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Week 8 MNF: Giants-Steelers Preview, Props & Prediction

Mon Oct 28 1:24pm ET
Field Level Media

Week 8 of the NFL regular season comes to a close with Russell Wilson's return to primetime as the Pittsburgh Steelers play host to the New York Giants on "Monday Night Football."

Wilson is looking to build on a come-from-behind victory in his first start for the Steelers as Pittsburgh improved to 5-2 with a win over the New York Jets last week. Meanwhile, the Giants (2-5) try to find some offensive cohesion after totaling 10 points in losing their past two games.

ODDS AND TRENDS

The Steelers are consensus 6.0 points favorites. That includes at BetRivers, where they have been backed by 72 percent of the spread-line money and 96 percent of the moneyline action at -265.

The public clearly doesn't see the Giants posing much of a threat Monday night, but they do expect to see a few points on the board. The 36.5-point Over/Under at the book has seen the Over supported by 90 percent of the money and 77 percent of the total bets.

PROP PICKS

--Chris Boswell Over 1.5 Field Goals Made (-145 at DraftKings): The Steelers are expected to dominate time of possession, so it makes sense that this is the most popular player prop at the book. Boswell has made 19-of-20 field-goal attempts this season, and has made multiple attempts in five of the Steelers' first seven games. The only times he has made a lone field goal has come in Pittsburgh's two losses.

--Najee Harris Anytime TD (-103 at BetRivers): The Steelers' lead back reaching the end zone at least once has been the most popular play at BetRivers, garnering 1.6 percent of all prop money wagered. Harris has only two touchdowns so far, but that was in part due to the running ability of Justin Fields, who started the first six games at quarterback. Wilson isn't as big of a threat with his legs at this stage of his career, setting the table for Harris to be the workhorse close to the goal line. He has gained 100-plus rushing yards and a touchdown in consecutive games.

THE NEWS

The Steelers scored the final 31 points of the game against the Jets as Wilson, who missed the start of the season with a calf injury, threw for 264 yards and two touchdowns on 16-of-29 passing and added a rushing score.

Meanwhile, things look dire for the Giants following a 17-7 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals and a 28-3 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, both coming at home. Quarterback Daniel Jones threw for a season-low 99 yards and was sacked by the Eagles seven times before Drew Lock replaced him to finish the game.

Giants coach Brian Daboll insisted the following day that Jones remains the starter in New York. Jones didn't like being pulled, but met with Daboll on their usual schedule to go over the game and targeted improvements.

"I think there's some things you take from it that you're trying to learn from. But does it change or is it completely different because he pulled me from the game? No it's not," Jones said. "We all got to play better, I got to play better and that's what I'm focusing on."

The Giants fell despite rookie wide receiver Malik Nabers playing for the first time in three weeks due to a concussion. The blossoming star had four catches for 41 yards and has 39 receptions for 427 yards and three touchdowns in just five games this season. Teammate Wan'Dale Robinson ranks fifth in the league in receptions (43) for just 303 yards and two scores.

The Steelers, who rank second in the NFL in scoring defense at 14.4 points per game, will be wary of sixth overall draft pick Nabers in particular.

"He attacks the ball when it's in the air, he makes those competitive plays," coach Mike Tomlin said. "... Those guys who get a chance to hug Roger Goodell (on stage at the NFL draft), they have some real tangible things and intangible things."

The Giants boast the league's sack leader in Dexter Lawrence II, who has 9.0 sacks for 65 yards. T.J. Watt has a team-high 4.5 sacks and three forced fumbles for the Steelers and could feast on a New York O-line that's allowed 22 sacks, third-most in the league.

"I'd say he's unbelievable," Daboll said. "... You watch his tape and all the turnovers that he has and the style that he plays with. I mean, he's one of the best players in the league."

INJURY REPORT

Lawrence did not practice Thursday as he continues to manage a hip injury and was limited on Friday and Saturday, but he will play Monday. Outside linebacker Brian Burns (groin/Achilles) is also off the injury report after a limited practice on Saturday.

