Thursday’s Steelers-Bengals showdown.
Set your DraftKings fantasy football lineups here: NFL Showdown $1.5M Thursday Night Showdown [$500K to 1st] (PIT @ CIN)
TE Jonnu Smith, Pittsburgh Steelers ($4,000)
All the talk in Pittsburgh has centered around DK Metcalf ($10,400) and his stellar 2025 campaign. However, the Steelers don’t have many other high-end receivers. Calvin Austin ($6,800) serves as the team’s WR2, but he’s not consistent enough to justify this week’s price tag. At tight end, things are a bit of a mess. Longtime starter Pat Freiermuth ($3,000) is still here, while pass-blocking specialist Darnell Washington ($2,000) has also commanded snaps. If anyone at the position is going to make an impact on Thursday, it’s Jonnu Smith.
The former Dolphins standout was traded to Pittsburgh this offseason. It’s been a slow start to the season: 17 catches for 89 yards and a touchdown. Still, that’s partially due to a hip injury suffered earlier this season. After all, Smith is just one year removed from finishing as the fantasy TE4. He saw 69% of snaps for the Steelers during their comfortable Week 6 win vs. Cleveland. In addition, Cincinnati has surrendered the third-most fantasy points to opposing tight ends this season. As a pass-catcher with red zone upside, Jonnu makes sense at only $4,000.
TE Noah Fant, Cincinnati Bengals ($3,600)
That’s right: it’s a two-tight end Thursday night. Prioritizing multiple starters at such a volatile position isn’t something I normally advise. However, that’s where most of the value lies in this contest. Bengals starter Mike Gesicki (pec) has been placed on injured reserve. That should leave Noah Fant as the de facto TE1 in Cincinnati. This season, the 27-year-old has snagged 16 catches for 107 yards and a touchdown.
Those numbers, while unimpressive, can be taken with a grain of salt. Backup quarterback Jake Browning struggled to find any pass catchers, even superstars Ja’Marr Chase ($12,000) and Tee Higgins ($10,000). Things should look better with Joe Flacco ($9,400) under center. On Sunday, the gunslinger connected with Fant on four receptions for 27 yards. That was on just 49% of Cincinnati’s snaps, a number that should improve this week. To make things more enticing, the Steelers are allowing the sixth-most fantasy points to tight ends. Against a ferocious Pittsburgh pass rush, Flacco will need to get off quick throws; Fant could be an ideal safety blanket.
