Week 7 of the 2025 NFL season is already here and we’ll be treated to an AFC North showdown tonight featuring the Pittsburgh Steeles visiting the Cincinnati Bengals. Pittsburgh enters as a 5.5-point road favorite, with an over/under of 44.5. With the rest of the AFC North falling apart, the Steelers could take a commanding 3+ game lead on everyone in the division with a win here.
Below, we will take a look at the best DFS plays for this Thursday night showdown.
Ja’Marr Chase, WR, Cincinnati Bengals (FLEX $13,200, CPT $19,800)
The Bengals are spiraling and Chase has been doing his part to carry the offense despite who is throwing him the ball at quarterback. He immediately established a rapport with the recently acquired Joe Flacco in their 27-18 road loss to the Packers this past Sunday, catching 10 of 12 targets for 94 yards and a touchdown.
Tonight, he’ll be going up against a Steelers defense that is 22nd in DVOA vs. WR1’s, with opposing top wideouts averaging 8.7 targets and 76.9 yards per game. I fully expect Flacco to continue on with the tried and true “Chase down there somewhere” strategy here and that makes him a safe captain’s play.
DK Metcalf, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers (FLEX $12,200, CPT $18,300)
And on the other side, Metcalf is beginning to heat up and is showing why the the Steelers traded for him in the offseason to become a top target for Aaron Rodgers. The veteran has terrorized secondaries over the last two weeks, combining for nine catches, 221 yards and two touchdowns against the Vikings and Browns.
He’s been excellent at creating separation and extending plays and currently leads all receivers in yards after catch heading into Week 7. He should have a field day against a Cincinnati defense that ranks 29th in defensive EPA.
Jaylen Warren, RB, Pittsburgh Steelers (FLEX $9,200, CPT $13,800)
The Steelers’ bye two weeks ago allowed Warren some time to heal up from his knee injury and he was able to have himself a decent game in his return on Sunday. He had 11 carries for 52 yards on the ground and also caught two targets for 11 yards in their win over the Browns.
What makes Warren an interesting choice in this spot are his skills as a pass-catcher, as he combined for 120 yards off 10 receptions in his two games prior to his injury. I anticipate that the volume of touches that he’ll get will be enough to make him a good value play for a captain’s slot.
Jonnu Smith, TE, Pittsburgh Steelers (FLEX $5,600, CPT $8,400)
Smith’s numbers have been a bit lackluster this season, which is a surprise considering his long relationship with offensive coordinator Arthur Smith. However, there is an opportunity here for him to have a great night here as the Bengals are yielding a league-high 14.7 fantasy points per game to opposing tight ends on FanDuel. I’d heavily consider him for a spot in your lineup.
Noah Fant, TE, Cincinnati Bengals (FLEX $5,000, CPT $7,500)
The Steelers have also been extremely vulnerable against opposing tight ends as they are yielding an average of 14.0 fantasy points per game at FanDuel. That could mean a pretty good night for Fant and the lane is clear for him to get plenty of targets with Mike Gesicki now on IR with a pec injury.
Samaje Perine, RB, Cincinnati Bengals (FLEX $3,200, CPT $4,800)
Perine has been gradually getting more work over the past few weeks, commanding six carries on the ground and three targets out of the backfield in Sunday’s loss to the Packers. He’s getting these opportunities because starter Chase Brown just flat out hasn’t been cutting it and the two might be splitting carries moving forward. Perine could be a cheap option that could yield you good results for your lineup tonight.
