Steelers vs. Bengals Fantasy outlook
By Remy Retro
The Steelers and Bengals face off with playoff football in mind but there are fantasy players on both sides of the ball.
Between the divisional history and the hit on Le’Veon Bell by Vontaze Burfict that ended his season, there is plenty of bad blood between the teams. It is sort of tough to think about fantasy football when the real stuff is going to be so intense but it is week 14 and the fantasy playoffs kick off tonight!
This is the biggest game in the AFC North this season and many stud players in this game could get shut down depending on game flow. This is tough to pick. If the game finishes 42-21 then both quarterbacks and three skills players from each team will get you 12 plus points.
MUSTS: The wide receivers. If this game is offense friendly then Antonio Brown, A.J.Green, Martavis Bryant and Marvin Jones each have 20 point potential. You should always go with your starters that got you here.
It sort of depends from which team your squad comes from, if your players are on the team that takes control your receivers will cash in. I give the edge to Pittsburgh on talent as a receiving core.
MIGHTS: The quarterbacks. Andy Dalton faltered twice this year, against Pittsburgh and Houston. Ben had the same game as Dalton against the Bengals, so this is a true test. If I have Ryan Fitzpatrick or Tyrod Taylor, I think I would rather play them this week because who knows how it will turn out.
If the game is tight and low scoring as it was on November 1st then both quarterbacks could very well disappoint but most fans and pundits are predicting a shootout.
DeAngelo Williams: I would say he is the x-factor for the Steelers. If he is able to break runs early then Pittsburgh can make Cincinnati back off the wide receivers and could create a Steelers win on its own.
Jeremy Hill: Hill has come on as of late averaging 14 points a game in his last three, but was well contained by Pittsburgh last time out. Let’s hope that happens again for the black and gold but Hill will get the goal line carries and is your best bet of the two Cincinnati backs.
MISSES: Giovani Bernard, Tyler Eifert. Since the November 1st game Giovani Bernard has cracked ten points only once, he seems to be taking a lesser role. In the last matchup Eifert had 39 yards receiving so just under 4 points.
He did not play last week with a neck stinger but was practicing yesterday. I don’t think he will be 100% and the time of contact that is too be expected Sunday may be too much.