Jets-Steelers DFS Picks: Week 7 Sunday Night Football NFL DFS

Sunday Night Football has a 38.5 projected total as two storied franchises square off in Pittsburgh, with the Steelers hosting the New York Jets, who have been installed as 2-point road favorites. This total and close matchup add to the strategy and decision points across the NFL DFS world. In this installment of Stokastic’s NFL DFS picks series, we’re breaking down the Jets-Steelers matchup for Week 7 Sunday Night Football, analyzing NFL DFS ownership projections and player projections for DraftKings and FanDuel.

Jets-Steelers DFS Picks: Sunday Night Football Week 7 NFL DFS

Check out our Single-Lineup Simulator to see how this game-changing tool can help you hand-build or evaluate lineups, boosting your ROI.

Here’s how the Single-Lineup Simulator is analyzing Jets-Steelers NFL DFS picks for the Week 7 Sunday Night Football DraftKings slate. If you like what you see, sign up for our Lite, Core or Max NFL package and start getting the most out of your lineup ROI today!

Jets-Steelers DFS Picks for Sunday Night Football Week 7: Breece Hall

Last week, Hall finally cleared the century mark with 113 yards on 18 carries. In the games prior to Monday Night Football, Hall posted lines of 16 carries for 54 yards and a touchdown, 14/62/0, 16/54/1, 10/4/0 and 9/23/0, which is not what gamers envisioned for him after his strong late-season surge last year. While he is looking over his shoulder as Braelon Allen continues to show flashes of upside, Hall still has an 83/310/2 to 35/151/1 edge on the ground. Each back has scored a receiving touchdown, though Hall has a 34 to 13 target lead for the season.

Isaiah Davis is the only other player to have running back snaps, with his three plays all coming in Week 3 when the Jets easily dispatched the New England Patriots 24-3.

New York Jets Positional Preview

Quarterback | Jets-Steelers NFL DFS Picks for Sunday Night Football Week 7

Aaron Rodgers was rewarded for his ineffectiveness and the impatience of team owner Woody Johnson, as New York acquired Davante Adams for a third-round selection in the upcoming NFL Draft. Yes, the pick could become a second-rounder, but that is only if Adams is named an All-Pro or if the Jets make it to the AFC Championship. Of course, also remember that Adams was less than thrilled when the Raiders “rugged” his college quarterback and longtime franchise favorite Derek Carr late last season after changing coaches. Adams is now reunited with his Green Bay field general, and cash-strapped owner Mark Davis no longer has to worry about the final half of Adams’ five-year, $140 million deal.

Back to Rodgers, it is now put up or shut up time, though it is unlikely this chucklehead could ever stay silent. The addition of Adams does help give Rodgers some extra fantasy upside, but for Sunday Night Football, that is tempered by both of these teams playing at a snail’s pace and looking to run the ball. Touchdowns are still in play, and we have seen Rodgers continue to be semi-effective in that department, with a pair of scores in three of the last four games, including the last two.

Wide Receiver | Jets-Steelers NFL DFS Picks for Sunday Night Football Week 7

Garrett Wilson leads the league with 67 targets, nine more than Wan’Dale Robinson and 12 more than CeeDee Lamb and Diontae Johnson. The addition of Adams should help draw away some defensive attention, though it also means a reduction in opportunities.

Allen Lazard has rolled up 25 targets over the last three games while also tying for the league lead with five receiving touchdowns. Tight end George Kittle got there in one fewer game than his four other competitors, but it is wild to think that through one-third of the season Lazard is among the leaders.

Stokastic’s NFL stat projections have the target distribution broken out as 8.4 going to Wilson, 7.7 to Adams, 4.9 to Hall, 3.7 to Lazard and tight end Tyler Conklin getting 3.5.

For those keeping track of the New York options, that leaves Mike Williams (2.3) on the outside looking in. The venerable veteran missed the opener and had just one look in Week 2. He has seen four, five and four targets over the last three games, so he is taking a significant percentage hit.

