The Cincinnati Bengals won the AFC North in 2013, besting the back-to-back division champion Baltimore Ravens. So Sunday's season-opener between the two teams (1 p.m. ET Sunday in Baltimore) might be considered a sort of grudge match, a battle of the champions. Along with that matchup, there are a handful of interesting fantasy options in Sunday's game:
Fantasy football start/sit advice, Week 1: Bengals vs. Ravens
Two AFC North powers face off Sunday in a marquee season opener. Here’s a look at what fantasy players are usable in the game.
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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, Tyler Eifert
The preseason saw Bernard's stock dropping a bit, but he's still a fine RB2. Things will need to get a good deal worse before he's bench-worthy. ... Green is still one of the top few wide receivers in the game. ... The Bengals' defense gets Geno Atkins back, and faces a banged-up backup running back. Good tidings.
Dalton's incredible 2013 performance is likely unrepeatable. He's a possibility as a fill-in when things happen, and if he's your Cam Newton backup, he's totally usable, but you don't want to rely on him. ... Nugent could easily get plenty of scoring chances.
Related to Bernard, more things will have to change for Hill to be really usable. ... While Marvin Jones is out, Sanu will be the No. 2 receiver, but he doesn’t offer much in the fantasy game. ... Eifert’s stock is rising, while Jermaine Gresham’s is falling, but neither is at a fantasy option quite yet.
Ravens
Start in every league: Dennis Pitta, Justin Tucker
Start if you're desperate: Bernard Pierce, Torrey Smith, Defense/special teams
Bench: Joe Flacco, Steve Smith
The lone relatively sure thing in the Baltimore offense is Pitta, who should be the team’s safety valve. ... Tucker won his fantasy owners some games a year ago.
While Ray Rice is out, Pierce is a fantasy option, even as he deals with the aftermath of a concussion. The primary ball-carrier of any NFL team is at least interesting, even if Pierce himself doesn’t blow anyone away. ... Torrey Smith is basically a flex play, but I’m lower on him than most. ... The Ravens’ defense is mildly interesting, but there are likely better options in the majority of leagues.
Yeah, we’re all out on Flacco by now, right? ... There are some who will say that Steve Smith is primed for a bounce-back season, but I’ll believe it when I see it.
