The Cincinnati Bengals will face the Cleveland Browns in Week 16. Here’s fantasy football start-sit advice for every Bengals skill player who has the potential to make a fantasy impact during the game.
Looking for more lineup advice? Head over to our Week 16 Fantasy Start-Sit Cheat Sheet, where we cover every fantasy-relevant player in every game.
Joe Burrow, QB
Last week, Joe Burrow tied the NFL record for consecutive games with 250+ passing yards and 3+ passing TDs (six). His numbers are that of a fantasy MVP — an award he can win without team success, unlike the NFL MVP honor.
I don’t think the Bengals need an excuse to put their trust on the shoulders of their quarterback. But the fact that the Browns are the top EPA rush defense only encourages Cincinnati to lean into their heavy pass rate over expectation game plan.
In Week 7, the Bengals’ run game never got going (25 carries for 59 yards) in this matchup, and I think that’s great when it comes to projecting their Week 16 passing numbers. In my opinion, either the rushing efficiency improves and frees up downfield options or Cincinnati forgoes the run altogether.
I’ll take either!
Chase Brown, RB
Chase Brown has at least 20 touches in five of his past six games and continues to look the part of an elite fantasy asset. Whether it is chunk plays on the ground or uncovering in a scramble situation, Brown fits this offense like a glove. Expecting the Browns to slow him twice in one season is not something I’m willing to do (15 carries for 44 yards in Week 7 with 22 of those yards coming on a single burst).
I like the chances of this 24-year-old extending his streak of top-10 RB finishes to seven straight games in what should be a comfortable Cincy win (check back for the betting picks article this weekend).
Ja’Marr Chase, WR
Ja’Marr Chase is chasing the receiving triple crown and, with three weeks remaining, already has an elite stat line under his belt (102-1,413-15).
The only interesting note I can provide here that you’re not already aware of is this simple fact: the last time Chase was held out of the end zone was against the Raiders in a double-digit win — he went for a casual 11-264-3 stat line the next week.
I’m just sharing facts.
It’s also fun to note that the Browns have the highest opponent average depth of throw this season, half a yard ahead of the field. If there was ever a tandem to challenge them downfield …
Tee Higgins, WR
Tee Higgins has nine touchdown catches in his past 12 regular-season games (6+ in four of his five NFL seasons). My guess is that may come as a bit of a surprise because it’s been a bumpy ride with a no-show in Week 14 on prime time, five DNPs this season, and Ja’Marr Chase’s excellence.
For the most part, when Higgins has been on the field for his career, he’s been excellent. I don’t expect that to change this weekend against a Cleveland team that he earned one-third of the targets against (4-82-1 stat line) back in Week 7.
I have Higgins as a lineup lock without any thought, given how well Burrow is playing. He stands to move inside of my top 15 should the Browns name Jameis Winston as their starter this week.
Yep, the rare “WR whose fantasy stock is impacted by the opposing QB” situation based on projected game environment.
Mike Gesicki, TE
Mike Gesicki has run a route on 96.7% of his snaps this season and that’s great. The Bengals have no interest in asking him to block, and that’s generally a good box to check. But getting on the field is also a positive — that is not currently a strength for their tight end.
That’s now consecutive games with under 20 routes run and 10 games this season with a sub-50% snap share. It was good to see that Joe Burrow’s first two completions in Tennessee went to Gesicki, but we are talking about trying to trust a TE with a limited role that has resulted in just one finish inside of the top 15 performers at the position since September.
There are tight ends in explosive offenses that I’d rather take a flier on than Gesicki.
There are backup tight ends walking into more featured roles that I’d rather take a flier on than Gesicki.
You don’t have to dig this deep.