The Giants ruled out punter Jamie Gillan (left hamstring), cornerback Adoree' Jackson (neck) and linebacker Ty Summers (ankle) after they missed practice all week. Cornerback Tre Hawkins (ankle) was limited on Friday and Saturday as listed as questionable, as was offensive lineman Jermaine Eluemunor (hip). Cornerback Cor'Dale Flott (groin) is doubtful after being limited on Friday and Saturday.

For the Steelers, they ruled out outside linebacker Nick Herbig (hamstring), center Zach Frazier (ankle), wide receiver Roman Wilson (hamstring) and running back Cordarrelle Patterson (ankle). Offensive tackle Dylan Cook (foot) and linebacker Tyler Matakevich (hamstring) are in the 12-day practice window to come off injured reserve and were ruled out for Sunday.

Fields was added to the injury report as questionable with a sore hamstring.

THEY SAID IT

--"I think after the game, he said to the team that I was the starter going forward. So, I'm going through the week preparing to play and play well. But in terms of his plans ... it's a better question for him." Jones, on whether Daboll gave him any assurances about being the starter moving forward.

--"What I keep telling him every single game is just keep bringing your stuff, bringing your stuff. Nobody wants to tackle you ... Nobody wants to deal with that for four quarters, at least, I know that." --Current Steelers and former Baltimore Ravens linebacker Patrick Queen on Harris' running ability.

PREDICTION

The Steelers are allowing an average of only 14.4 points per game, while the Giants have totaled 10 points in the past two games. It's a bad combination, especially on the road against a Steelers team that can grind on the ground and set up Wilson shots over the top to wide receiver George Pickens. --Steelers 27, Giants 16

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Player Notes
Brian Thomas Jr. Oct 28 12:20pm CT
Brian Thomas Jr.

Jacksonville Jaguars rookie wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. (chest/ribs) could miss 2-4 weeks due to a chest and rib injuries he suffered in their loss to the Green Bay Packers on Sunday afternoon according to Jeremy Fowler. Fowler noted that the young wideout will undergo further scanning to determine the full extent of the injuries. Fantasy managers should expect the standout rookie to miss at least two weeks of action with the potential to miss a longer period of time. The LSU product has enjoyed an impressive start to his NFL career as he has averaged 15.2 PPR points per game with 573 total yards and five scores. The Jaguars also lost Christian Kirk (collarbone) for the remainder of the season on Sunday. This will leave Trevor Lawrence with a depleted wide receiver room consisting of Parker Washington, Gabe Davis, and Tim Jones in their Week 9 tilt against the Philadelphia Eagles.

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Mason Rudolph Oct 28 11:20am CT
Mason Rudolph

Tennessee Titans quarterback Mason Rudolph had his team looking competitive early on in Sunday's matchup with the Lions, leading two touchdown drives with the score knotted at 14 apiece a minute into the second quarter, but ultimately lost 52-14 after failing to score the rest of the game. The 29-year-old finished 22 of 38 passing with 266 yards, one TD pass, and two interceptions, plus he added four rushes for 29 yards and a rush TD of his own. Much to Calvin Ridley's delight, Rudolph gave him 15 looks and was able to connect on 10 of them for 143 yards. The Titans have a winnable matchup at home versus the Patriots in Week 9, but it is uncertain whether Will Levis will be ready or not by then. Neither one would realistically be a viable streaming option, but for Ridley managers at least, it seems Rudolph would at least be a slight upgrade for his fantasy prospects.

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Rome Odunze Oct 28 11:10am CT
Rome Odunze

Chicago Bears rookie wide receiver Rome Odunze had a modest performance against the Washington Commanders in Week 8, finishing with three catches for 41 yards and no touchdowns. It's challenging for any receiver to shine when the quarterback manages only ten completions for a total of 131 yards. Odunze's 41 yards unfortunately led all Bears receivers, highlighting the limited offensive production. He was targeted six times, indicating that quarterback Caleb Williams views him as a go-to option, even if some passes were off-target. Odunze will aim to bounce back next week in a favorable matchup against the weaker Arizona Cardinals defense.

