Welcome to the Weekly Bengals Fantasy Football Aftermath Report! Whether the good guys in the Jungle pulled out the W or not – we take a closer look at which Bengals performed and which ones flopped in your fantasy lineups.

QB Andy Dalton

ESPN Pregame Fantasy Outlook: Dalton undoubtedly raised his level of play in the weeks leading up to Cincinnati’s recent bye, but it’s difficult to get excited for his prospects against a Pittsburgh defense that allowing the fewest yards per dropback while also producing the seventh-highest pressure rate in the league. Only the Jaguars have allowed fewer fantasy points than the Steelers, so it’s advisable to avoid Dalton in this unfavorable matchup.
Projected: 13.9 Points
Actual: 10.2 Points
Our Grade: D
Notes: Dalton started the game off strong, making some truly elite passes. Then Cincinnati does what they do… In the second half, Dalton went from Elite to WTF, and the toilet bowl that is the Bengals offense was clogged and overflowing all over Heinz Field with the remains of the Chipotle that was eaten the night before.

RB Joe Mixon

ESPN Pregame Fantasy Outlook: The Steelers have a stingy pass defense, but a porous rush defense, allowing 112.2 yards per game on the ground to running backs this season, fifth-most in the league. Thus, opponents tend to “funnel” their offense to the backfield against Pittsburgh. This trend could benefit Mixon, who has averaged a team-best 18 touches per game over Cincinnati’s last two outings. No other Bengals back is above 5.5 touches per game over this stretch. Given the combination of an inviting matchup and rising usage, Mixon is an exciting RB2 prospect this week.
Projected: 9.9 Points
Actual: 8.3 Points
Our Grade: C
Notes: Mixon did a good job with the carries that he actually got but then for some unknown reason did not get a single carry in the second half. Marvin’s response? “Those were the plays that were called”. Yeah, that’s not going to help your fantasy team… or the Bengals… or anyone for that matter. Joe Mixon would be killing it on any other team. In the immortal words of Daffy Duck; Despicable.

RB Giovani Bernard

ESPN Pregame Fantasy Outlook: Bernard has the ability to maximize his workload, as evidenced by his 55 yards from scrimmage per game over Cincinnati’s last two outings, despite averaging only five touches. Now that Joe Mixon is running as many routes per game as Bernard, it’s time to bench “Gio” for what is an otherwise interesting matchup against a Pittsburgh team that has struggled to contain opposing backfields.
Projected: 6.5 Points
Actual: 1.2 Points
Our Grade: D
Notes: Bernard continues to get next to no carries and has been obsolete from the passing game. Who knows how many touches he’ll get week to week. We’re coming up to the halfway point and this Bengals offense still doesn’t seem to know how to divide carries and touches among their running backs. You can no longer trust GIO in your fantasy lineup.

WR AJ Green

ESPN Pregame Fantasy Outlook: The Steelers are allowing 88 yards per game to receivers this season — not just No. 1 receivers, but entire receiving corps. This is the stingiest allowance rate in the league and it equates to 39 percent fewer yards allowed to the position than the league average. Even though the matchup is undeniably unfavorable, however Green has delivered a touchdown in three straight games and sees one-third of all Bengals’ targets, the fourth-highest rate in the league. The inherent risks of a tough matchup could limit Green’s ceiling, but you should still start this superstar given the nearly incomparable opportunity he has to shine each week.
Projected: 13.3 Points
Actual: 5.6 Points
Our Grade: A-
Notes: AJ caught 3 passes in the first quarter then appeared to play a game of hide and seek with Dalton. AJ won, as Dalton was unable to locate him the rest of the game. AJ Green is barely in the Top 25 of all fantasy WR’s with this stalled Bengals offense.

TE Tyler Kroft

ESPN Pregame Fantasy Outlook: Only A.J. Green and Brandon LaFell have run more routes on the Bengals since Week 4. Kroft is now Cincinnati’s top receiving tight end with Tyler Eifert having been placed on injured reserve. Tight end is arguably the shallowest skill position in fantasy football, so Kroft should be considered as a streaming option in deeper leagues, albeit with a limited ceiling given the Steelers have surrendered the sixth-fewest fantasy points and ninth-fewest yards to the position this season.
Projected: 6 Points
Actual: 10.3 Points
Our Grade: B+
Notes: Cut off one Tyler… two more shall take his place. After the Bengals lost Eifert for the year (AGAIN) it seemed like all hope was lost. Kroft was started in only 8% of Fantasy Lineups this week, and that may continue to grow. If you’re slacking in the TE position, keep an eye on Ty #2.

DST Bengals Defense

ESPN Pregame Fantasy Outlook: The Bengals D/ST has forced at least one turnover in all but one game this season and has recorded six sacks in two of their last three outings. In what is expected to be a low-scoring divisional showdown in Pittsburgh this week, at best, this unit is merely a streaming option — and by no means a sure-fire starting candidate — in standard fantasy leagues.
Projected: 7.5 Points
Actual: -4.5 Points ?
Our Grade: F
Notes: Maybe this Bengals defense isn’t as good as we thought. Their first true test against a team riddled with play-makers and they fell flat on their face. The Steelers ran up and down the field with ease, almost as if they were the only ones on the field. Yes, having an offense may have helped keep them fresh – but the Bengals are 0-10 against the Steelers when they are able to score more than 10 points. At least WJ3 looked good.

K Randy Bullock

ESPN Pregame Fantasy Outlook: The made field goal against the Browns was a 41-yard attempt, and Bullock is now five-for-six on the season. The 27-year-old’s field-goal opportunities have diminished a bit as the Bengals figured out how to score touchdowns, but he is still a solid streaming option, depending on the matchup.
Projected: 6.6 Points
Actual: 2 Points
Our Grade: D
Notes: Bullock’s grade is in no way a reflection of his performance. Can’t kick a Field Goal if your team can’t even get in kicking range. Look elsewhere for a Fantasy kicker.