After getting shut out by the Indianapolis Colts in Week 7, the Cincinnati Bengals had a lot to prove against their division rival on Sunday. The Baltimore Ravens were coming off a 29-7 victory against the Atlanta Falcons and have seemed unstoppable in October. The Bengals ended up securing a lead in the AFC North with a 27-24 victory. The two teams presented enough of a challenge for one another that it was far from an offensive explosion. However, there were plenty of notable performances from the afternoon.
Andy Dalton, Mohamed Sanu, Giovani Bernard bounce back for fantasy owners in Bengals win
There was plenty of room for improvement after a dismal Week 7 performance for Bengals players. We take a look at the individual performances for Week 8.
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We’re here to break down the individual fantasy performances for the Cincinnati Bengals.
Andy Dalton: Dalton finished Sunday's game with 266 yards passing and scored two touchdowns on goal line sneaks. He threw an interception and fumbled the ball once. It's worth noting that Dalton's interception was not really his fault. He connected with Mohamed Sanu, who had the ball stripped from his hands. Since Sanu didn't have complete possession, the turnover was ruled an interception. The fumble was completely Dalton's, but he put up respectable numbers. All three of the Bengals touchdowns were rushing scores, and Dalton accounted for two of them. He'll remain a QB2 that is capable of QB1 numbers any given week.
Mohamed Sanu: Sanu continues to improve in A.J. Green's absence. He finished with 125 yards on five receptions. Sanu showed incredible athleticism on a few of his catches. He adjusted to the ball when needed, and he's mastering the one-handed grab lately. He'll remain a WR2 while Green is out but should still remain fantasy relevant once Green returns, which could be as early as Week 9.
Giovani Bernard: Bernard carried the ball 16 times for 45 yards and a touchdown. He added two receptions for just 2 yards. Bernard left the fourth quarter with a hip injury. At the moment, it doesn't appear serious. It's worth mentioning that Bernard has been banged up for several games now. Offensive coordinator Hue Jackson chose to run Bernard between the tackles more against the Ravens. He excels more in open space, especially in the passing game. Jeremy Hill didn't fare much better, managing 25 yards on 10 carries. Assuming Bernard recovers for Week 9, he'll be a strong RB2 with PPR upside against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Jermaine Gresham: Gresham is worth mentioning this week because he led the team with 12 targets in Week 7. He caught just four passes for 34 yards on Sunday. Anyone who though Gresham would be a viable plug-in during Green's absence can go back to ignoring him as a fantasy option. He has little upside.
