The 5-3-1 Cincinnati Bengals are struggling to stay afloat in the AFC North. Meanwhile, the 4-5 New Orleans Saints hold a lead in the NFC South. Because being a middling team in a South division in 2014 is somewhat like being a passable actor in a SharkNado film -- it's easy to look great when everyone else stinks. Sunday, the Saints will take on a somewhat real team, looking to get back to .500 and get a firmer hold on their sorry, sorry division.
Bengals vs. Saints start/sit advice: Andy Dalton looks to rebound against Drew Brees-led New Orleans
The Bengals have been better than the Saints this year, but the Saints are closer to a playoff spot.
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The Bengals will be without running back Giovani Bernard Sunday, the third straight game he has missed. Tight end Jermaine Gresham has been limited in practice this week with a thigh issue, but he's expected to be fine for Sunday. On the Saints side, running backs Pierre Thomas and Khiry Robinson will again be out, while running back Mark Ingram was again listed on the report with a shoulder injury, though that seems largely a formality at this point.
The Saints will host Sunday’s game at 1 p.m. ET. Here’s a look at the fantasy names to consider:
BENGALS
Start 'em: The real Jeremy Hill obviously lies somewhere between his 27-point Week 9 and his three-point Week 10, but as long as Bernard is out, Hill looks like a perfectly strong RB2. ... A.J. Green will almost certainly improve upon his miserable Week 10, and he's still right in the middle of the WR1 conversation.
Start 'em?: The Cincinnati offense might not be strong enough to support two wide receivers, making Mohamed Sanu a dicey flex play at best.
Sit 'em: No, Andy Dalton isn't as bad as he looked in Week 10, because it's hard to be that bad. But he hasn't reached 20 fantasy points in a game all season. He's barely ownable, and definitely not startable. ... Jermaine Gresham still isn't offering any real value at all. ... Mike Nugent has averaged only five fantasy points a game over the last month. When the Cincinnati offense struggles, he doesn't get to kick. ... The Bengals' defense had 27 fantasy points through three weeks. It has 30 now. Ouch.
SAINTS
Start 'em: At this point, he isn't in the top-top tier of quarterbacks, but Drew Brees is still in the immediate next tier at the position, and a must-start. ... Mark Ingram's production has been crazy high of late. That will likely taper off eventually, but for now he needs to be in all lineups. ... Hi, I'm Jimmy Graham, and I'm in your lineup. (I'm not actually Jimmy Graham. Role-playing over here.) ... Shayne Graham hasn't kicked for quite as many points the last couple weeks, but the offense is still stout enough that he'll be a low-end starting kicker.
Start 'em?: It seems like Brandin Cooks is setting himself above Marques Colston and Kenny Stills in the Saints' pecking order, but that could change at any moment. All three are mid-to-low flexes.
Sit ‘em: Week 9 was the first and only time all year the Saints’ defense has reached double-digit fantasy points; it hasn’t gone above seven any other game this season.
SUMMARY
Start in every league: Jeremy Hill, A.J. Green, Drew Brees, Mark Ingram, Jimmy Graham, Shayne Graham
Start if you’re desperate: Mohamed Sanu, Brandin Cooks, Marques Colston, Kenny Stills
Bench: Andy Dalton, Jermaine Gresham, Mike Nugent, Cincinnati defense, New Orleans defense
