Game Info
Kickoff: Sunday, December 7, 2025, 1:00 PM ET
Location: Highmark Stadium, Orchard Park, NY
Network: FOX
Cincinnati Bengals
Quarterback
Joe Burrow: START, QB1
For the first time since Week 2, Joe Burrow was under center for the Cincinnati Bengals. He was far from flawless, but showed moments of that Joe Shiesty brilliance, throwing for 261 yards, two touchdowns, and no turnovers. Joe Brr did it without Tee Higgins, who suffered a concussion in Week 13, but the hope is he can return for this week’s clash with Buffalo. It was fantastic to see the beautiful bond on the deep ball between Burrow and his BFF, Ja’Marr Chase. The rest of the season is pretty much a must-win scenario for the Bengals, and I have Burrow classified as a QB1 regardless of the difficult matchup against the Bills.
Running Back
Chase Brown: START, RB1
Samaje Perine: FLEX, RB3
I’m man enough to admit when I’m wrong, and I was wrong about Chase Brown. Maybe not the first half of the season, but since his two-touchdown game in Week 8, he’s been a beast. Oddly enough, Brown hasn’t scored a touchdown since Week 8, yet he’s still averaging 17.8 points per game over his last four. Samaje Perine was back after missing two games and slotted right back into his third-down role, but it didn’t matter. Brown toted 15 carries for 78 Yards and caught all seven of his targets for 35 yards. But Buffalo’s been gutted by the run all season, making both Bengals backs startable. I have Brown inside the top five running backs this week, and the top-five matchup makes Perine an intriguing FLEX.
Wide Receiver
Ja’Marr Chase: START, WR1
Tee Higgins: START, WR2 (If active)
Andrei Iosivas: SIT | FLEX (If Higgins inactive)
You do not bench Ja’Marr Chase, but did you know that the legendary video game designer Will Wright, famous for creating The Sims and SimCity, is also an alumnus of LSU? Tee Higgins had yet to clear concussion protocol at the time of writing, but practiced in a limited fashion. He’s expected to play against the Bills, and if he does, fire him up without hesitation. If Higgins can’t clear, Andrei Iosivas is a solid FLEX in a potential shootout with Buffalo.
Tight End
Mike Gesicki: SIT
Mike Ge”sit“ki, amirite?
Defense/Special Teams
Cincinnati Bengals: SIT
The Bengals are the worst defense in the NFL.
Buffalo Bills
Quarterback
Josh Allen: START, QB1
You already know to start Josh Allen, but did you know that comedian Larry David, a notorious New York Jets fan, shocked social media by attending Allen’s wedding as a guest? David is a client of Allen’s father-in-law, who is a personal trainer.
Running Back
James Cook III: START, RB1
Ty Johnson: SIT
Ray Davis: SIT
James Cook is a weekly must-start, but did you know that the WWE Hall of Fame professional wrestler Bill Goldberg, famous for his dominant undefeated streak and “Who’s Next?” motto, is also an alumnus of the University of Georgia, where he was a two-time All-SEC defensive lineman? Oh, by the way, the Bengals allow 128 yards per game on the ground to RBs, the most in the league. All signs point towards a boom week for Cook.
Wide Receiver
Khalil Shakir: START, WR2
Keon Coleman: FLEX, WR4
The Romeo Doubs of the AFC, Khalil Shakir, followed up season highs in receptions and receiving yards with a one catch stinker. As terrible as the Bengals’ defense is, they’ve not given up much production to wide receivers. Amon-Ra St. Brown is the only receiver to hit the century mark against Cincy, but it has more to do with teams running all over them than anything else. Keon Coleman caught a touchdown in his first game back since being a healthy scratch for two straight, but he only saw three targets. He’s a touchdown-dependent FLEX play, but worth taking a shot on if you’re looking for upside in a game with an implied total over 50 points.
Tight End
Dalton Kincaid: START, TE1
Dawson Knox: SIT | START, TE1 (If Kincaid inactive)
Dalton Kincaid returned to limited practice on Wednesday, but his status for Sunday is up in the air at the time of writing. If he’s active, he’s a top-five option against the best matchup for tight ends in fantasy. If he’s out again, Dawson Knox becomes a Week 14 TE1 simply because it’s the Bengals.
Defense/Special Teams
Buffalo Bills: SIT
It’s probably not a great idea to start a defense in a game that has an implied total over 50 points.