DK Metcalf, Joe Flacco & Nick Herbig headline our Thursday Night Football props & best bets for Week 7's matchup of Steelers vs. Bengals on October 16.
The Cincinnati Bengals host the Pittsburgh Steelers in Thursday Night Football action in Week 7.
Cincinnati's defense has been brutal against the run for years and this season it's been just as bad against the pass.
That's one reason why my NFL picks are backing Pro Bowl wide receiver DK Metcalf to have a big game on prime time.
Check out the rest of my favorite bets with my Steelers vs. Bengals player props for October 16.
Steelers vs Bengals TNF props
| Player | Pick |  |
|---|---|---|
 Joe Flacco | Over 36.5 pass attempts | <<-115>> |
 Nick Herbig | To record a sack | <<+105>> |
| DK Metcalf | Over 58.5 receiving yards | <<-110>> |
Joe Flacco Over 36.5 pass attempts (-115)
Joe Flacco made his debut with the Cincinnati Bengals last week and attempted 29-of-45 passes for 219 yards at Green Bay. That was the third time that Flacco has thrown 45+ pass attempts this year.
The Bengals have rushed for a league-low 56.7 rushing yards per game and will need to rely on their aerial attack with Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins if they want to move the ball.
On Thursday, Flacco faces a Pittsburgh Steelers defense that stacks the box and dares teams to throw against them. That has resulted in the Steelers allowing 45.0 pass attempts per game over their last three contests.
Nick Herbig to record a sack (+105)
Despite being a backup last year, outside linebacker Nick Herbig notched 5.5 sacks and ranked fourth among edge defenders in pass rush grade per PFF. This year he's been even better, picking up 4.5 sacks in his last three games while leading the league in pass rush win rate.
Even when Alex Highsmith returned to the lineup after three-game absence last week, Herbig still logged 50 snaps - which was three more than Highsmith and one more than All-Pro edge T.J. Watt.
Pittsburgh's pass rush should feast against the Bengals who are 30th in pass block win rate and have the immobile Flacco under center.
DK Metcalf Over 58.5 receiving yards (-110)
The Bengals are 29th in the NFL in defensive dropback success rate and have allowed the sixth-most receiving yards to opposing wide receivers. This is a great matchup for DK Metcalf who has racked up more than 80 receiving yards in three of five games this year.
Pittsburgh's No. 2 WR Calvin Austin III sat out Sunday with a shoulder injury and is trending towards missing this week as well. Without Austin in the lineup, The Steelers relied on multiple tight ends and running backs in the passing game and Metcalf was the only WR to see the ball.
The 6-foot-4, 229-pound wideout was targeted a season-high nine times and reeled in four of them for 95 yards. He should have another high target game on TNF against a vulnerable Bengals secondary.
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Steelers vs Bengals TNF prop betting card
- Flacco o36.5 pass attempts (-115)
- Herbig to record a sack (+105)
- Metcalf o58.5 rec yards (-110)
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
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This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here
Category: Football
