Game Info
Kickoff: Sunday, November 20th, at 4:25 PM EST
Location: Acrisure Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Betting Odds: CIN -5, 41. total via Oddsshark
Network: CBS
Writer: Matthew Cava (@cavaM_ Twitter & Reddit)
Cincinnati Bengals
Quarterback
Joe Burrow (Start, QB1)
Fresh off the BYE, Joe Burrow and the Bengals are set to face a Steelers defense that is allowing the sixth most fantasy points to quarterbacks this season. Burrow has come a long way since the Week 1 loss to Pittsburgh, where he threw four interceptions. To date, he owns an 18:6 passing touchdown to interception ratio, with 2535 yards, which ranks him as the fantasy QB5 on the year per FantasyData. The Steelers are coming off a win against the Saints last week, but that should not stop Burrow from a QB1 finish.
Running Backs
Joe Mixon (Start, RB1)
Joe Mixon earned his BYE week rest after his explosive Week 9 performance in the rout of the Panthers. 22 carries turned into 153 yards on the ground, with four rushing touchdowns, and another one through the air. Surely everyone is aware that you can’t expect that return on the weekly, but Mixon has been as consistent as they come this season. Before Week 9, he was averaging 15.4 full-PPR ppg from Weeks 4 to 8. Fire up Mixon this week with confidence. However, it’s worth noting that the Steelers defense has given up the 10th fewest points to running backs this fantasy season, and just last week they held Alvin Kamara in check to the tune of eight carries for 26 yards.
Wide Receivers/Tight End
Tee Higgins (Start, WR1), Tyler Boyd (Start, FLEX), Hayden Hurst (Start if you must, TE2)
Tee Higgins has taken the reins as the Cincy WR1 with Ja’Marr Chase sidelined since Week 8 with his hip injury. As of the 14th, Chase was spotted still walking on crutches, and on Wednesday, the hope is that Chase is back for Week 12.
FWIW, Ja’Marr Chase is still walking with crutches. Will try and get an update from Zac Taylor on a potential timeline for his return today. #Bengals
— Kelsey Conway (@KelseyLConway) November 14, 2022
In his absence, Higgins has turned 10 receptions (on 14 targets) into 109 yards and a touchdown. It sounds low, but keep in mind the Mixon blowup in Week 9. Higgins gets a juicy matchup off the BYE against the Steelers, who have given up the second most fantasy points to date to wide receivers. Tyler Boyd is on the FLEX radar again this week as the de facto WR2 for the Bengals. Hayden Hurst is a middling tight end, but in a position so thin, he has streaming potential. Just last week, Pittsburgh allowed Juwan Johnson of the Saints to catch five of seven targets for 44 yards and a touchdown.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Quarterback
Kenny Pickett (Sit)
The Steelers may have knocked off the Saints in Week 10, but Kenny Pickett wasn’t much of a contributor. He completed 18 of 30 passes for just 199 yards. While he didn’t throw an interception or passing touchdown, he did turn eight carries into 51 yards and a rushing score, which ultimately saved his fantasy day. Pittsburgh is clearly hopeful Pickett is their future franchise QB, but he’s going through typical rookie growing pains. He hasn’t thrown for a touchdown in his last two games and is set to face a Cincy defense that is allowing the third fewest fantasy points to quarterbacks this season. He wasn’t fantasy relevant in single-QB leagues before this week, and certainly can’t be considered a streamer in this game.
Running Backs
Najee Harris (Start, RB2), Jaylen Warren (Start if you must, desperation FLEX)
Coming off the BYE, there were inclinations that undrafted rookie Jaylen Warren was primed to see an uptick in carries over struggling Najee Harris. That wasn’t much of the case at all against New Orleans, as Harris turned 20 carries into 99 scoreless yards, whereas Warren only had nine for 37. Even so, Warren had the better fantasy day, as he also caught all three of his targets for 40 yards; Harris had only one target. Brace for Harris to be limited all week, as head coach Mike Tomlin said he is dealing with knee discomfort, but also that it’s a non-issue. The reality is, if you don’t have any other options, Harris remains an RB2 off volume alone, and Warren is a desperation FLEX on the hope that he can earn some more carries, and remain in the pass-game over Harris.
Wide Receivers/Tight End
Diontae Johnson (Start, WR2), George Pickens (Start, WR3), Pat Freiermuth (Start, TE2)
George Pickens had his fantasy day saved last week with a rushing touchdown, as he turned two carries into 23 yards. Via the air, Pickens was only targeted four times, catching three passes for 32 scoreless yards. His four targets were good for third most in the game for Pittsburgh, whereas Diontae Johnson had five. His five were his second lowest on the season (four against the Jets in Week 4), but this week, look for an uptick in targets for both WRs in a game where the Steelers will likely be playing from behind. Pat Freiermuth led the way last week with seven targets, turning that share into four receptions for 36 yards. Given his steady target share — he’s averaging 7.6 targets per game since Week 7 — consider ‘Muth a reliable TE2.