Game Info
Kickoff: Sunday, November 17th, 2024, 8:20 ET
Location: SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, California
Network: NBC/Peacock
Cincinnati Bengals
Quarterback
Joe Burrow: Start, QB1
What a season the former Heisman Trophy winner is having. Joe Burrow has posted back-to-back weeks as the overall QB1, with last week’s performance coming in an instant classic as he dueled against Lamar Jackson. This week’s Sunday night matchup is another fun matchup against Justin Herbert, though the Chargers are tougher customers against quarterbacks than the Ravens. Burrow is still a no-doubt QB1 thanks to his raw talent, supporting cast, and nonexistent defense that forces his team to throw the ball often to stay in games.
Running Back
Chase Brown: Start, RB2
You want to talk workloads? Let’s talk workloads. Chase Brown has handled one hundred percent of running back carries for the Bengals over the past two weeks. Unsurprisingly, this has led to back-to-back top-4 finishes for the second-year back. His dominant hold on the backfield in a great offense keeps him as an every-week starter, though we’re tempering expectations slightly against a Chargers defense that has stifled the run this year. They allow the second-fewest points to opposing RBs. Brown is still a mid-range RB2 in this primetime matchup.
Wide Receiver
Ja’Marr Chase: Start, WR1
Tee Higgins: FLEX Option, WR4
Ja’Marr Chase likely won several of your matchups by the end of Thursday night last week. We don’t need to spend any more time here–he’s an anchor in your lineup. If Schrödinger’s receiver, Tee Higgins, can suit up on Sunday, he’ll be a risky play in his first game action in a while. When you couple that with the fact it’s a Sunday night game, and he could be a game-time decision, you should probably play it safe and start somebody else in his stead.
Tight End
Mike Gesicki: Streaming Option
Mike Gesicki disappointed managers looking for a savvy stream last week, considering how much of a shootout last week’s matchup was. Still, he’s flashed upside and scoring ability this year, making him an intriguing streaming option for those of you missing Trey McBride or other TEs this week. If it looks like Higgins will sit again, Gesicki becomes an even more appealing stream.
Los Angeles Chargers
Quarterback
Justin Herbert: Start, QB1
Justin Herbert and head coach Jim Harbaugh are a football bromance match made in heaven. The Chargers are still a team that wins with their defense and run game, but Herbert has become a bigger part of that ground attack in recent weeks, scoring his first rushing touchdown of the season in Week 10. The Bengals have one of the most vulnerable defenses in the league, and when you couple that with Herbert’s streak of three straight top-12 QB finishes, he gets our recommendation as a strong start this week.
Running Back
JK Dobbins: Start, RB2
Gus Edwards: Sit
Gus Edwards returned from injured reserve last week and immediately cut into JK Dobbins‘ workload while also turning in the more efficient performance. Still, based on what we saw earlier this season when both backs were healthy, Dobbins should still be the preferred and more explosive option of the two. Dobbins retains low-end RB2 value against the Bengals, who are far more vulnerable through the air than on the ground. Edwards is still a sit at this point, but let’s keep an eye on that workload split to see how this trend develops.
Wide Receiver
Ladd McConkey: Start, WR2
Quentin Johnston: FLEX Option, WR3
We’re a couple of weeks removed from Ladd McConkey‘s coming-out party in which he scored two touchdowns. Last week, he only saw 2 targets but was still able to record over 50 yards for the third straight game. He seems to be Herbert’s most preferred option in the passing game, making him a mid-to-low WR2 against a beatable Bengals secondary. Quentin Johnston maintains some FLEX appeal in this one as well, but you’re probably hoping he finds the end zone again for him to return that value. In games Johnston hasn’t found the end zone, he hasn’t finished higher than the WR60 on the week.
Tight End
Will Dissly: Streaming Option
Will Dissly is one of the more popular streaming options being discussed this week, and it’s easy to see why. He’s earned at least 5 targets in four of his last five games. Still, he hasn’t necessarily done much with those targets and has yet to find the end zone this season. I prefer other streaming options like Gesicki to Dissly, but if you’re in a real bind, there’s some appeal here.