Game Info
Kickoff: Sunday, January 7th 2023, 1:00 PM
Location: Paycor Stadium, Cincinnati, OH
Betting Odds: Bengals -7, O/U 37.5 via OddsShark
Network: CBS
Writer: Matthew Bevins (@MattBQBList on Twitter/X)
Cleveland Browns
Quarterbacks
P.J Walker (Sit, QB2)
Ghastly. Unfair. Unfair, and ghastly. We rode in on a dark black horse called Joe Flacco, mercilessly mocked on his way to a 4-1 record, 60 percent completion rate, picking up the Browns fanbase after they dealt with the Deshaun Watson debacle (putting it very kindly). Will this end up with a reunited role for Flacco in 2024? Signs point to it, as the Browns are resting Flacco on their way to a playoff hunt that seemed much of a joke up until Week 12 or so. P.J. Walker will take over behind center for a single week, and what you should expect is someone who could have a week of dynamite production, or entirely tank your playoff run. There is not much in between, and PFF showcases that in his NFL career, only one time has Walker even had an average quarterbacking season. This is the week of backups starting, either from teams being out of the playoff hunt and throwing a lifetime backup behind center, or teams who cannot move themselves much in the standings resting their best players. That said, there has to be someone better than Walker available.
Running Backs
Jerome Ford (Start, RB1), Pierre Strong (Sit, RB3/Flex)
Jerome Ford, much like Joe Flacco, was probably not in the Browns gameplans to start the season, riding the lightning with Nick Chubb going into the season, but Ford has been an absolute dynamo in the backfield. A potential plan to replace Chubb has turned into Ford leading this team on the ground, with 23 “explosive runs” (10+ yards) this year. Alongside toting the rock, he’s also caught roughly 70 percent of his targets to the tune of 42 receptions. A player platooned behind Bijan Robinson and Najee Harris for much of his college career, the Browns may have found a diamond in the rough here.
With all the talent likely out this week, it’s entirely possible that even while splitting the workload with Pierre Strong to keep Ford fresh for the playoffs, he could reel off 80-plus yards and a touchdown. Just check out his elite vision in the clip below!
Pierre Strong, a castoff from the Patriots’ rushing core, is a 4th round-draft pick that has shown small glimpses of upside, despite his floor being almost nonexistent. If you need a real toss-in at flex, he could potentially take the field early if there’s a blowout early on.
.@JeromeFord gets us going with a gain of 28#CLEvsBAL on FOX & NFL+ pic.twitter.com/J0ASUSYxlG
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) November 12, 2023
Wide Receivers/ Tight Ends
Cedric Tillman (Start, WR3), David Bell (Sit), David Njoku (Start, TE1)
The wide receiver core is also taking on water, with Amari Cooper weeks removed from his career performance of 11 receptions, 265 yards, and 2 touchdowns. This likely will be the second week in a row that Cooper will sit, both to rest his heel for the playoffs and to give him some maintenance time, so we turn to Cedric Tillman, a highly coveted rookie pick, and David Bell. Cedric Tillman is someone that I had stock in on all of my dynasty leagues, so it’s exciting to finally see him seeing some run. An SEC threat out of Tennessee, Jalin Hyatt had the spotlight on him, but Tillman was no slouch. An almost 3-yard per route run statistic, Tillman likely is as much a stash as anyone, as he builds himself into a weapon for the Browns, they’ll likely lean on Amari Cooper and Elijah Moore for potentially one more year, but this is a game for Tillman to potentially shine. A third/fourth wide receiver who gets a chance to eat for a week before the playoffs with a backup QB they likely practice with every week more than others? Lock it in! It may seem scary, but check out some of that Cedric Tillman tape. As sure-handed as they come, Tillman can also wrangle a contested catch with any of the other rookies in the class. I’d take the chance on him.
David Bell was a 3rd-round draft pick for the Browns(2022) last year that hasn’t panned out yet, and on the year still hasn’t eclipsed over 100 receiving yards. A large and plodding wide receiver, with arguably one of the lowest speed meters in the league, Bell could likely receive some check-down catches in this game, but I wouldn’t find it reliable, and I do think there’s potential this team is already moving on from him as a potential guy.
David Njoku doesn’t really need a write-up, but the only reason I’m slightly skeptical is that he may not receive much work in this game, and will mostly be saved for the playoffs as well.
There is absolutely zero reason for the Browns to play much of their playoff starters, as they’ve locked a five seed and can’t move out of it, so there’s no onus to risk injury.
David Njoku paid homage to the one and only @DaveBautista with his touchdown celebration today pic.twitter.com/6EhkECEaMq
— Ben Axelrod (@BenAxelrod) November 8, 2021
Cincinnati Bengals
Quarterback
Jake Browning (Sit, QB2)
Jake Browning has had some electric moments as a Joe Burrow replacement, but I’d be lying if you think he has any chance of getting to a Burrow level of production. Likely, we’re looking at a lifetime backup quarterback, and while he’s been serviceable for the talent of the Bengals, they now sit on the outside of the playoffs with/ no chance of getting in. Browning will potentially play a safe “get no one hurt” and get the heck out here sort of game, so the potential is just as much a “boring football game” as fantasy watershed. A player who’s playing above his head, the 27-year-old quarterback has performed admirably but this likely is the end of his line, barring any horrible injury news next year.
Running Backs
Joe Mixon (RB1, start), Chase Brown (Rb3/Flex, Sit)
Joe Mixon has not had an amazing year, but he has gotten the work done in pure volume, holding the 5th most carries despite only having the 12th most rushing yards. A runner who is now hinging on volume is not someone I like to lean on going into the final week of the season with nothing to lose and nothing to gain. He likely won’t see as many rushes as projected, and Chase Brown is talented and breathing down his neck. Mixon has had issues off the field that have never openly bothered the Bengals, but with Mixon getting closer to the end of his contract, it’s likely as this team attempts to move toward the AFC Championship next year with the return of Joe Burrow, it’s likely they’ll want to find a new talent at running back, and Brown could be that. Mixon could likely get you a touchdown and a first half of volume, and then sit the rest of the game.
Wide Receivers/Tight Ends
Ja’Marr Chase (Sit), Tee Higgins (WR3/Flex), Tyler Boyd (Sit, WR3/Flex)