Game Info
Kickoff: Saturday, December 23rd @ 4:30 PM ET
Location: Acrisure Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Betting Odds: CIN -2.5, 38 total via PFF.com
Network: NBC
Writer: Matthew Cava (@cavaM_ on Twitter/X)
Cincinnati Bengals
Quarterbacks
Jake Browning (Start, QB2)
Joe Burrow who? I joke, but Jake Browning is now 3-0 as the starting quarterback of the Cincinnati Bengals. Against the Minnesota Vikings last week, Browning completed 29 of 42 attempts for 324 yards, two touchdowns and an interception in a thrilling overtime win. Those numbers are a bit misleading in the sense that the production came largely in the second half, as he struggled in the first half, Nonetheless, Browning has been fantasy-viable in recent weeks. He could offer streaming appeal in the fantasy football semifinals against a Pittsburgh Steelers offense that just allowed Gardner Minshew to throw for 215 yards and three touchdowns.
Running Backs
Joe Mixon (Start, RB2), Chase Brown (Sit)
Joe Mixon had a down game last week by his recent standards, turning 10 carries into just 47 yards and a touchdown, with three catches on three targets for 14 yards against the Vikings. His fantasy managers certainly weren’t mad at the result, as Mixon has now scored in three straight games. He’ll remain on the RB2 radar against a Steelers defense that held him to 16 yards on eight carries in Week 12.
It would be remiss not to mention the semi-emergence of rookie Chase Brown. Since Week 13, Brown has racked up 109 yards on 24 carries and has caught all six of his targets for 108 yards and a touchdown. It’s hard to trust and thrust him into your lineup right now with playoffs on the line, but positive signs are there for his future in Cincy should the Bengals decide to move on from Mixon in 2024.
Wide Receivers/ Tight Ends
Tee Higgins (Start, WR2), Tyler Boyd (Start if you must, FLEX), Tanner Hudson (Start, TE2)
Ja’Marr Chase exited Week 15 with what has now been diagnosed as an AC joint sprain in his right shoulder. As of Tuesday, he’s not practicing and is considered day-to-day. It’s expected that he is set to miss some time, including this week’s matchup against the Steelers, which is a major bummer heading into the fantasy football semifinals. However, it does open the door for Tee Higgins to assume WR1 duties for the Bengals.
Higgins had his best game since Week 2 last week. He caught four of eight targets for 61 yards and two touchdowns. one of which featured a highlight-worthy reach-back on an otherwise ‘lazy’ play by the Minnesota secondary.
Incredible catch and awareness by Tee Higgins. Damn. @nfl pic.twitter.com/9aVJztRsmc
— Matthew Berry (@MatthewBerryTMR) December 16, 2023
The Pittsburgh secondary is exploitable; the lack of Chase in the lineup would be a gift for Higgins managers, and he would certainly be catapulted higher into the WR2 range this week. Tyler Boyd would see an increase in targets as well, and could offer FLEX appeal if you dare. TE Tanner Hudson caught all five of his targets for 49 yards against the Vikings, and would also be a beneficiary if Chase were to miss time.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Quarterback
Mason Rudolph (Sit)
[Mason] Rudolph making an appearance on Christmas weekend? The jokes write themselves. On Monday, Rudolph was anointed as the starter over Mitch Trubisky, who has struggled in relief of Kenny Pickett. The latter is now practicing just two weeks removed from ankle surgery and has not been ruled out of this week’s contest as of Wednesday night. While we can’t rule out Pickett’s return, Rudolph appears to be the quarterback most likely to start for the Steelers this weekend. He doesn’t offer fantasy appeal, and will likely damper expectations for his pass-catchers as well.
Running Backs
Najee Harris (Sit), Jaylen Warren (Start, FLEX)
One week it’s Najee Harris, and the other it’s Jaylen Warren. That trend has been prevalent all season long, and last week was another example of just how uncertain the Steelers backfield is on the weekly. Last week, Harris turned 12 carries into 33 scoreless yards, and had zero targets to his name; this box score was good for just 1.30 full-PPR points. Warren had 10 carries, but rushed for 40 yards, catching six of targets for 28 yards as well; advantage Warren.
The split is real, but now we’re in a week where I would expect Warren to be relied upon by Rudolph for quick dump-offs fairly often. I would prefer to FLEX Warren and bench Harris if it came down to it.
Wide Receivers/Tight Ends
Diontae Johnson (Start, WR3), George Pickens (Sit), Pat Freiermuth (Sit)
Diontae Johnson has scored in three straight games entering Week 16, but will likely have Rudolph throwing him the ball. Surprisingly, Johnson and Rudolph have fared well when paired up: in their 17 games together, Johnson has 82 catches for 1,047 yards and 7 touchdowns. Given this history, and the fact that George Pickens and Allen Robinson are afterthoughts in this offense, Johnson is still worth having in your lineup, no matter who ends up under center.
Despite a promising outing in his first game back from injury, Pat Freiermuth has been a letdown in recent weeks. He caught three of four targets for 16 measly yards in Week 15. The matchup is there for him this week, as the Bengals are allowing the second most fantasy points to opposing tight ends this season, but it’s hard to trust what this offense may look like with Rudolph leading the huddle.