Game Info
Kickoff: Sunday, October 31st, at 1:00 PM EST
Location: MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ
Betting Odds: CIN -9.5, 43.5 total via Oddsshark
Network: CBS
Cincinnati Bengals
Quarterback
Joe Burrow (Start, QB1)
The Bengals enter Week 8 on a two-game win streak, having beatdown the Ravens of all teams 41-17 last week. Look for Joe Burrow to be a top fantasy option this week, as he faces a lowly Jets team that just allowed Mac Jones and the Patriots to hang a 50-burger (54 points) on them. Burrow himself had a day against Baltimore, completing 23 of 38 passes for a whopping 416 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception. Cincinnati is rolling, and the Jets are getting rolled on; a matchup made in heaven for the red-hot Bengals.
Running Backs
Joe Mixon (Start, RB1), Samaje Perine (Start, FLEX)
In a pass-heavy approach, Joe Mixon turned only 12 carries not 59 yards, and a second-half touchdown. The score ultimately saved his fantasy day, as he was a non-factor in the passing game. Samaje Perine. Perine himself carried the ball 11 times for 52 yards and a score and had one catch for 23 yards. Perine is playing himself into FLEX consideration as of late – certainly a must-roster at the least – in this unexpected, high octane offense. To get you excited, it’s worth mentioning what the Jets defense just allowed the NE backfield to do. Damien Harris turned 14 carries into 106 yards and two touchdowns, and Brandon Bolden caught six of seven targets for 79 yards and a score.
Wide Receivers/Tight End
Ja’Marr Chase (Start, WR1), Tyler Boyd (Start if you must, FLEX), Tee Higgins (Start, WR3), C.J. Uzomah (Start, TE2)
Have a day Ja’Marr Chase. On ‘just’ 10 targets, Chase exploded against Baltimore for 201 yards, catching eight passes and one of which went for a touchdown. His elusiveness and breakaway speed have him poised to finish as a top WR this week. He quite honestly could be in line for another massive game against a young, injured Jets defense that looked halfway decent to start the season. That sentiment has clearly gone out of the window. Tyler Boyd turned seven targets into four catches for 39 yards, and while he could benefit ROS if the Bengals continue to lean on the pass, I would prefer starting Tee Higgins over him; consider Boyd a FLEX-if-you-must option, as he’s become the third option in the receiver pecking order. Higgins himself was targeted 15 times against Baltimore and caught seven passes for 62 yards.
In such a position wasteland, there’s starting to be some belief behind C.J. Uzomah being a streamable TE. All you want out of your tight end is (mostly) a score, no matter how many targets or catches it may come on. Well, Uzomah caught all three off is for 91 yards and two touchdowns against the Ravens last week. Even though he remains TD-dependent, I have no qualms streaming him this week if you were looking to do so. After all, the Jets just allowed Hunter Henry to score again (only two receptions on four targets for 23 yards) and Jonnu Smith (before exiting with a shoulder injury) to catch two of five targets for 52 yards.
New York Jets
Quarterback
Joe Flacco (Sit), Mike White (Sit)
Given that it’s Halloween, the boxscore could get real spooky for the Jets in this one. With Zach Wilson out for at least 2-4 weeks with a sprained PCL suffered in the thrashing by New England, the Jets brought in a familiar face from last season by trading for Joe Flacco on Monday. Mr. ELITE is back, although its up in the air as to whether or not he or Mike White will start. The trade itself is a bit of a head-scratcher, considering the Jets had him in the building all of last season, and let him walk when they could have retained his services without giving up a draft pick. I wouldn’t consider him a viable streaming option by any means. Should White, who came in for relief of Wilson and actually managed to throw for one touchdown, were to start, he’s an easy sit. In short, please do not consider starting either QB, ever. Even as budget-saving options in DFS, just don’t do it.
Running Backs
Michel Carter (Start if you must, RB2), Ty Johnson (Sit)
Michael Carter has been taking over the backfield in recent weeks, and that’s not saying much considering summer-darling Ty Johnson has not been much of a factor at all this season. Carter’s involvement in the pass-game has been encouraging, and with Wilson now sidelined, whoever is in at QB may favor Carter for dump-offs, which is always welcomed in PPR leagues. Off volume alone, Carter could continue to be a decent option, but it is worth noting that this week only two teams are on their BYE; Baltimore and Las Vegas.
Wide Receivers/Tight End
Corey Davis (Start, WR3), Jamison Crowder (Sit), Ryan Griffin (Sit)
Not that the Jets receiving core was fantasy-friendly prior to Wilson’s injury (except for Corey Davis), but an option such as Davis surely will take a massive hit over these next few weeks. I would expect him to be the top option for White/Johnson, but certainly, you can’t expect much of a return. The likes of Jamison Crowder and rookie Elijah Moore, can be left out of your lineups for now. Crowder, and even Denzel Mims, did have some sort of rapport with Flacco last season in games Sam Darnold missed, but you’ll have to monitor how that plays out these next few weeks.
With no viable tight end on the roster in real life, you already know that’s the same sentiment for fantasy. Ryan Griffin can be left on the wire.
-Matthew Cava (@cavaM_ Twitter & Reddit)