Cincinnati Bengals running back Giovani Bernard will not play against the Cleveland Browns on Thursday, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. The news comes from the top, confirmed by head coach Marvin Lewis, according to the report. Bernard was listed as doubtful for the game with a hip injury, but nobody expected that he had even the 25 percent chance of playing that's supposed to come with the doubtful tag.
Giovani Bernard won’t play Thursday; Jeremy Hill is a must-start in fantasy
Giovani Bernard won’t play in Thursday’s game against the Cleveland Browns. We break down the fantasy implications.
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Bernard missed Cincinnati's last game, a 33-23 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars. Jeremy Hill carried the load in that game, and he played very well. Hill carried the ball 24 times for 154 yards and a pair of touchdowns against Jacksonville, and is eyeing another big game against a poor Cleveland run defense. The Bengals have plenty of confidence that Hill can produce, which definitely factors into the decision to sit Bernard for another week.
Fantasy Impact: Hopefully fantasy owners listened earlier in the season and brought in Hill, a rookie, as a handcuff. He’s been great, with 74 carries for 349 yards and five touchdowns in limited work this season. Against Cleveland’s 31st-ranked run defense, Hill should have a field day.
