Note: The opinions expressed here are my takes on each player’s individual matchup. As always, use your best judgment and conduct your own research on who to start or bench each week. You know your individual team and/or league situation better than anyone else.

Andy Dalton, QB

Averaging just 10.20 fantasy points per game over the last four weeks, Dalton is not the best option to lead your team in the fantasy playoffs. He scored just 5.96 fantasy points last week against the St. Louis Rams and has a difficult matchup this week against the Arizona Cardinals. Arizona is allowing just 15.79 fantasy points per game to quarterbacks this season so don’t expect the world from Dalton this week.

Cedric Benson, RB

Averaging 10.60 fantasy points per game over the last four weeks, Benson continues to be a good option in deeper leagues. He had a strong 14.70 fantasy point game last week against the rams but faces a tougher opponent this week in the Cardinals. Arizona is giving up only 17.20 fantasy points per game to running backs this season, so like Dalton, don’t expect huge numbers this week.

A.J. Green, WR

Averaging 11.20 fantasy points per game over the last four weeks, Green has been a fantastic rookie surprise this season. He had a solid game last week against the Rams scoring 11.50 fantasy points but his shoulder is a mild concern this week. Arizona is giving up 23.14 fantasy points per game to wide receivers this season so there is some upside.

Jerome Simpson, WR

Averaging only 4.20 fantasy points per game over the last four weeks, the only upside to Simpson is that he may see more targets this week due to Green’s shoulder and his more difficult one-on-one matchup. However, I still can’t recommend starting Simpson unless you have no better options.

Jermaine Gresham, TE

Averaging 5.70 fantasy points per game over the last four weeks, Gresham is another player I have a difficult time recommending. He scored only 1.60 fantasy points last week against the Cardinals and does not have the best matchup this week against the Cardinals.

Mike Nugent, K

Averaging 9.30 fantasy points per game over the last four weeks, Nugent is a solid fantasy kicker to carry in the playoffs. He scored 9.00 fantasy points last week against the Rams and has a very favorable matchup this week against the Cardinals. Arizona is giving up 9.85 fantasy points per game to kickers this season so expect a similar performance this week.

Defense

Averaging 6.30 fantasy points per game over the last four weeks, the Cincinnati Bengals’ team defense would be considered below average at best. They do however have a very favorable matchup this week against the Cardinals who are allowing 9.77 fantasy points per game to team defense. It is a risky start, but the upside is there.

Sources:

All data provided by Yahoo! Sports Fantasy Football

Paul Rados is an avid fantasy football participant and a Featured Contributor for the Yahoo! Contributor Network. Follow him on Twitter @PSRados or leave him a message on Facebook. For a complete look at his freelance work please visit his Blog.

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Another week; another chance for the Cincinnati Bengals to prove this season hasn’t all been a mirage.

The Bengals, 6-3, are in the middle of a five-week schedule that ranges somewhere between sadistic and murderous. It includes two games against division-leading Pittsburgh, now 7-3, Baltimore, also 6-3, and AFC-leading Houston. This week they get the schizoprhenic Ravens. And, who knows which one of their multiple personalities shows up. The one that throttled the Texans, New York Jets and Steelers? Or, the one that played paddy-cake with Jacksonville and the Seahawks?

If it is the former, the Bengals are in for a heap of hurt. The Ravens don’t look consistent enough, and they haven’t found an offensive identity that makes them serious Super Bowl contenders, but they are still very good. Especially when they remember they’ve got Ray Rice to run the ball.

But last Sunday he had five carries. So, evidently, they have a bad memory.

Not to mention, bad special teams.

In Sunday’s loss to Seattle, Baltimore returner Dave Reed fumbled away two kickoffs, Sam Koch shanked a 28-yard punt and Billy Cundiff missed two field goals. They’ve also surrendered a 107-yard kickoff return touchdown to the Jets’ Joe McKnight and an 82-yard punt return touchdown to the Cardinals’ Patrick Peterson.

So, the Bengals are in with a chance after falling to the Steelers last Sunday. But that chance comes with one proviso; A.J. Green must be healthy enough to play. Right now, even he doesn’t know. Green injured his knee on a 36-yard touchdown catch against the Steelers. He didn’t play the second half and, asked Wednesday if he could play this weekend, Green told the Cincinnati Enquirer, “I don’t know. It’s going to be a game-time decision.”

Quarterback Andy Dalton without Green is like a jockey without a racehorse. Going nowhere fast.

He stretches the field for the Bengals. When Jerome Simpson and Andre Caldwell replaced him, Dalton was unable to go deep. Green leads NFL rookies in receptions (41), receiving yards (635) and receiving touchdowns (six). Furthermore, when he’s in the game it also opens up areas that make other parts of the offence work. When he’s not on the field, the Bengals don’t have a wing and a prayer.

PAIN IN BUFFALO

The Bills desperately need a win Sunday against Miami to stop the downward spiral. They may have to do it without star receiver Stevie Johnson.

