The Cincinnati Bengals took most of the game in Week 1 to finally win, not scoring their winning points until the last five minutes of the fourth quarter. The Atlanta Falcons took that a step further, not scoring their game-winning points into the second minute of overtime.
Fantasy football start/sit advice, Week 2: Falcons vs. Bengals
Both of these teams won their games super late in Week 1. Which one will make it through Week 2 undefeated?
Kevin C. Cox
Two of the league’s latest-time winners in Week 1 face off at 1 p.m. ET Sunday in Cincinnati, both of them hoping to get to 2-0. There will be a lot of fantasy names to keep an eye on in the game as well:
Falcons
Start in every league: Matt Ryan, Julio Jones, Roddy White, Matt Bryant
Start if you're desperate: Steven Jackson
Bench: Jacquizz Rodgers, Antone Smith, Devonta Freeman, Levine Toilolo, Defense/special teams
After an awful 2013, Ryan couldn’t have asked for much more in Week 1, with 448 passing yards, three touchdowns and 30 fantasy points. While he won’t repeat that, he’s firmly a must-start. ... The Falcons’ receiving corps of Jones and White are must-starts all season long. ... If the Atlanta offense can do what it did Sunday, Bryant will be in great shape.
There are multiple running-game options in Atlanta, which hurts Jackson’s overall value, but he’s still the top guy.
Speaking of those running options, Smith offers the big-play ability, but neither he nor Rodgers nor Freeman is worth any kind of fantasy play yet. ... Toilolo is interesting in the Tony Gonzalez role, but you can't play him yet. ... Nope, not the Falcons' defense.
Bengals
Start in every league: Giovani Bernard, A.J. Green, Mike Nugent, Defense/special teams
Start if you're desperate: Andy Dalton
Bench: Jeremy Hill, Mohamed Sanu, Jermaine Gresham
It was by no means a great game for Bernard in Week 1, but he did put up 110 yards from scrimmage. He’s fine. ... Green’s 77-yard game-winning touchdown took him from a 54-yard disappointing day to a 19-point big performance. ... Nugent missed a field goal in Week 1, but converted five others. ... The Bengals’ defense is a low-end starting option, even against the Falcons’ offense.
Dalton had a middling Week 1, salvaged entirely by that same touchdown that saved Green. He’ll need to do better than that going forward.
I never understood the Hill fantasy love beyond handcuff status; perhaps his one-point showing Sunday will change perception. ... Sanu is not worth fantasy looks right now; he's just a guy. ... With tight end Tyler Eifert out, Gresham will be the team's primary look, but he isn't likely to be fantasy-relevant.
