Fantasy football is more than just the weekly head-to-head games we’ve all grown to love. On Underdog, fantasy managers can put their player-projection skills to the test by predicting player stat lines. Here are my top Underdog plays for the Monday Night Football Pick’em contest between the Cincinnati Bengals and Jacksonville Jaguars.
Top Underdog Pick’ems for Monday Night Football
Underdog Pick’ems allows managers to predict stat lines and fantasy-point totals for almost all fantasy-relevant players. You can make two picks that pay out three times even money or add more selections to your entry for higher payouts.
The levels are 3x, 6x, 10x, and 20x, progressing with each additional pick’em you add to your entry. Let’s take a look at this week’s Monday night Underdog Pick’ems.
Joe Mixon Lower Than 71.5 Rush + Receiving Yards
Last week, we had one of the easiest wins all season on Joe Mixon lower than 87.5 rush + receiving yards. The line is obviously much lower this week, but it’s not low enough. Underdog is not reacting quickly enough to how damaging Jake Browning is for this entire offense.
Mixon carried the ball eight times for 16 yards last week. He caught two passes for 44 yards, which salvaged his day but still got him nowhere near last week’s line or what this week’s is.
Things are not about to get much easier against a Jaguars run defense that surrenders 59 rushing yards per game and 3.6 yards per carry to running backs.
I’m expecting another performance like last week. Mixon should touch the ball more, resulting in a better final number on the ground, but I don’t expect 44 yards through the air. Another 60-yard outing seems reasonable.
Evan Engram Higher Than 41.5 Receiving Yards
This is an awfully low projection for a guy who has caught at least four passes in every game this season. Evan Engram’s targeting has been very consistent. This week, I expect him to be featured against a Bengals defense that really struggles against the tight end.
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The Bengals are allowing 70 receiving yards per game to the position, the second-most in the league. Engram averages 47 receiving yards per game. So, this projection is lower than his season average, and the opponent is as favorable as it gets.
Jake Browning Lower Than 21.5 Completions
Last week, Browning completed 19 of 26 passes for 227 yards. Two of those completions were fluke tip-drill plays that Ja’Marr Chase came down with. He should’ve had 17 completions.
Now, we’re asking Browning to complete five more passes essentially. I just don’t see it.
Last week, the Bengals had a bit of the element of surprise on their side. Browning was making his first career start. There wasn’t any game film on him from a game in which the plan was for him to play. Now, there is.
I anticipate Browning having a much more difficult time in his second start, as the Jaguars will be much more prepared for what he will do. And it’s not as if the Steelers had much trouble last week.
With things only likely to get worse, I’m expecting another game where the Bengals are unable to sustain drives, thus preventing Browning from being able to reach 20 completions.
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