Johnson has a shoulder injury sustained late in last week’s loss to Dallas and didn’t practise Wednesday. “We hope we’ll get him out there a little bit Thursday and a little bit Friday and he’ll be ready to go Sunday,” coach Chan Gailey said. “That’s what we hope. There’s no structural damage, so Johnson still has a good chance to suit up. We’ll know more later in the week.”

The secondary could also be without George Wilson, who suffered a shoulder stinger. He hopes to practise Thursday but the club activated Josh Nesbitt as a potential replacement.

The Bills’ lack of depth was beginning to show the past few weeks. “We have good players. The problem is we don’t have experienced depth. They’re all young and having to learn on the fly,” said Gailey.

WHAT’S WITH MICHAEL VICK?

Nobody seems to know.

Yes, he’s got sore ribs. At least that’s what coach Andy Reid said. There’s speculation it could keep him out of the game against the Giants.

On the other hand, it never looked like he was sore last week even though the injury supposedly happened early in the game.

There are those who suspect it was just another bit of soap opera with Reid trying to deflect attention from the DeSean Jackson suspension. When Reid sat him out for missing a meeting he may have won the psychological mind game. But he lost the tactical war by limiting what his offence could do without Jackson in the lineup. “I’m not going to believe Vick won’t play until I see him not jog out there,” said Giants coach Tom Coughlin via ProFootballTalk.com Wednesday.

UNGUARDED OPTIMISM

Brian Walters has made a big impression since joining the Patriots. “He’s earned every bit of his respect here,” said Bill Belichick, of Walters, who has teamed with Logan Mankins to protect Tom Brady in the absence of centre Dan Koppen. “He’s tough, he’s a good football player. He’s really made some outstanding plays, individual plays that you don’t see many other players at that position make. He’s a high-quality player and a high-quality individual. He’s very unselfish, team-oriented.”

In other words, everything just short of sainthood by the sounds of it.

QUICK HITS

Running back Mike Goodson (hamstring) has had a dreadful season. First he lost his job in the backfield, then he was taken off the return team for fumbles and now he has become the 12th Carolina Panther to be placed on injured reserve … Jason Avant and Steve Smith practised in place of Jeremy Maclin (shoulder) Wednesday … With several head coaching jobs likely to come vacant, Panthers offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski is likely to be a candidate several teams will consider … Ahmad Bradshaw (foot) didn’t practise Wednesday and is expected to miss Sunday’s game … Both Denver and the Jets could be without running backs for their game Thursday. Willis McGahee remains questionable with a hamstring while the Jets’ LaDainian Tomlinson (knee) will sit out … Cardinals receiver Larry Fitzgerald, Saints safety Roman Harper and Bears return man Devin Hester have been named the NFC’s players of the week. Fitzgerald got the first offensive player of the week award of his career after a sensational seven-catch, 146-yard, two-touchdown game. For Harper, it was his second award this year.

 

 

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TORONTO - 

Ain’t love grand. The Cincinnati Bengals have come out of nowhere to post a 6-2 record.

They’ve done it with a quarterback who looks like he spends all his off hours playing video games in his mother’s basement. And, a city known for its sports miscreants, is taking a walk on the mild side.

Who could ever have seen this coming?

This is a franchise that has had more players at the top of police blotters than on the NFL leader boards. The only thing they’ve led the league in for most of the past decade is trouble.

When they had little talent, they played down to their level. When they did have good players the only thing they led the league in was ego.

Through it all they had one saving grace, quarterback Carson Palmer, and this year he gave the team, its owner, and ultimately the city itself, the finger — and not the one signifying “We’re No. 1” either.

From those ashes has emerged Andy Dalton, quarterback of small renown. This week he was mobbed at an autograph session at Paul Brown Stadium.

He has taken a team few thought could go anywhere and put them in a position to challenge the mighty Pittsburgh Steelers, dreaded behemoths of the AFC North.

This weekend the Steelers come to town. “Everybody’s excited,” Dalton told the team’s official site. “Especially this week because we’re playing Pittsburgh.”

And the Steelers will not arrive in good humour having blown a fourth-quarter lead when it allowed a 92-yard drive to the Ravens. The Steelers also have further motivation in that this game has crucial division tie-breaker implications, considering they’ve already been swept by Baltimore. A loss to the upstart Bengals could be devastating to the defending champions.

On the other hand, a Cincinnati win marks then as legitimate contenders in the AFC North. And the Steelers’ seem to be paying at least grudging respect to Dalton. “He has great moxie for a young quarterback and he’s doing an extremely good job for those guys,” Steelers safety Ryan Clark, told reporters this week.

Dalton never had the profile of Blaine Gabbert and Cam Newton. He didn’t get surprisingly mega million deals unproven backup Kevin Kolb and in the lead-up to last April’s draft, all over the NFL there were doubts about the TCU quarterback.

He didn’t have the talent.

His arm was too weak.

But where the rest of the NFL saw issues; the Bengals saw and answer, turning the team over to him in the wake of Palmer’s desertion. He has proven unflappable completing 158 passes for 257 yards and 12 touchdowns. He has developed a trust with his receivers Tim Tebow could only pray for, plus he has Cedric Benson running the ball for 536 yards to take the pressure off the passing game.