Rookie Malachi Corley has been inactive each of the last three weeks, which is going to continue tonight. Xavier Gipson has the kickoff and punt return duties, but his dozen or so offensive snaps are likely to crater to just three or four if he even sees playing time outside of special teams. Isaiah Davis has been the other kickoff return man, but he could join Corley as an inactive tonight.

Tight End | Jets-Steelers NFL DFS Picks for Sunday Night Football Week 7

Tyler Conklin has been dealing with a hip issue, and he did not look great on Monday Night Football, ending the night with three short targets for two receptions and just 10 yards. Fellow tight end Jeremy Ruckert had a trio of looks for two catches and 7 yards, playing 16 fewer snaps. Conklin did get in a full practice on Friday for the first time in a fortnight, so the theory is that he is healthy.

Anthony Firkser had six snaps for his first action outside of one lonely play in the opener. Depending on what New York does to finagle the active roster, he or Brenden Bates could be inactive if the team wants Davis to participate on special teams. We are down to the flotsam and jetsam, though that is what single-game DFS is all about.

Kicker | Jets-Steelers NFL DFS Picks for Sunday Night Football Week 7

Greg Zuerlein is once again in our lives, with the 37-year-old no longer being worthy of his Greg the Leg nickname. This season he missed his only attempt from 50-plus yards while converting on just one of three between 40 and 49 yards. He has nailed all 11 point after touchdown attempts, but with just eight made field goals this season, things are looking pretty dire.

Defense | Jets-Steelers NFL DFS Picks for Sunday Night Football Week 7

Pittsburgh has ceded 16 sacks this season, which is in the middle of the pack. Russell Wilson is no longer a magician in the pocket and has always held onto the ball too long trying to make plays. He was always among the most sacked quarterbacks during his tenure with the Seahawks, and that continued in Denver. Old habits die hard, so expect the Jets D/ST to make some noise on the road. While New York has averaged one takeaway per performance, that is actually around league average. Wilson no longer has the same talent and arm strength that made him one of the best deep ball artists in the league. Expect at least one foolish mistake by Ciara’s husband, with a pick-6 in play.

Ready to crush your lineups with Stokastic’s advanced NFL DFS Sims? Check out our complete guide to the NFL Sims Tool and discover how to get the most out of your Sims subscription for the 2024 season!

Jets-Steelers DFS Picks for Sunday Night Football Week 7: George Pickens

New York will be without Michael Carter II (back) again, and D.J. Reed (groin) did not practice all week. Reed was in a similar situation heading into Monday Night Football for Week 6, though he managed to be on the field for 68% of the snaps. That still leaves Sauce Gardner, with journeyman Isaiah Oliver elevated to the nickelback role and fourth-year man Brandin Echols rounding things out for the defensive backfield.

The Jets managed to hold Josh Allen to 215 yards and a pair of aerial scores, though he added another touchdown on the ground, albeit with only 18 yards on nine totes. When Wilson was at the apex of his powers, he was arguably better than Allen is now, but those days are long ago and far away.

Pickens’ production with Justin Fields is a reasonable approximation of what he will see with Wilson, though there may be a few more catchable balls. The former Georgia star has been able to convert only 13 of his 26 targets over the last trio of tilts while being on the field for 71% of the offensive snaps during this stretch. That leads the Pittsburgh wideouts, but it is not exactly the “full-time” player a lot of gamers are likely going to envision as they roster Pickens.

Pickens has yet to find the end zone this season, and he has 57 yards or fewer in four of his six games. The Pittsburgh passing attack produced more than 160 yards only twice this season, with 245 in Week 3 against the Chargers and 312 the following week in Indianapolis.

This lack of volume has left the cupboard pretty bare, as Calvin Austin III had a four-catch game for 95 yards and a score in Week 3, Van Jefferson posted three receptions for 26 yards in Week 5 and Scotty Miller recorded both of his receptions back in Week 3, tallying 31 yards. For most teams, these would be closer to per-game averages, not highwater marks.

