Sunday Night Football Picks: Cowboys vs. Steelers for PrizePicks
The NFL Week 5 Sunday Night Football game features the two franchises with some of the largest and most passionate fan bases and plenty of history: the Cowboys and the Steelers.
The Steelers have been a surprise to start the season, as they share first place in the AFC North with QB Justin Fields leading the offense, rather than expected starter Russell Wilson.
The Cowboys do not have the same fortune, and a loss on Sunday Night would have them under .500 with many high-profile and top-dollar stars.
Let’s look at some top picks for this Sunday Night Football showdown on PrizePicks, where we’ll talk about every important position, including kickers. Check out our TD scorer predictions for a TD scorer Demon pick for this game.
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Cowboys vs. Steelers: Time, How to Watch, Location
Date: Sunday, October 6, 2024
Time: 8:30 p.m. ET kickoff
Location: Acrisure Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pa.
How to Watch: NBC, Peacock (Streaming)
Sunday Night Football Picks: Cowboys vs. Steelers
Here are the top NFL DFS Picks for Sunday Night Football: Cowboys vs. Steelers, from the PrizePicks board.
- Steelers QB Justin Fields 59.5 Rushing Yards (Demon)
- Steelers TE Pat Freiermuth 32.5 Receiving Yards
- Cowboys WR CeeDee Lamb 6.5 Receptions
- Cowboys K Brandon Aubrey 1.5 FG Made (Goblin)
Steelers QB Justin Fields 59.5 Rushing Yards — More (Demon)
Steelers QB Justin Fields has flourished in the starting role as Russell Wilson continues to ride the bench. Fields’ ability to balance a passing and running game has helped the Steelers to a 3-1 record.
That rushing ability will play a large role in this game against Dallas, whose defense has struggled. They are last in PFF's Run Defense Grade (37.7) and will be missing two crucial pieces on the defensive line: DeMarcus Lawrence and Micah Parsons.
The Steelers offensive line will give Fields plenty of opportunities to run if he chooses to against this patchwork Cowboys defensive line.
If you want to err on the side of caution, you can get Fields’ standard rushing projection at 46.5 rush yards on PrizePicks. Pick the Demon for a payout boost.
Note: Demon picks add a payout boost to your lineup on PrizePicks, as they are more difficult projections to hit.
Steelers TE Pat Freiermuth 32.5 Receiving Yards — More
Steelers TE Pat Freiermuth is having a much better start to the 2024 season than last year, mostly due to improved QB play. He already has four or more catches in each game and over 32 in the last three.
The biggest difference is that he is taking more snaps in the slot. His 32.9% slot snap rate was 27th among tight ends last year, and his 36.1% this year is seventh.
Dallas will likely focus on trying to stop the run, which will give Freiermuth one-on-one opportunities.
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Cowboys WR CeeDee Lamb 6.5 Receptions — More
The matchup to watch in this game is the Dallas offensive line versus the Pittsburgh pass rush. Each team has strengths: the Steelers lead the league in quarterback pressure percentage (30.5%), while the Cowboys are fourth in quarterback pressure percentage allowed (16.6%).
The key for Cowboys QB Dak Prescott will be to get the ball out of his hands as quickly as possible to avoid some of the best edge rushers, which is where CeeDee Lamb comes in.
According to Pro Football Focus, Lamb has received most of his targets in the middle of the field in short distance, averaging 2.3 yards per route run to that spot. That's where Prescott will be looking all game, as his first read is often going to be Lamb.
It doesn’t hurt that WR Brandin Cooks is out for this game which will thin out the receiving corps, though Cooks has had a disappointing season to this point.
Cowboys K Brandon Aubrey 1.5 FG Made — More (Goblin)
For Dallas, field position will be critical. They will need to get into Pittsburgh's defensive zone, which gives them a great chance to score points.
That’s because kicker Brandon Aubrey is one of the best kickers in the game. He came into this week leading the league with 12 field goals made, including six from 50 yards or more and a 65-yarder.
The Steelers have kept opponents out of the end zone this year. Their defense is fourth in opponent red zone conversions — teams are only scoring a touchdown on 36.4% of red zone attempts.
The Cowboys have no problem letting Aubrey attempt long kicks, so two shouldn’t be a problem in this matchup.
Note: Goblin picks reduce your payout on PrizePicks, as they are easier projections to hit.
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With such an important game for both the Cowboys and Steelers, this has the potential to be an exciting primetime NFL matchup. It’s now time to build your DFS with the players that could have a major role on Sunday Night Football.
Pick more or less on two or more players, lock in your lineup, and win real money during the Sunday Night Football game. Keep returning to the Playbook for more analysis on NFL DFS.
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