So, this could be closer than the Steelers’ faithful might suspect. Pittsburgh’s defence will be without linebacker LaMarr Woodley and safety Troy Polamalu is playing hurt. On top of which, Dalton has been superb picking apart the blitz, completing 63% of his passes, with three touchdowns, a 95.4 rating, that includes no interceptions. And, while the Steelers’ defence hasn’t played poorly, it hasn’t been getting their signature “big” plays. They are last in the league in takeaways, tied with the Dolphins.

Still, Dick LeBeau’s defence’s habitually turn rookie QBs into puddles of quivering jello.

Since LeBeau returned to the Steelers as defensive coordinator in 2004, rookies are 1-9 when facing Pittsburgh for the first time, including Joe Flacco, Colt McCoy, Jimmy Clausen and Gabbert. The only rookie to come away with a win was Troy Smith, in the last game of the 2007 season. “We’ll find out what we’re made of,” offensive coordinator Jay Gruden said. “We’ve played some very good defences already but Pittsburgh is in their own category. The physicality they bring will be a great challenge.”

This will be Dalton’s, and the Bengals, moment of truth. Beating Tennessee was nice; beating the Steelers would be a defining moment.

QUICK HITS

St. Louis Rams coach Steve Spagnuolo said Friday that Sam Bradford’s ankle is much better and he’ll start Sunday … Tony Romo’s ribs have finally healed completely for the first time since Sept. 18 and he is debating whether to wear the protective vest and taking a painkilling injection this week against Buffalo. Romo said he felt better last week than he had since the season opener and he had two touchdown passes to go with 279 yards. Of course not getting sacked in a game for the first time this year probably helped, too … Texans’ Andre Johnson will miss his sixth straight game Sunday because of a slow-healing hamstring. Houston does get back defensive end Antonio Smith and tackles Eric Winston and Earl Mitchell … Browns’ top-ranked pass defence will be without safety T.J. Ward (foot fracture) 4-6 weeks and Peyton Hillis hamstring is reportedly still black and blue … Rams’ Brandon Gibson, with five catches last week, starts again for receiver Danario Alexander (hamstring) … Saints’ receiver Lance Moore missed practice and is questionable … Cardinals’ running back Beanie Wells (knee) returned to full practice and said Friday his knee feels the best it has in a month.

Happy again

It took three seasons but Albert Haynesworth is back home again.

In a true 4-3 defence. “It feels great, it feels unbelievable. Just to get off the ball and wreak havoc, that’s awesome,” Haynesworth said of the Buccaneers’ 4-3 defensive scheme, one similar to that in which he excelled for seven seasons with Tennessee.

The Bucs plucked him off waivers after a season-ending injury to Gerald McCoy this week. Haynesworth said he should’ve signed with the Bucs three years ago when he instead took a $100-million US deal in Washington. This year in New England’s 4-3, he had little impact before being released.

“Everybody can say, ‘Oh, you’re in a 4-3 defence.’ But just because you’re in a 4-3 defence doesn’t mean (it is) what I did in Tennessee and I had to learn that the hard way (in New England),” he said. “This is where I should’ve been three years ago. But I think all good things come to somebody that waits.”

 

 

 

Read More: Ben Roethlisberger (QB – PIT), Rashard Mendenhall (RB – PIT), Mike Wallace (WR – PIT), Antonio Brown (WR – PIT), Pittsburgh Steelers, Cincinnati Bengals

The Pittsburgh Steelers take on the Cincinnati Bengals this Sunday, Nov. 13, in a matchup of two six-win teams with playoff aspirations. Cincinnati, which allows just 17.5 points per game, No. 4 in the NFL, presents a challenge to the Steelers’ No. 19 offense. As such, few Steelers stand as strong starts in Week 10.

Perhaps the best Steelers bet for fantasy owners is quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. SB Nation parter numberFire projects the signal-caller to produce a respectable 15.64 fantasy points against the Bengals, throwing for 248.9 yards, 1.72 touchdowns, and 1.08 interceptions. If one looks at those numbers more optimistically, it’s clear he could produce even more, if able to cross the 250-yard threshold with two touchdowns. Owners should start Big Ben.

Meanwhile, numberFire projects receiver Mike Wallace to contribute 84.4 yards and 0.64 touchdowns, good for 12.33 fantasy points. That figure makes him the No. 3 fantasy receiver this week, trailing Steve Smith and Wes Welker, but be warned: he could produce as few as 5.66 points, which makes Wallace a riskier play this week than in most other weeks.

The Steelers’ other position players offer lower reward with higher risk. Running back Rashard Mendenhall, fresh off a 52-yard, one-touchdown effort against the Baltimore Ravens, is projected to score 12.63 points, but numberFire cautions that number could dip as low as 5.09. Receiver Antonio Brown (as low as 3.07) offers similar risk. As such, fantasy owners ought to sit both players unless they have no better alternatives.

Below, a complete list of how numberFire expects Pittsburgh’s players to perform Sunday:

For more fantasy football coverage, advice, and analysis, please visit SB Nation Fantasy, and follow it on Twitter @SBNationFantasy.