Austin is the most talented of this ne’er-do-well trio, though with the quarterback change, he is on similar footing with the two newcomers. There are rock fights, and then there is whatever this game is shaping up to be, at least on paper.

Pittsburgh Steelers Positional Preview

Quarterback | Jets-Steelers NFL DFS Picks for Sunday Night Football Week 7

Nearly 10 years ago to the day, “DangeRuss” Wilson became the first NFL quarterback to throw for 300 yards and run for 100 in the same game. This milestone even occurred on Oct. 19 in St. Louis, with Wilson completing 23 of 36 (64%) of his passes for 303 yards and two touchdowns, adding 106 and a score on seven carries. Cam Newton hit these milestones the following December in a 38-35 road victory against the Giants, converting on five aerial scores along the way, with his eight rushing attempts netting him exactly 100 yards. Josh Allen also got there in 2021 in an overtime loss in Tampa Bay.

Besides Allen’s 215 passing yards and Brock Purdy’s 231 in Week 1, no other opposing signal caller has cleared 200 yards against the Jets. The two touchdowns allowed to Allen last week were half of the total they have ceded this season, with Will Levis lucking into a Week 2 score and rookie Bo Nix getting the other in Week 4, despite going 12-for-25 (48%) with just 60 passing yards.

The real question to consider is how long “Mr. Unlimited” will be able to last in this game, with both ineffectiveness and injuries being paths to the sideline. Wilson has had lower-leg issues since training camp, and there is a viable alternative in Justin Fields, who has led the team to a surprising 4-2 record. Coach Mike Tomlinson is a savvy icon and has kept Pittsburgh relevant in countless seasons where they should have faded away, but putting Wilson on display in a tough matchup under the spotlight of Sunday Night Football seems reckless.

Running Back | Jets-Steelers NFL DFS Picks for Sunday Night Football Week 7

Things are not going to be any easier on the ground, with New York allowing only 87.2 yards per game. Rookie Ray Davis did compile 97 yards on 20 carries, which was the most since the team allowed 147 to Jordan Mason in the opener, albeit on 28 totes.

Najee Harris is a plodder at best, and while he has had a couple prominent DFS performances that gamers remember, for his career he has averaged 3.92 yards per carry and 6.34 per reception. Last week he had a season-high 106 yards and a touchdown on 14 rushing attempts, but that was in a 32-13 laugher against the Raiders in Las Vegas.

Cordarrelle Patterson remains out with an ankle injury, but Jaylen Warren returned after a two-week absence and was on the field for 25 snaps, which was not too far behind the 31 for Harris. Warren saw half a dozen carries for a paltry 7 yards, bringing in all three of his targets for another 11 yards. This is less about besmirching Warren and more of a call out that there is not much of a pie to go around and this duo will be curbing the upside potential for the other.

Aaron Shampklin and Jonathan Ward are likely to combine for around a dozen snaps, with the duo fighting for the scraps of three or four offensive opportunities unless something befalls one of the lead backs.

Tight End | Jets-Steelers NFL DFS Picks for Sunday Night Football Week 7

In his time with Seattle, Wilson heavily utilized the tight end position in the red zone, which does bode well for Pat Freiermuth, who has 26 of the 41 targets to the position. However, Wilson never really played favorites in Seattle, or Denver for that matter, which means Darnell Washington also could be in the mix, and he is coming off a season-high 73% snap share from last week. Freiermuth also had a season high with 87%, with new offensive coordinator Arthur Smith using a heavy dose of two-tight end sets.

Connor Heyward had his highest snap share of the year as well (36%), just underscoring that this historically conservative offense is likely to “turtle-up” once again, fresh off of a season-best 32 points. Ladies and Gentleman, NFL Primetime Football!!!

Kicker | Jets-Steelers NFL DFS Picks for Sunday Night Football Week 7

Chris Boswell’s lone miss this season was from beyond 50 yards, with the 33-year-old converting on nearly 94% of his 48 attempts over the last two years. That is impressive, considering the tricky winds on one end of the venue formerly known as Heinz Field and Boswell playing the majority of his games outside in the AFC North.

