Welcome into the NFL DFS Building Blocks designed specifically for showdown contests this season! If you’ve never read my main slate Building Blocks article, I will be highlighting my favorite overall plays and how I intend to build my main lineup. I will be providing both core plays and prop picks for every primetime game this season, and you can gain access to those here. With that being said, let’s dive into the first game of the season…
Top CPT Plays
Nick Chubb
It’s hard to argue Nick Chubb has a home favorite, on what has been one of the most run-heavy teams in football. He still isn’t getting many targets, but that doesn’t matter if he’s going to continually get 20+ rush attempts. Pittsburgh’s defense has been completely different with TJ Watt off the field and RT Jack Conklin’s return further boosts the spot for Chubb. He will be the highest-owned player tonight which is something to keep in mind when building tournament teams — but he’s the top projection and play in my opinion.
Browns D/ST
I’m not sure if I’ve ever wrote up D/ST in the CPT spot but I think it’s in play tonight. Mitch Trubisky and the Steelers offense has struggled mightily to begin the season and their offensive scheme is not doing them any favors. Even with Jadeveon Clowney out, the Browns have a big advantage in the trenches over the Steelers offensive line. It’s one of the lowest O/U’s of the week at 38.5 — and both defenses are strong plays in all formats tonight.
Top Flex Plays
Chase Claypool
Claypool is projected to be one of the highest owned players tonight due to his salary of just $6,200. I was very excited about about Claypool after earning six Week 1 carries — naturally he did not carry the ball one time last week. Overall, Claypool has a strong history against the Browns and in a low-scoring game on a short week we could see them get more creative with his usage. He’s still been on the field pretty much the most of any Steelers pass catcher and does have a ceiling. Claypool vs Freiermuth is an interesting choice with them projecting around the same in both points and ownership. My initial lean is Claypool, but if OWN% skews more in his favor closer to lock moving to Freiermuth would probably be the better move.
Top Value Plays
Harrison Bryant
I’ve already bet the over on Bryant’s receiving prop for tonight, and I think he’s going to be pretty low-owned in DFS due to his mid-range price tag. He also is just a few hundred less than his teammate David Njoku, who is projecting for almost 20% ownership tonight. Cleveland is one of the heaviest two-TE teams in the NFL, and Jesse James is out who logged around 20% of the snaps in Week 2. Bryant actually has out-targeted Njoku through two games, and does have a target inside the 10 yard-line. Bryant is my touchdown pick for tonight, and Brissett will continue to target his tight-ends are one of the highest rates in football.
Written by Ben Hossler (Follow @BenHossler on Twitter)
