The Cincinnati Bengals are 6-0. With a win over the Pittsburgh Steelers Sunday, they’d be 3.5 games ahead in the AFC North and could really start looking toward the playoffs. The Steelers are 4-3 and likely get their starting quarterback back from injury, and with a win would be right in the thick of things.
Fantasy football advice, Week 8: Who to start/sit for Bengals vs. Steelers
Can the Bengals basically put the division away, or can the Steelers force their way into the conversation?
The Bengals have the least-populated injury report in the league, with only two names on the list and neither carrying any fantasy relevance. For the Steelers, quarterback Ben Roethlisberger should make his return from his knee injury, while the rest of the team’s fantasy options all appear to be fine.
The Steelers host the Bengals Sunday, with the game scheduled for 1 p.m. ET. Let’s look at the fantasy considerations:
BENGALS
Start ‘em: For the season now, Andy Dalton is averaging more than 22 fantasy points a game. He’s been phenomenal. ... Giovani Bernard looks like a better fantasy option this week than Jeremy Hill, though both will probably be in fantasy lineups. ... A.J. Green has cooled off a lot since his monster Week 3, but he still has elite upside and should be started everywhere. ... Tyler Eifert has been a monster. He’s averaging 11.3 fantasy points a game this season, and that includes a zero in Week 3.
Start ‘em?: In six games this season, Marvin Jones has reached double-digit fantasy points three times. He has a zero-point floor, but enough upside to be a fine flex play. ... The Cincinnati offense has been good enough that Mike Nugent is a fine kicking option.
Sit ‘em: Behind Green and Jones, there just aren’t enough touches for Mohamed Sanu. ... The return of Roethlisberger should give the Pittsburgh offense enough upside to stay away from the Bengals’ defense.
STEELERS
Start ‘em: In five games, Le’Veon Bell is averaging 15.6 fantasy points. That’s fun. ... Antonio Brown escaped from the Landry Jones purgatory last week with more than 100 yards. With Roethlisberger back, Brown’s right back to the good.
Start ‘em?: It’s good to get Ben Roethlisberger back on the field after a four-week absence, but there’s enough chance that he’s less than 100 percent that I’d advise waiting a week if it’s possible. ... Martavis Bryant’s chances at a touchdown are always high enough that he’s a defensible flex play, but he won’t keep scoring at this rate. ... The offense has done enough to let Chris Boswell average 10.3 fantasy points kicking the last three weeks.
Sit ‘em: On the off chance Roethlisberger doesn’t play Sunday, Landry Jones will continue to start, and he’s not a fantasy option. ... In Weeks 1 and 2, Heath Miller had 17 fantasy points. Since then, he has five total in five games. Yeesh. ... The Steelers’ defense has been better than expected in real football, but that hasn’t really been reflected in fantasy numbers.
SUMMARY
Start in every league: Andy Dalton, Giovani Bernard, Jeremy Hill, A.J. Green, Tyler Eifert, Le’Veon Bell, Antonio Brown
Start if you’re desperate: Marvin Jones, Mike Nugent, Ben Roethlisberger, Martavis Bryant, Chris Boswell
Bench: Mohamed Sanu, Cincinnati defense, Landry Jones, Heath Miller, Pittsburgh defense
