Week four of the NFL schedule has arrived, which means NFL DFS injuries are starting to become a factor. That will be the case when the Bengals host the Dolphins on Thursday Night Football, as Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (back) and star receiver Jaylen Waddle (groin) have been restricted to practice this week. Waddle ranks second among all receivers with 342 yards in three games, averaging 18.0 yards per reception. Should you avoid him in your NFL DFS lineups due to his groin injury?
Cincinnati has its own star receiver, as Ja’Marr Chase had an unforgettable 2021-22 campaign. He opened this season with 129 receiving yards in Week 1 before going below 55 yards in his last two games, so should you include him in your NFL DFS stacks? Before you make your NFL DFS picks for Dolphins vs. Bengals on Thursday Night Football, be sure to check out NFL DFS tips, strategy and player projections from SportsLine Fantasy daily expert Mike McClure.
McClure is a legendary DFS professional player with over $2 million in career earnings. His methodology has led to huge wins on FanDuel and DraftKings. He won two high-stakes tournaments on FanDuel in 2020 and recorded a pair of top 10s in tournaments with over 130,000 entrants on DraftKings. His rosters have also finished in the top 1% in over a dozen other tournaments.
It uses a powerful prediction model that simulates every instant NFL action, taking into account factors such as games, statistical trends, and injuries. This allows him to find the best DFS values which he only shares with SportsLine members.
Last week, McClure featured Browns running back Nick Chubb in his NFL DFS picks on Thursday night. The result: Chubb rumbled for 113 yards on 23 carries with a touchdown in a 29-17 win over Cleveland. Now, McClure has turned his attention to the Dolphins against the Bengals and locked down his top fantasy football daily picks. You can only see his picks and analysis on SportsLine.
Top NFL DFS picks for Thursday Night Football
We can tell you that one of McClure’s top NFL DFS picks for Thursday Night Football is Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins. Ja’Marr Chase gets most of the fanfare, but that also means he’s heavily watched by opposing defenses. Higgins has taken advantage of that over the past two weeks, rushing for more than 70 yards against the Cowboys and Jets. He averages almost 15 yards per reception, but is available at a much cheaper price than his teammate.
The Bengals are coming off a strong outing against the Jets, which included 275 passing yards and three touchdowns from quarterback Joe Burrow. They face a Miami defense that ranks second-to-last in the NFL for three weeks, giving up 413.7 yards per game.
Part of McClure’s optimal NFL DFS strategy also includes training Bengals running back Joe Mixon. After rushing for 24 yards and adding 14 more in receptions, Mixon limped off the field (ankle) last week and did not play in the fourth quarter. But coach Zac Taylor said Mixon would be ready to take part in Thursday Night Football, and no player has received more touches than Mixon’s 71 this season.
He translated that volume into 163 rushing yards and 103 receiving yards, but no movement to the end zone. Mixon scored 16 touchdowns last year, so it’s safe to say he should be hitting the ground soon. Miami was just cut up by running backs against Buffalo, giving up 205 total yards to the Bills’ back four. Considering how much Cincy relies on Mixon and his lack of running back options elsewhere, Mixon is set for a huge night against Miami’s total defense at No. 31. You can see the rest of McClure’s NFL DFS tips here.
How to Create NFL DFS Lineups for Thursday Night Football
McClure is also targeting another undervalued option that could explode in numbers. This choice could be the difference between winning your tournaments and cash games or going home with nothing. You can only see who it is, and the rest of McClure’s NFL DFS picks, on SportsLine.
Who does Mike McClure include in his NFL DFS Optimal Lineups for Thursday Night Football? And which under-the-radar player is a must-have? Visit SportsLine now to see the NFL DFS picks, rankings, tips and optimal stacks, all from a DFS expert who has made millions with his daily fantasy picks, and find out.