Defense | Jets-Steelers NFL DFS Picks for Sunday Night Football Week 7

Blitzburgh is not quite living up to the legendary status of prior defenses in the Steel City, but the team does have 11 takeaways, which is the fourth most in the league. The 14 sacks are mediocre but not horrible, and Rodgers has been taken down 16 times this season.

Jets-Steelers NFL DFS Picks for Sunday Night Football Week 7: Rankings

Stokastic provides everything you need to crush NFL DFS, regardless of the slate, format, or platform.

If you haven’t already, sign up for a Stokastic+ NFL package to access great resources like the NFL DFS Sims and Lineup Generator, along with essential data such as NFL DFS projections, ownership projections and NFL Top Stacks!

Top 10 NFL DFS Showdown Picks for Jets-Steelers

1. Breece Hall: The addition of Adams gives Pittsburgh one more thing to worry about.
2. Aaron Rodgers: Does consolidate the New York passing production.
3. Najee Harris: Meh, this is not even worthy enough for a vote of confidence, but here we are — no qualms from Your Ol’ Pal if you want to drop him below the top two pass catchers for each team.
4. Garrett Wilson: Would be second on this list without the addition of Adams.
5. Davante Adams: Consider for an anytime touchdown, as there are actual narrative implications for this trade with Rodgers, Adams and, of course, Woody Johnson, who is driving this clown car of his own creation.
6. Pat Freiermuth: Legitimately in play for cash games (H2H, 50/50s, 3-mans) as the lone Pittsburgh representative.
7. George Pickens: Ugh, for all the reasons detailed in the featured player breakdown.
8. Chis Boswell: The other potential core cash game play from Pittsburgh; rates out well in all formats for his point-per-dollar projection.
9. New York D/ST: Even on the road with thinned-out ranks, this unit should provide some fantasy goodness, even without a touchdown.
10. Allen Lazard: Could be the forgotten man in the red zone, both by the Steelers and by his quarterback.

Secondary Options

1. Jaylen Warren: Should pull even or slightly ahead of Harris at some point, right?!
2. Pittsburgh D/ST: Floor is shaky, but so is the opposition.
3. Calvin Austin III: Just one deep pass could land him in the optimal lineup.
4. Greg Zuerlein: Field goals are a fickle mistress.
5. Tyler Conklin and Jeremy Ruckert: Salary discount on DraftKings and the reduced popularity on FanDuel have this duo tied in the rankings for each site.

Lottery Tickets

1. Justin Fields: Drops two spots in this section for each completed quarter where Wilson remains under center.
2. Mike Williams: Suddenly expendable.
3. Darnell Washington: Touchdown or bust, literally.
4. Van Jefferson: Mr. Invisible brought his act across the country.
5. Connor Heyward: Magical powers of the backup tight end on Showdown are always in play.
6. Scotty Miller: Should at least be active, plus he doesn’t know about Fiona and me.
7. Xavier Gipson: Probably will return kicks, may not step between the lines on offense.
8. Anthony Firkser and MyCole Pruitt: Deep reach if active.
9. Jonathan Ward, Aaron Shampklin and Isaiah Davis: Cheapies on DraftKings, though not particularly necessary tonight.
10. Roman Wilson, Brandon Johnson, Terry Bradshaw and Joe Namath: Unlikely to be active.

Stokastic’s NFL DFS Tools & Expert Advice

Looking for even more NFL DFS tips?

We’ve got you covered with expert NFL articles loaded with winning strategies! But even the pros need an edge—that’s where a Stokastic subscription comes in. Get access to the same tools our experts rely on, like the Sims Tool that helped our friend TheRealCoach111 win his SECOND MILLY MAKER in under two weeks!

His wins were in MLB, but we’ve had NFL Milly Maker champs too — just ask Stokastic Sims co-developer Steve Buzzard, who took down last year’s Conference Championship Weekend.

And don’t forget to check out our Hall of Fame Avatar program to see what you can win by using the Sims to rise to the top of DraftKings or FanDuel NFL DFS contests!