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Cole Kmet Oct 28 11:10am CT
Cole Kmet

Chicago Bears tight end Cole Kmet had a tough outing against the Washington Commanders in Week 8, finishing with just one reception for 14 yards and no touchdowns. It's challenging for a tight end to have a productive game when the quarterback completes only ten passes for a total of 131 yards. After some strong performances recently, it was disappointing to see Kmet's lack of production. He was even out-targeted by backup tight end Gerald Everett, who had two targets compared to Kmet's one, which is discouraging for fantasy owners who expected Kmet to dominate the tight end targets. On National Tight End Day, when many tight ends across the league excelled, the Bears unfortunately fell short. Kmet will aim to bounce back next week in a favorable matchup against the weaker Arizona Cardinals defense.

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D.J. Moore Oct 28 11:00am CT
D.J. Moore

In Week 8, Chicago Bears wide receiver DJ Moore had a quiet performance against the Washington Commanders, finishing with just two catches for 27 yards and no touchdowns. It's tough for a receiver to shine when the quarterback completes only ten passes for a total of 131 yards. Moore also contributed with two rushes for seven yards as the Bears tried various ways to get their star wideout the ball in space. He briefly left the game due to pain after a hard landing while making a catch but fortunately returned. Fantasy managers should keep an eye on his injury status this week. Moore aims to rebound next week in a promising matchup against the weaker Arizona Cardinals defense.

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Keenan Allen Oct 28 11:00am CT
Keenan Allen

Chicago Bears wide receiver Keenan Allen had a lackluster outing against the Washington Commanders this Sunday, finishing with just two catches for 39 yards. It's challenging for any receiver to excel when the quarterback completes only ten passes for a total of 131 yards. Coming off his best performance of the season in Week 6 against the Jaguars, it was disappointing to see Allen unable to build on that momentum. Quarterback Caleb Williams did target Allen a team-high seven times, but many of those passes needed to be more on-target or uncatchable. Allen will aim to rebound next week in a promising matchup against the weaker Arizona Cardinals defense.

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Caleb Williams Oct 28 10:40am CT
Caleb Williams

This Sunday, Chicago Bears rookie quarterback Caleb Williams struggled in his game against the Washington Commanders. In Week 8, he completed just ten of 24 passes for 131 yards without any touchdowns. It was disappointing to see him regress after a productive recent stretch and following the bye week to prepare. While it seemed like Williams and the offense were starting to find their rhythm, they instead took a step back this week. He had some inaccurate throws and was also hampered by an injury to his left tackle, which led to poor offensive line performance. On a positive note, Williams added 41 rushing yards on ten attempts, demonstrating his ability to evade defenders and pick up first downs when given the chance. Fans hope Williams and the Bear's offense can bounce back next week against a more favorable matchup with the Arizona Cardinals defense.

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D'Andre Swift Oct 28 10:40am CT
D'Andre Swift

On Sunday, Chicago Bears running back D'Andre Swift had an outstanding game against the Washington Commanders, recording 18 carries for 131 yards and a touchdown. He made a game-changing 56-yard touchdown run in the third quarter, sparking a stagnant Bears offense at a crucial moment. Swift demonstrated his ability to create explosive plays when provided with solid blocking and space to operate. Although it was disappointing that he finished without any receptions, given that Caleb Williams only completed ten passes overall, there's optimism that Swift will see more opportunities in the passing game moving forward. Additionally, it was concerning for Swift's fantasy owners to see Roschon Johnson take goal-line carries, which must be monitored. Swift will aim to maintain his momentum against a vulnerable Arizona Cardinals defense next week.

