Game Info
Kickoff: Sunday, January 3rd, at 1:00 PM EST
Location: Paul Brown Stadium, Cincinnati, Ohio
Betting Odds: NYJ -11.5, 44.5 total via Oddsshark
Network: CBS
Baltimore Ravens
Quarterback
Lamar Jackson (Start, QB1)
Week 16 saw Lamar Jackson complete 65.3% of his passes for 183 yards and two touchdowns against the Giants. He also rushed for 81 yards on 12 carries. All Baltimore has to do this week is win to get into the playoffs, and they should not have a tough time doing so against the Bengals. Despite Cincy winning two in a row, the Bengals defense has allowed 29 scores through the air, which is the seventh-most allowed in the league this season.
Running Backs
J.K. Dobbins (Start, RB2), Gus Edwards (Start if Dobbins is inactive, RB2)
Mark Ingram has been phased out of the Baltimore backfield in recent weeks, and rookie J.K. Dobbins has taken over. He has scored at least once in the last four games but has not topped 100 rushing yards since Week 8. Having suffered a chest injury last week against the Giants, he did return to the game but didn’t see touch the rest of the afternoon. Assuming he’s healthy to face the Bengals, he’s an RB2 this week as he has been. If he can’t go, Gus Edwards would slide into that role and be a viable option this week if your fantasy season is still ongoing.
Wide Receivers/Tight End
Marquise Brown (Start, WR3), Willie Snead IV (Sit), Mark Andrews (Start, TE1)
Marquise Brown has come on as of late, scoring at least once in the last four of five games played. He’s yet to eclipse 100 receiving yards since Week 1 (101, so barely even then did he), but he’s the clear WR1 for Baltimore. From a fantasy perspective, he can be found finishing as a high-end WR3. Willie Snead IV is next in line for targets ahead of the likes of Dez Byrant and Miles Boykin, but none of the three have fantasy relevancy.
Tight end Mark Andrews has a juicy match up against a Bengals defense that has given up the fifth-most fantasy points to his position this season. He would have scored in back to back games had he not dropped a sure score against the Giants last week, but you can rely on Andrews in this final regular season contest.
Cincinnati Bengals
Quarterback
Brandon Allen (Sit)
Brandon Allen is coming off the best game of his career in Week 16’s win against the Texans. He completed 29 of 39 passes for 371 yards and two touchdowns. It hasn’t earned him any fantasy relevancy, however, although it may bode decent for his receivers this week.
Running Backs
Giovani Bernard (Start, RB2), Samaje Perine (Sit)
Joe Mixon’s season is officially over, and if you still have any confidence, you can start Giovani Bernard in the season finale. The pass-game work remains for Bernard, which raises his weekly potential despite the mediocre production on the ground. Samaje Perine can be forgotten about. The Baltimore defense has given up the twelfth fewest fantasy points to running backs on the season.
Wide Receivers/Tight End
Tee Higgins (Start, WR3), A.J. Green (Sit), Tyler Boyd (Sit), Drew Sample (Sit)
Rookie Tee Higgins is just 97 yards shy from amassing 1,000 receiving yards on the year. Allen may target him a ton this week, and I would be comfortable starting him if needed. He is coming off a 6 for 99 yards and a touchdown game against the Texans. A.J. Green and Tyler Boyd (even if he is cleared from the concussion protocol) are sits this week.
Drew Sample turned one target and catch into eight yards and a touchdown against Houston. He remains on your league’s wire this week.
-Matthew Cava (@cavaM_ Twitter & Reddit)