Fantasy football is more than just the weekly head-to-head games we all 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 Thursday Night Football Pick’em contest between the New York Jets and Cleveland Browns.
Top Underdog Pick’ems for Thursday Night Football
Underdog Pick’ems allows fantasy managers to predict stat lines and fantasy-point totals for almost all fantasy-relevant players. You can make two picks that pay out 3x 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 Thursday night Underdog Pick’ems.
Trevor Siemian Lower Than 171.5 Passing Yards
Last week, Trevor Siemian threw for 217 yards. It took him 49 attempts while facing the worst pass defense in the NFL to do it.
This week, Siemian is on the road on a short week against a Browns defense allowing the fewest passing yards per game at 180.
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The Browns are good against the run as well, but they are far more beatable on the ground than through the air. Look for the Jets to pound Breece Hall to hide Siemian. And when Siemian does drop back to pass, it’s still asking a lot of him to complete them.
Siemian completed just 55% of his throws last week in the most favorable matchup imaginable. He now has the worst matchup possible. Fade Siemian this week.
Jerome Ford Higher Than 12.5 Rush Attempts
I was torn between whether to go with the carries or the yards for Jerome Ford. Hopefully, it doesn’t matter.
Ford was woefully inefficient last week, carrying the ball 15 times for 25 yards, but he still saw 15 carries, and that was in a game where Joe Flacco attempted 42 passes.
The Jets allow the second-fewest passing yards per game at 185. However, on the ground, they surrender 101 rushing yards per game to running backs, the seventh-most in the league. I am banking on the Browns not going with an all-out aerial assault and leaning more on Ford, pushing him above this projection.
Xavier Gipson Lower Than 19.5 Receiving Yards
Last week, fellow rookie UDFA Jason Brownlee appeared to jump Xavier Gipson on the depth chart. Brownlee played 82% of the snaps to Gipson’s 62%. If that’s the case, then Gipson’s yardage projection being higher than Brownlee’s is wrong.
In a game where the Jets should struggle to move the ball through the air, it’s a relatively tall ask of the team’s third receiver to reach 20 yards.
Gipson has caught more than two passes in a game just once all season. In two of his last three games, he’s totaled one and three receiving yards. I will take my chances that it’s another underwhelming day for Gipson.
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