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Roschon Johnson Oct 28 10:40am CT
Roschon Johnson

On Sunday, Chicago Bears running back Roschon Johnson made the most of his limited chances against the Washington Commanders. He recorded just two carries for 6 yards but found the end zone on a goal-line carry. Johnson was also in on the previous possession's goal-line attempt. However, the Bears opted for a handoff to a backup lineman playing fullback, which resulted in a fumble and a Washington recovery. While it was disappointing that Johnson missed out on scoring in that moment, it was encouraging to see him establish himself as the Bears' goal-line back, indicating a defined role in the offense. Johnson is a valuable fantasy handcuff with flex potential going forward. Given his red-zone usage, if the Bears find themselves in a high-scoring game, he could be a viable option. Next week, facing a weaker Arizona Cardinals defense could present an excellent opportunity to utilize the Bears' backup, especially if injuries and bye weeks complicate your lineup.

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Daniel Carlson Oct 28 9:40am CT
Daniel Carlson

Las Vegas Raiders kicker Daniel Carlson hit both of his field goal attempts and two extra points in the Raiders' 20-27 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 8. He nailed attempts of 54 and 32 yards and was perfect on both of his extra point attempts. It was a solid fantasy performance, and he remains one of the better kickers in the NFL due to his accuracy and range, but remains limited in ability to score points due to the ineffectiveness of the Raiders offense. Carlson has now hit 15 of 17 FG attempts this season, an 88.2% clip, and has yet to miss an XP try. He's a decent starting option in deeper leagues when Las Vegas takes on the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 9. They boast a much softer defense.

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Tyler Allgeier Oct 28 9:40am CT
Tyler Allgeier

Atlanta Falcons running back Tyler Allgeier recorded double-digit carries for the second time in three weeks in Sunday's 31-26 win over the Buccaneers, but was able to gain just 33 yards on his 12 totes. His 2.8 yards per carry was a far cry from the 5.7 YPC he averaged heading into the game and it was the first time since Week 3 that he failed to attract even a single target in the passing game. Bijan Robinson was the preferred option there, hauling in all six of his targets for 37 yards while gaining 63 yards on the ground on 13 attempts (4.8 YPC), just one more carry than Allgeier. The involvement in the rushing game is promising, but unless he finds the end zone, the 24-year-old back is nothing more than a low-end Flex option and handcuff for Robinson managers.

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Jakobi Meyers Oct 28 9:30am CT
Jakobi Meyers

Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Jakobi Meyers looked healthy against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 8, his first game back from a two-week absence due to an ankle injury. He was targeted seven times by his quarterback, Gardner Minshew II, and hauled in six of those passes for 52 yards and the game's only non-garbage-time touchdown. He played reasonably well in the WR1 role left vacant by the departure of Davante Adams. He's the clear lead receiver for the team moving forward, though he faces substantial target competition from tight end Brock Bowers. He's a solid WR3/FLEX option with WR2 upside, depending on how the offense fares overall, ahead of a Week 9 matchup with the Cincinnati Bengals.

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Tre Tucker Oct 28 9:30am CT
Tre Tucker

Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Tre Tucker touched the ball just three times in his Week 8 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. He was targeted only three times, catching two passes for 26 yards, while rushing one time for seven yards. It was a brutal matchup against one of the league's best defenses in which his team mustered just 158 yards of offense outside of a garbage-time touchdown drive. Tucker is the clear second wide receiver on this offense, but his upside is capped by target-hogging tight end Brock Bowers. He should be viewed as a bench-stash in deeper leagues in his upcoming Week 9 game against the Cincinnati Bengals. They're a much softer defense, but Tucker is a risky start for now.

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Alexander Mattison Oct 28 9:20am CT
Alexander Mattison

Las Vegas Raiders running back Alexander Mattison seemed to have wrested control of the lead running back role for his team in their Week 8 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. He was highly inefficient with his touches, though. He carried the ball 14 times for 15 yards (a paltry 1.1 yards per carry), and caught five passes on five targets for 29 yards. Most notably, he rushed for two yards, no gain, and negative-two yards after Las Vegas took possession due to an interception by opposing QB Patrick Mahomes II. The goal-line stand took away Mattison's best chance at scoring a touchdown. The majority of his fantasy value appears to be tied to PPR points from high target volume, but he'll have an easier matchup in Week 9 against the Cincinnati Bengals and profiles as a FLEX option in deeper leagues.

