Game Info
Kickoff: Sunday, November 16, 2025, 1:00 p.m. ET
Location: Acrisure Stadium, Pittsburgh, PA
Network: CBS
Cincinnati Bengals
Quarterback
Joe Flacco: START, borderline QB1
Joe Flacco is an anomaly. There is zero reason he should be throwing over 400 yards in a single game at the age of 40, yet here we are. The last time these teams met, Flacco threw for 342 yards and three touchdowns. The Steelers are one of the best matchups for opposing quarterbacks, allowing over 340 passing yards in four of their last six games. This is Forty. For Flacco. Fire him up.
Running Back
Chase Brown: START, RB2
Before heading into the Week 10 bye, Chase Brown had back-to-back games of 19 or more points and scored 10 or more in five of his last six. Samaje Perine suffered a high ankle sprain before the bye and still isn’t practicing coming out of it, so Brown should see nearly all the backfield snaps for the Bengals against the Steelers. It’s a tough matchup; Pittsburgh allows the eighth-fewest fantasy points to the position and allowed just three 100-yard rushers all year. The last to accomplish the feat? Chase Brown in Week 7.
Wide Receiver
Ja’Marr Chase: START, WR1
Tee Higgins: START, WR2
Andrei Iosivas: SIT
Ja’Marr Chase is obviously a lock in your lineup, but did you know that throughout his entire career at LSU, he followed an odd superstition of changing his cleats at halftime of every single game? (Note: Chase caught 16 passes when these teams played in Week 7.) Since Flacco joined the team, Tee Higgins is rocking a 15.6% target share and leads the Bengals with 12 yards per target and 17 yards per reception (not counting that guy who has like two targets). The Steelers are the second-best matchup for wide receivers, and Higgins caught six passes for 96 yards and a touchdown. Is there such a thing as a must-start WR2? There is now.
Tight End
Noah Fant: tHe gLoB
Touchdown or bust.
Defense/Special Teams
Cincinnati Bengals: SIT
The Bengals are allowing over 33 points per game this season, including an average of 39 points over their last three games.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Quarterback
Aaron Rodgers: START, QB1
Aaron Rodgers has thrown four total touchdowns in his previous three games. Aaron Rodgers threw four total touchdowns against the Bengals in Week 7. That gives a normal quarterback a 25% chance of throwing four touchdowns, but Aaron Rodgers is a genetic freak, so that bumps it to at least 50%. Then, you add DK Metcalf in the mix, and there’s a 77.7% chance Rodgers throws four touchdowns. The numbers don’t lie.
Running Back
Jaylen Warren: START, RB1
Kenneth Gainwell: SIT
Kenneth Gainwell had a breakout performance of 31.4 fantasy points in Week 4 with Jaylen Warren out, but hasn’t scored a total of 30 points in the five games since. The Bengals are the best fantasy matchup for opposing running backs, but this backfield belongs to Warren. Over the Steelers’ last three games, Warren has handled 75.4% of the backfield carries and handled 75% of the carries inside the five. Warren is an RB1 in this mouthwatering matchup, but don’t risk it with KG. His last name may be Gainwell, but he doesn’t. (I’m so sorry.)
Wide Receiver
DK Metcalf: START, WR3
Calvin Austin III: SIT
Similar to the Dolphins, because teams have dominated the Bengals on the ground, there hasn’t been much need for them to air it out. Rodgers threw four touchdowns the last time these teams met, but all four went to the tight ends. DK Metcalf is still a solid play, but remains a risky fringe WR2 with receivers not doing much against the Bengals this season.
Tight End
Jonnu Smith: SIT
Pat Freiermuth: SIT
Darnell Washington: SIT
All three of Jonnu Smith, Pat Freiermuth, and Darnell Washington caught a touchdown in Week 7 against the Bengals. But outside of Muth catching a touchdown in Week 9, none have done much since. You couldn’t ask for a better matchup. Cincinnati allows the most points to tight ends in fantasy. But deciding which one to start is like choosing which sandwich you want to eat out of the trash. It’ll probably get the job done, but do you really wanna risk it?
Defense/Special Teams
Pittsburgh Steelers: STREAMER (1 Week)
The Steelers have 10 sacks in their previous two games.