Steelers-Browns DFS Picks: Best Value Plays, NFL Week 4

Week 4 kicks off with a classic AFC North rivalry matchup between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cleveland Browns. All four teams in the division enter the week at 2-1, and Thursday’s winner will hold sole possession of first place until Sunday’s results come in. Pittsburgh has historically dominated this fixture and enters as slight road favorites after picking up their first divisional win of the season against the Bengals last weekend.

Let’s break down the best DFS picks for Thursday Night Football. Be sure to check out our NFL betting trends page for data and odds on every game.

Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Cleveland Browns DFS Picks

Pos	Player	Matchup	FPPG	Salary
MVP	👑 Deshaun Watson	PIT @ CLE	18.3	$14,100
FLEX	Jaylen Warren	PIT @ CLE	14.9	$9,600
FLEX	Harold Fannin Jr.	PIT @ CLE	12.9	$7,400
FLEX	Chris Boswell	PIT @ CLE	9.0	$5,200
FLEX	Quinshon Judkins	PIT @ CLE	8.9	$8,800
FLEX	Andre Szmyt	PIT @ CLE	8.7	$4,600

👑 Deshaun Watson, CLE/QB/MVP ($14,100)

After years of controversy, injuries, and subpar play, Deshaun Watson has opened his 10th NFL season like no other. The former first-round pick ranks QB12 in fantasy through three games, posting a 104.1 passer rating with a 5:1 TD-to-INT ratio. While his 195.7 passing yards per game are modest, Watson has been extremely efficient and accurate since returning from his Achilles injury, eliminating the turnovers that have plagued him in the past.

Thursday brings his toughest test of the season against a division rival the 31-year-old has yet to beat in his career. Despite going 0-3 against Pittsburgh, Watson has actually put up decent numbers — 243.0 yards per game with 5 TDs across those three games — though the 4 INTs and 18 sacks taken have been his undoing. He looks more decisive this season than ever before, and should find some success against a Steelers secondary that surrendered 282 yards and 3 TDs to Joe Burrow on Sunday.

Jaylen Warren, PIT/RB ($9,600)

Pittsburgh veteran RB Jaylen Warren had a slow start to his fifth season before exploding for 127 rushing yards and 49 receiving yards in Week 3. Given full control of the backfield for the first time this season with Rico Dowdle out, the former Oklahoma State star ran with it. Dowdle is already confirmed out for Thursday night, meaning Warren should see another heavy workload against division rivals.

The undrafted free agent has topped 100 rushing yards against Cleveland just once in eight career appearances in this rivalry. With DPOY Myles Garrett no longer around, the Browns have struggled against the run through three weeks, ranking in the bottom 10 in rushing yards allowed per game. Coming off a 7.5-yard-per-carry performance, this matchup looks like a strong spot for Warren. His pass-catching ability adds another layer of value as well — he ranks second only to Bijan Robinson with 13.2 YAC per reception this season.

Harold Fannin Jr., CLE/TE ($7,400)

Cleveland’s sophomore TE has quickly become one of the brightest young players at his position since taking over as the starter this season. Fannin Jr. is playing his third career game against Pittsburgh on Thursday and found success in both of his rookie appearances against the Steelers, averaging 4.5 receptions for 55.5 yards with a TD across those two games. He arrives fresh off a 2-TD performance in the Browns’ 21-18 win over Carolina.

The 22-year-old is averaging 4.7 receptions for 42.0 yards per game through three starts this season. Fannin Jr. ranks second on the team in targets (18) and target share (20.2%), while his 14 receptions lead the club. That target share jumped to a team-high 30% in the most recent game, and some of it seems likely to carry over into Thursday. With Pittsburgh historically putting heavy pressure on Watson, look for the Browns QB to keep leaning on his most reliable target this season.

Chris Boswell, PIT/K ($5,200)

With the Steelers offense sputtering early in the season, K Chris Boswell may be the team’s most valuable player heading into Week 4. The veteran kicker has been one of the best at his position for several years and is coming off a 3-of-3 FG performance on Sunday, accounting for 12 of Pittsburgh’s 30 points. He may need to be leaned on heavily again against the Browns, who come in ranked eighth in opponent red-zone efficiency, holding teams to TDs on just 44.4% of their trips inside the 20. With Pittsburgh’s tendency to stall on drives and Cleveland’s ability to limit scores, Boswell could see a handful of FG attempts on Thursday night.

The 35-year-old carries an 87.4% career FG accuracy and 95.7% on extra points. He is 6-of-8 to start this season, with his only misses coming from 50-plus yards. In 21 career games against the Browns, Boswell has hit 82.1% of his FGs and has scored 140 points against his division rivals.

Quinshon Judkins, CLE/RB ($8,800)

Browns sophomore RB Quinshon Judkins appears to be trending in the right direction after a slow start. The 22-year-old is coming off a season-high 18 carries for 70 yards on Sunday and seems to be settling into the lead back role for the first time in his professional career. Like Warren, Judkins has little competition for touches, and his sheer volume alone makes him a strong option for a single-game contest.

The Steelers rank around the middle of the pack in rushing yards allowed at 113.0 per game, giving up just 4.4 yards per carry. Judkins has struggled in that department to open the year, averaging just 3.0 yards per carry and ranking 29th in explosive run rate through three games. The matchup is not ideal, but the former Buckeye will continue to see a heavy workload and should get plenty of opportunities in this one.

Andre Szmyt, CLE/K ($4,600)

Like Boswell, Browns K Andre Szmyt has been a quietly important part of the AFC North’s early-season action. The 28-year-old is a perfect 6-of-6 on FG attempts to start the season, coming off a rookie campaign in which he hit 88.9% of his kicks. He ranks sixth among active kickers in career FG attempts from 50-plus yards and may face some long-range opportunities against a stingy Pittsburgh defense on Thursday.

The Steelers’ red-zone defense has been slightly better than the Browns’ this season, ranking fourth with opponents scoring TDs on just 33.3% of their trips inside the 20. Pittsburgh has allowed just six TDs through three weeks, and this game figures to be relatively low-scoring. Cleveland will likely need Szmyt several times, and based on what we have seen from him early in his career, staying perfect on those attempts seems like a safe bet.

Photo Credit: REUTERS