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Michael Pittman Jr. Oct 28 9:20am CT
Michael Pittman Jr.

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. (back) was able to corral just one of his six targets in Sunday's 23-20 loss to the Texans, gaining a measly 16 yards in the contest. Fellow wide receiver Josh Downs was the only Colt who snared more than one pass from quarterback Anthony Richardson, who completed just 10 of 32 passes in the game. Pittman was a DNP at practice on Friday, but it was Richardson's inefficiency that was more to blame than his lingering back issue as the six targets were the most he'd seen since Week 5. Unless Joe Flacco gets back under center for the Colts, this receiving corps looks poised to be very volatile for the foreseeable future and it will be hard to predict which one of the pass catchers will lead the team each week. Having a Week 9 date with the Vikings on the road in Minnesota likely won't make things any easier near-term, although several receivers have posted solid fantasy performances against that group, but with Richardson at the helm, the 27-year-old is probably nothing more than a boom/bust WR3/4.

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Brock Bowers Oct 28 9:20am CT
Brock Bowers

Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers had a quieter day than usual in his team's loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 8 after he caught all five of his targets for 58 yards. He caught two of those passes, totaling 19 yards, during the garbage-time drive the Raiders put forth near the end of the game. It was a relatively pedestrian day for the breakout superstar. The Chiefs appeared to make it a priority to slow him down, and rightly so, as he's their best offensive weapon. He'll still be a must-start top-5 TE in all fantasy leagues heading into a softer Week 9 matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals and their struggling defensive unit.

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Daniel Jones Oct 28 9:10am CT
Daniel Jones

New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones was pulled from the game in the fourth quarter of the Week 7 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. Heading into Week 8, however, Jordan Raanan reports that the starting QB is not expected to be on a short leash and participated in all of the first-team reps at practice in preparation for this game. Fellow teammates weren't pushing for a change either, but some did note that "it might be different if Tyrod Taylor was still on the roster." Jones will look to get back on track in a tough game on the road against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

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Gardner Minshew II Oct 28 9:10am CT
Gardner Minshew II

Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Gardner Minshew II completed 24 of 30 passes for 209 yards and a touchdown in the Raiders' 20-27 loss to the rival Kansas City Chiefs in Week 8. He also lost one fumble on a sack. In typical Raiders fashion, they drove down the field and scored on their first drive of the game before their offense stalled. They couldn't get much of anything else going until a garbage-time drive for another touchdown near the end of the game. Minshew looked better than he did in Week 7, when he turned the ball over four times, but he didn't give Las Vegas a spark and padded his stats in the fourth quarter. He'll start again in Week 9 when the Raiders take on the Cincinnati Bengals, and he'll still profile as a starting option in fantasy football only for 2QB leagues.

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Zamir White Oct 28 9:10am CT
Zamir White

Las Vegas Raiders running back Zamir White wasn't a significant part of the game plan in the Raiders' loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 8. He carried the ball just two times for negative-one yard and was not targeted. Las Vegas' coaching staff is likely responding to his ineffectiveness this season by severely restricting his total touches in an effort to help the offense. He now averages just three yards per carry on the season, and it looks like he slid from a bench stash in extremely deep leagues to not worth rostering. While game script could have had something to do with his lack of involvement, he should not be started in any leagues going into his Week 9 matchup with the Cincinnati Bengals. It looks like the starting job now belongs to Alexander Mattison.

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Drake Maye Oct 28 8:50am CT
Drake Maye

New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye (concussion) was forced to leave Sunday's game with a head injury. Head coach Jerod Mayo said on Monday that the rookie signal-caller has entered the NFL's concussion protocol so his status for their Week 9 matchup against the Titans is now in doubt. Jacoby Brissett stepped in as the QB for Maye and led the team to a 25-22 win over the Jets. If Maye is unable to make it back in time, Brissett will likely be under center again.

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