Fantasy Scouting Report: Cincinnati Bengals

The Bengals look to stay hot this week against the Steelers, Cincy Jungle explores the fantasy options.

Carson Palmer still isn’t putting up the gaudy passing numbers he once did – yet to throw for 300 yards and only two or more touchdowns in three of eight games. However, he is warming up. In his past two games, Carson Palmer has thrown six touchdowns without an interception. He’s completed 40 of 57 passes (70%) in his past two and averaging 247 yards passing in his past four. Palmer’s success against Pittsburgh has been relatively strong. In his last six games against the Steelers, Palmer has thrown 11 touchdowns against two interceptions. Of nine career meetings, Palmer has seven interceptions and 14 touchdowns. If you have a better option, you might be more inclined to start that quarterback. But Palmer would be worth starting, even against the powerful Steelers defense.

Cedric Benson has played the Steelers three times in his career. He’s averaging 54.3 yards-rushing per game on 15 carries; his career best coming this year, rushing for 76 yards and recording a rushing touchdown. Benson has rushed for 100 yards in two straight and three of the past four games. He’s recorded a touchdown in six of the eight games played, including four straight dating back to October 11. The Steelers, who are ranked as the first rushing defense in the league, may present some problems with the return of Troy Polamalu; a player the Bengals avoided due to injury on September 27.

In three of the past four games, Chad Ochocinco has recorded 94 yards receiving and in two of his past three games, Chad recorded 100 yards receiving or more. Pittsburgh is tough on Chad. Against the Steelers, he has at least 50 yards receiving in five straight games, but surpassed 50 yards once. The last time he recorded 100 yards receiving against Pittsburgh was November 30, 2003. I would hesitate on starting Chad, provided you have other starters with better matchups on your roster or receivers with similar talents and statistics as Chad.

The Bengals and Steelers present the league’s top two rushing defenses. The Bengals defense has allowed 100 yards to the opposing offense twice this year, and in the past four games, the defense has allowed an average 64.8 yards rushing. In their past seven games, the defense has forced 14 turnovers, including 10 interceptions – eight by the team’s cornerback duo of Johnathan Joseph and Leon Hall. The defense’s 21 quarterback sacks rank seventh in the league.
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