If you’re competing in a DFS tournament or 50/50 competition for the Saturday playoff single-game slate between the Cincinnati Bengals and Tennessee Titans, then you’ve come to the right place. We’ve run through dozens of potential game scripts to arrive at the most likely scenarios and how these scenarios would impact fantasy football performances. Here are our two recommended Bengals vs. Titans DFS lineups, based on FanDuel pricing.
Top NFL DFS FanDuel picks for Bengals vs. Titans | Lineup No. 1
This lineup assumes Cincinnati’s aerial assault overpowers Tennessee’s porous pass defense. It also assumes the Bengals hold the Titans’ No. 1 receiver in check, forcing Ryan Tannehill to target secondary options more heavily.
Joe Burrow, QB, Cincinnati Bengals ($16,500)
The Bengals and Titans last faced off in Week 8 of last season. Cincinnati was led by Auden Tate’s 7 receptions and Giovani Bernard’s 62 rushing yards.
Much has changed since then — most significantly a healthy Joe Mixon and the arrival of all-world rookie Ja’Marr Chase. Burrow was good in his first NFL campaign. He’s much better this season and could dominate today.
Ja’Marr Chase, WR, Cincinnati Bengals ($14,000)
We know anyone can have a bad game at any time. We also know the Titans are giving up 41.1 fantasy points per game to opposing wideouts — the second-worst mark in the league.
Now, consider that the Titans played four games against three of the league’s five worst passing offenses (Jaguars, Bears, and Jets), as well as seven games against six of the 10 worst.
In other words, this Titans pass defense has been one of the NFL’s worst despite facing some of the NFL’s most lackluster aerial attacks. That’s a rough combination. The explosive Chase is a must-roster in DFS and belongs in your MVP slot.
Tee Higgins, WR, Cincinnati Bengals ($11,000)
So many Bengals! Well, this is where the greatest value can be found. Although Higgins has inexplicably struggled lately, he remains a weekly threat for 100+ yards and a score.
Higgins has enjoyed a better catch rate than Chase and more receptions per game. His secondary usage is a blip, not a permanent reality for a team that needs Higgins to step up, especially if Tennessee’s stout run defense shuts down Mixon.
Julio Jones, WR, Tennessee Titans ($10,500)
It would be an understatement to say this has been a disappointing season for Julio Jones. Heading into the 2020 season, he owned a WR4 ADP; 16 months later, he’s scuffling for fantasy relevance.
But let’s take stock of what Jones did in Week 18 (5-58-1 receiving line on 9 targets) and recognize that Jones is neither as great as he was pre-2020 nor as bad as he’s looked for most of this season. At this price, he’s worth a dart throw.
Anthony Firkser, TE, Tennessee Titans ($8,000)
Nothing flashy here. The 26-year-old Anthony Firkser is a typical TE2/3 who needs to score to be viable in DFS and fantasy leagues. His offensive snap count generally has oscillated between 34% and 50% for most of the year. But because of injuries, he’s carved out a niche as a 2-3 catch specialist and occasional red-zone threat. That makes him a decent flyer.
Top NFL DFS FanDuel picks for Bengals vs. Titans | Lineup No. 2
Our second lineup assumes Derrick Henry sustains Tennessee’s Super Bowl aspirations with a performance for the ages — or at least, a productive return to the field after a midseason foot injury. He replaces Burrow in the DFS MVP slot, and the $500 saved through this swap allows us to replace Firkser with the higher-upside C.J. Uzomah.
Derrick Henry, RB, Tennessee Titans ($16,000)
It’s hard to imagine the Titans easing Henry back in. Their star running back is active for one reason only: to help lead his team to the first of three victories … to remain healthy ahead of next week’s AFC title game. This lineup assumes 18+ touches for Henry, as Tennessee tries to keep Cincinnati’s high-powered offense off the field.
C.J. Uzomah, TE, Cincinnati Bengals ($8,500)
Uzomah has had a very good season, especially when considering his role as the No. 5 offensive option. The 29-year-old set personal highs in receptions (49), yards (493), and touchdowns (5).
Notably, his first 7 career touchdowns were 15 yards or shorter. But 5 of his 6 touchdowns since then have been 22 yards or longer. Uzomah’s ability to score from all over the field makes him a fascinating DFS sleeper against a defense susceptible to long pass plays.