Fantasy football advice, Week 14: Who to start/sit for Steelers vs. Bengals
Can Pittsburgh make a late-season run at a division title?
At 10-2 and with a three-game lead, the Cincinnati Bengals probably have the AFC North title locked up. The 7-5 Pittsburgh Steelers would need a really strong finish to change things. That could start Sunday, though, as the two teams face one another, with a possible Pittsburgh win making things in the division much more interesting.
The Steelers expect to get tight end Heath Miller back for Sunday after the veteran missed Week 13 with a rib injury. The Bengals, too, expect to get their tight end back, after Tyler Eifert missed last week with a neck problem.
The Steelers head to Cincinnati for Sunday’s game. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. ET, and let’s take a look at the fantasy names to consider:
STEELERS
Start ‘em: In the two games this season where Ben Roethlisberger has gotten hurt, his fantasy numbers have lagged. When he's been healthy, though, he's averaged 25 fantasy points a game. Injuries are always possible, but you're using Roethlisberger. ... DeAngelo Williams has struggled to find the end zone consistently, but in five games since Le'Veon Bell's injury, he's averaged 16.4 fantasy points. ... Antonio Brown and Martavis Bryant have been crazy good this year. Even my reservations on Bryant have to be dismissed by now. ... As the Pittsburgh offense has started clicking, so has Chris Boswell, who is now a bona fide fantasy starter at kicker.
Start em?: The Steelers’ defense has had two huge games in its last three, though it struggled in its other game and faces a competent Cincinnati offense.
Sit ‘em: The last two weeks have been big for Markus Wheaton, but overall, it's just hard to feed that many mouths. ... Heath Miller falls by the wayside with all that running-back and wide-receiver strength on Pittsburgh's roster.
BENGALS
Start ‘em: It seems Andy Dalton has gotten things back on track, with 21 fantasy points per game in his last three. He still has occasionally scary downside, but you're using him. ... The Bengals' running game has been confusing much of the season, and the Steelers have a strong run defense, but Jeremy Hill has been the higher-scoring Bengal running back for three straight weeks. He's an RB2. ... After some weeks of middling production, A.J. Green has put up 18 fantasy points in back-to-back games, reminding us that he's still A.J. Green. ... It certainly looks like Tyler Eifert will be good to go for Sunday after missing Week 13; the league's touchdown leader immediately becomes a must-start. ... Mike Nugent has seven or more fantasy points in eight straight games. ... The Bengals' defense has earned a start in this matchup, despite the tough opponent.
Start ‘em?: The pass-catching for Giovani Bernard has really tailed off; he has two or fewer catches in five of his last seven games. He's a high-risk flex option. ... Marvin Jones will almost never hurt your fantasy team, but he doesn't often go off, either. He's safe for a handful of points with an outside shot at big production.
Sit ‘em: If a couple of Cincinnati pass-catchers were to get hurt at the same time, Mohamed Sanu might be interesting, but this has been the healthiest team in football this year.
SUMMARY
Start in every league: Ben Roethlisberger, DeAngelo Williams, Antonio Brown, Martavis Bryant, Chris Boswell, Andy Dalton, Jeremy Hill, A.J. Green, Tyler Eifert, Mike Nugent, Cincinnati defense
Start if you’re desperate: Pittsburgh defense, Giovani Bernard, Marvin Jones
Bench: Markus Wheaton, Heath Miller, Mohamed Sanu











