The Cincinnati Bengals didn't have a game in Week 4. The New England Patriots probably wish they hadn't. The Bengals now sit at 3-0, with the NFL's best point differential despite only three games. Meanwhile, the Patriots have struggled on offense, and Monday's beatdown at the hands of the Kansas City Chiefs dropped them to 2-2.
Fantasy football advice, Week 5: Who to start/sit for Bengals vs. Patriots
The Bengals have been spectacular this season, while the Patriots have struggled of late.
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The Patriots' injury report is largely clean from a fantasy perspective, with only tight end Rob Gronkowski listed, and he's probable and will play. For the Bengals, wide receiver A.J. Green appears to be healthy from his toe injury, and will play. Meanwhile, Marvin Jones, who hasn't played yet this season with a foot/ankle injury, is doubtful for the game after missing Friday practice.
The two teams face off in Foxborough Sunday at 8:30 p.m. ET. With the struggling New England offense, most of the fantasy intrigue comes from Cincinnati:
BENGALS
Start in every league: Giovani Bernard, A.J. Green, Defense/special teams
Start if you're desperate: Andy Dalton, Mike Nugent
Bench: Jeremy Hill, Mohamed Sanu, Jermaine Gresham
Those preseason concerns about Bernard have largely faded -- he has averaged 16 fantasy points a game and is an every-week must-start. ... Green has two good fantasy games sandwiched around one where he left early with an injury. Now that he looks fully healthy (or close), he’s back to being a top-five receiver. ... The Bengals’ defense has been a good unit, and if the New England offense can’t turn it around, Cincinnati could take advantage.
Dalton is still looking for his first big game this season, averaging fewer than 14 fantasy points a game. ... Nugent has 16 points from the kicker position in Week 1, but has only 10 in the two games since.
Hill picked up plenty of garbage-time production in the last two games, though garbage time is always difficult to count on. I don't think he's usable. ... With Jones likely out, Sanu slots as Cincinnati's No. 2 receiver. He's been productive this season, but largely with fluky plays, including a touchdown pass. He's not someone you should count on. ... Even with Tyler Eifert injured, Gresham hasn't offered much of anything to his fantasy owners.
PATRIOTS
Start in every league: Rob Gronkowski, Stephen Gostkowski
Start if you're desperate: Shane Vereen, Julian Edelman, Defense/special teams
Bench: Tom Brady, Stevan Ridley, Brandon LaFell
You don’t love players who are super dependent on touchdowns for their value, but a touchdown magnet like Gronkowski is an exception to that rule, and even with the offense concerns, he’s definitely a fantasy play. ... Gostkowski was barely relevant in Week 4, but had big games before that. He’ll get kicking opportunities one way or another.
You don’t really want to use either primary New England running back, but if you have to pick one, Vereen is the more defensible pick. ... Edelman’s value has faded with the New England offense struggling, but he’s still a fine flex play. ... The Patriots’ defense had an awful Week 4, but had been good before that. It’s a reasonable play, if not a super-strong one.
You just can’t use Brady until he re-proves himself. Averaging fewer than nine points a game is abysmal. ... Ridley has one good game and three awful ones. You can’t use him. ... Despite his strong Week 4, LaFell is outside fantasy consideration.
