Key Fantasy Additions
- None, however WR Marvin Jones and TE Tyler Eifert missed the whole 2014 season so they are essentially newcomers to the Bengals’ fantasy radar
Key Fantasy Departures
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Team Overview
The Cincinnati Bengals had a successful 2014 campaign (in my eyes), making it to the playoffs for the 4th straight year but getting upended by Andrew Luck and the Colts in the Wild Card round. Rookie Jeremy Hill emerged as a major star and will definitely be going in the second round of fantasy drafts this fall at the latest. As mentioned above, the Bengals battled a lot of injuries last season and I can’t wait to see what they can do at full strength. AJ Green will perpetually be a stud, Tyler Eifert figures to be an elite option at TE, and hopefully a healthy Marvin Jones can be a solid WR2/WR3 for fantasy teams. We also can’t forget about the speedy third year Tar Heel Gio Bernard, who has particular appeal in PPR formats. Let’s hop into the analysis and see how the Bengals skill players can help you win a championship this year.
Quarterback
Well, here goes nothing. Maybe one of the most scrutinized quarterbacks in the league, TCU product Andy Dalton has made the playoffs in all four of his NFL seasons so far but has been ousted in the Wild Card round each year. I think Dalton is ready to take the next step in 2015, and if all of his weapons can stay healthy then he has a great chance at advancing further than one game in the playoffs.
Dalton’s 2014 stats have to be taken with a grain of salt, especially since in the early to middle parts of the season his #1 receiving option was Mohammed Sanu. Overall in 2015, Dalton passed for 3398 yards with 19 TDs and 17 interceptions. However, his completion percentage did improve almost three percent (granted he had 100 less pass attempts in 2014). These are pretty unimpressive numbers from a fantasy standpoint, and as much as it pains me to say this, Dalton will probably remain waiver wire fodder for most the year aside from 2 QB leagues.
While his numbers in 2015 should improve compared to last season with a healthy Green, Eifert, Jones, etc, Cincinnati OC Hue Jackson has said that he wants to run the ball more this year which will take away opportunities from Dalton’s arm. That said, I expect a substantial bounce back year from the fifth year quarterback with stats somewhere around 4,000 yards passing with 28 TDs and 15 interceptions. Those stats are fringe roster-able in standard leagues, but in anything less than a 12-team league I would advise looking for a better, more stable option at QB. Position Grade: C+
Running Back
If I’m allowed to brag here, I would have to say that the Bengals boast one of the best backfields in the NFL with their tandem of youngsters. Jeremy Hill had a breakout rookie campaign last season, with 1,124 rushing yards and 9 TDs. The LSU Tiger also had 215 receiving yards on the season, which was certainly a nice little bonus for fantasy owners. His cohort in the backfield, third year speedster Gio Bernard is shaping up to have a smaller role than Hill but he will still be a valuable asset to fantasy owners.
Bernard is your typical “dual threat” back, as he can run the ball and find holes well but also has an excellent proclivity for catching passes. His stats were down in 2014 due to an injury, but Bernard was still productive with 680 rushing yards, 349 receiving yards and 7 total TDs. I fully expect Gio and Hill to improve upon their 2014 stats, making both of them tantalizing options at RB for your fantasy team.
Hill will go into training camp and presumably the regular season as the “starter,” but that doesn’t mean Gio’s value will take a huge hit. I expect Jeremy Hill to put up elite numbers this season (projected around 1,500 rushing yards and 12 TDs) which is good enough for early second round value. Bernard may be that “more valuable in real life than in fantasy” guy, but I still expect him to put up some great numbers (I’m thinking around 800 rushing yards, 600 receiving yards and 10 total TDs) making him a valuable asset especially in PPR formats. Position Grade: A
Wide Receiver
This was a rough position for the Bengals this past season, with AJ Green dealing with turf toe and concussion injuries throughout the season and Marvin Jones not even seeing the playing field. Hopefully with health, Dalton and his receiving core can feed off of each other and put up monster stats against unsuspecting defenses in 2015. Out of these receivers, two definitely need to be owned in standard leagues while one is more on the fringe.
This goes without saying, but A.J. Green is an absolute stud who you should consider taking in the very early rounds of your fantasy draft. I think Dalton will take a big step forward this season, and if the Bengals running game can perform like it’s supposed to, there are going to be a lot of opportunities downfield for Green to make some awesome grabs. Last season is a bit of an outlier since Green missed time due to a turf toe injury, but in 2013 the Georgia Bulldog wideout had 98 catches for 1,426 yards and 11 TDs. I think we can expect at least these numbers in 2015, and hopefully better. Maybe I’m just an avid Bengals fan, but if I wanted to be competitive in my fantasy league this season I would definitely have AJ Green on my team!
Marvin Jones and Mohammed Sanu are surely nowhere near Green’s level, but they still can have some fantasy appeal for the upcoming season. Jones is certainly worth rostering, and with a healthy 16 games I think he can rack up 50+ receptions with some decent yardage and maybe 6 TDs. There would need to be an injury for Sanu to become fantasy relevant, but he’s definitely someone worth keeping an eye on as he stepped in nicely as the #1 option last season when Green and Jones were hurt. Position Grade: B-
Tight End
With Jermaine Gresham out the door, most expect Tyler Eifert to step into the starting TE role right away and perform nicely. In a recent interview, former Bengals player and current Bengals coach TJ Houshmandzadeh said that he hasn’t seen anyone as big as Eifert move as fast and as quick as he can. Tight end is a traditionally shallow position, and if you can’t get your hands on Gronkowski or Julius Thomas, Eifert might be a good option for your squad. I expect him to be a top 10 TE, with hopefully somewhere in the neighborhood of 60 receptions, 600 receiving yards, and 5 TDs. Position Grade: B
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Summary
Aside from quarterback, the Cincinnati Bengals have a nice array of skill players that can help lead you to a fantasy football championship this upcoming season. Jeremy Hill and AJ Green are nice centerpieces to build a team around, while some of the other aforementioned players can bring underrated value to your squad. The Bengals play the AFC West as their AFC division this year, along with their typical North division games; neither of which provides a strong defensive resistance. As a Bengals fan, I’m hoping for a great season from the Tigers of the Queen City and I’ll more than likely be rostering a player or two in my money league! Who Dey!
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