Game Info
Kickoff: Sunday, Oct 27th, 2024, 1:00 ET
Location: Paycor Stadium, Cincinnati OH
Network: CBS
Writer: Michael James
Hey gang, Michael James here filling in for Marco this week. Today we’re looking at a 4-2 Eagles team traveling to the Ohio Valley to take on the 3-4 Bengals who are looking for their first home win of the season. This looks to be a high-scoring game, so hopefully we can see a lot of points for our fantasy players!
Philadelphia Eagles
Quarterback
Jalen Hurts: Start, QB1
Jalen Hurts is now on a streak of three multi-TD games heading into this one as a top 10 QB in fantasy this season. Marco has him as his QB2 this week, and with back-to-back QB1-rated fantasy performances, there will be no argument against that here. The Bengals have allowed the 7th-most fantasy points to the position. The Bengals are averaging giving up 39.5 points to opponents over their last two home games. Last home game the Bengals allowed 55 rushing yards from Lamar Jackson. Not much else to say here, you’re starting Hurts.
Running Back
Saquon Barkley: Start, RB1
Kenneth Gainwell: Sit
The Bengals are right in the middle of the pack when it comes to rushing defense and have the fifth most rushing attempts against them. Another star at the position, Marco lists Saquon Barkley as his RB1. While I do not think he’ll rack up anywhere near as many yards as he did last week, it is not like you are going to bench the third-best running back in fantasy this season. Barkley has registered a sub-8 YPC performance only once in his last four games. Meanwhile, I believe this game will not warrant enough garbage time to see any meaningful work out of his backups.
Wide Receiver
AJ Brown: Start, WR1
DeVonta Smith: Start, WR2
Jahan Dotson: Sit
AJ Brown (Marco: WR1 overall) hasn’t put in much work this season but when he has played, he has put in nearly 20 fantasy point performances in every game he has suited up for. This includes 78% of Hurt’s passing yards last week. He currently sits on a three-game touchdown streak (if you only count games he wasn’t ruled out of). It gets a little more difficult after that. DeVonta Smith (WR21) used to be a reliable start every game this season until he submitted an eyebrow-raising performance in week 7. He was not able to bring in a whole fantasy point on two targets in a lopsided game. I will consider that an anomaly and not sweat it as the game got out of hand fast and I believe this one will be more competitive for four quarters. So if we rule that one out, Smith has otherwise submitted consistent results averaging about 16 fantasy points per week. However, I have not seen anything so far that would make me recommend an Eagles receiver outside of those two listed.
Tight End
Dallas Goedert: Start, TE1* (Questionable)
Even with two games out and a bye week, Dallas Goedert still sits inside the top 15 TEs on the season for fantasy. The Bengals are among the bottom five defenses in fantasy points allowed to the position so if he plays, I like him here. Keep an eye out during the week, however, as this is a considerable if. Quotes from beat reporters is that his hamstring injury is still considerable so let’s wait and see what he registers towards the end of week practice reports with this one. If he does not go, Grant Calcaterra would be the beneficiary of Goedert’s absence and Cincinnati’s generosity toward the tight end position.
D/ST
Eagles: Sit
You got this site’s Defense guy filling in this week, so I thought I’d throw a bonus at the oft-overlooked side of fantasy. Philadelphia has 13 sacks and only 19 points allowed over their past two games. However, this week I fear the Cincinnati offense has too many weapons with their 8th-ranked passing attack to risk on this one, there are better teams to stream this week.
Cincinnati Bengals
Quarterback
Joe Burrow: Start, QB1
I think we will be looking at a high-paced game with good offense from both teams. Joe Burrow has had 5 of his 7 games on the season go for near QB1 performances, with two of them exceeding that in games he threw for over 300 yards on the day. I think another multi-TD game is in store for Burrow, of which he already has 5 on the season, especially if he wants to keep pace with Philadelphia. Marco has him as his QB6, so I think he also believes that we are going to see some fireworks in this game.
Running Back
Chase Brown: Start, RB2
Zack Moss: FLEX Option, RB3
What started this season as a 70:30 split benefiting Zack Moss has now transformed over the past two weeks into a 40:60 split with Chase Brown now getting the majority of the carries. Moss’ receiving work in the flat keeps him relevant as he has more receptions than Brown does so far. The Eagles are top ten in fewest yards allowed to running backs this season and rushing yards allowed. Brown saw his three-game touchdown streak come to an end last week but still sees enough volume with double-digit carries and multiple receiving targets in his last four games in a row. Moss’ pass-catching work keeps him relevant with a very high FLEX option floor as the only time this season he came in under that was the one game he was benched for fumbling the ball over.
Wide Receiver
Ja’Marr Chase: Start, WR1
Tee Higgins: Start, WR2
Andrei Iosivas: FLEX Option, WR4
Philadelphia’s secondary has turned it up over their past two games but overall have been far less than inspiring this season. Even with their last two solid performances in a row, they still rate as the 9th worst secondary in fantasy points allowed due to them getting obliterated in all of their games before the early bye week. We will find out whether the adjustments over the break hold strong or if it was just a product of facing off against weaker passing attacks. They will have their hands full with the number one receiver in fantasy with Ja’Marr Chase (WR3 overall) having double-digit fantasy points in all but one of his games this season. On the other side of him will be Tee Higgins (WR16) who has not exactly been a slouch either bringing in double-digit fantasy points in his last four straight as well. Fun fact, Higgins leads the team in targets over that four-game stretch as well. I believe even Andrei Iosivas will find himself in the thick of things in this one as even if you include last week’s dud, he still is averaging around 7 fantasy points per game this season.
Tight End
Mike Gesicki: Sit
Mike Gesicki leads all Bengals tight ends in fantasy points and yet is now third in snap count percentage at the team position as he appears to have ceded pass-catching duties to rookie Erick All Jr. who is also behind in snap count to Drew Sample, their blocking TE. Starting any Cincinnati TE is just throwing a dart and hoping you get a touchdown. This offense does not seem to favor the tight end in fantasy and with Philadelphia’s sub-par pass rush, I don’t think that will change in this one.
D/ST
Bengals: Sit
This defense has been trending in the right direction over their past two games with 4 turnovers, 6 sacks, and only 21 points allowed over the last two games. However, I’m not quite ready to throw them out there against this Philadelphia offense. Check back next week as they will have a much more favorable matchup to potentially start them in.