Bengals @ Chargers
Final Score: Chargers 34, Bengals 27
Writer: Darian Hudock (@DarianQB_List)
If you went to sleep at halftime after watching a 24-6 beatdown by the Chargers, I’m sorry you missed an excellent game. The first half was all Chargers, with the defense looking dominant and Justin Herbert delivering HoF-level passes all over the field to multiple pass-catchers. After the half, the script flipped, the Bengals’ defense came to life, forcing consecutive 3-and-outs and a fumble to help tie the game at 27-27. Both quarterbacks were making plays on the ground and through the air, and it was impossible to gain an edge until the very end. With only 56 seconds on the clock, Justin Herbert and the Chargers walked down the field with a 4-play 84-yard drive to advance to 7-3 on the year and cement themselves among the AFC elite.
Three Up
- Will Dissly – Earned targets down the field and showed a stable connection with his quarterback.
- Chase Brown – 100% of the backfield work for Cincinnati, including strong usage in the passing game.
- Justin Herbert – Moved the ball well through the air and showed terrific mobility.
Two Down
- Mike Gesicki – With Tee Higgins back in rotation, he was mostly phased out of the offense.
- Gus Edwards – Split carries with JK Dobbins, failed to command targets in the passing game or earn goal-line rush work.
Cincinnati Bengals
Quarterback
Joe Burrow: 28/50, 356 Yards, 3 TD, 2 Rushes, 28 Yards
After a shaky first half for Burrow and the Bengals offense, both turned it around and delivered a strong second-half performance. On multiple occasions, Burrow evaded tacklers and extended plays while consistently delivering beautiful strikes down the field. His accuracy and poise were in your face as he picked apart an outstanding Chargers defense. Burrow also showcased a more hidden talent by breaking free of the pocket in a key moment and picking up the first down with his legs. Burrow is on pace for one of the best statistical seasons of his young career, and Sunday Night’s game was another masterclass.
Running Back
Chase Brown: 22 Rushes, 86 Yards, 7 Targets, 5 Receptions, 57 Yards
With Zach Moss on IR, it has officially become the Chase Brown show, and Sunday Night was no different, with Brown handling 100% of the backfield workload for Cincinnati. Let’s just say he’s making the most of it, performing well in both the run and pass games. Brown is especially effective in the passing game with the ability to take a screen or check down to the house on any given play, thanks to his explosive speed and shifty footwork. As long as Brown is alone in this backfield, he will earn a workhorse opportunity and return fantastic value to fantasy managers.
Wide Receiver/Tight End
Ja’marr Chase: 13 Targets, 7 Receptions, 75 Yards, 2 TD
Ja’marr Chase is known as one of the most dangerous WRs in the league in the field’s short to intermediate areas, and he showed why on SNF. The Chargers double and even triple-teamed Chase on virtually every route, yet they couldn’t prevent the superstar wide receiver from commanding targets and finding the endzone twice. Chase did have two uncharacteristic drops in key situations and was missed by Burrow on an open deep shot that more than likely would have resulted in a 70+ yard touchdown. Despite the missed opportunities, Chase had a terrific fantasy performance and showed no signs of slowing down this season.
Tee Higgins: 13 Targets, 9 Receptions, 148 Yards, 1 TD
In his first game back from injury, Higgins was slated right back into his place in the offense as the X receiver, winning on the outside and down the field. Higgins played like a man on a mission, earning multiple yards after contact every time he touched the ball. In addition to his strong play inside, Higgins was also able to break free down the field for a wide-open 42-yard touchdown catch on a key 4th down in the 3rd quarter. Sharing the team lead in targets with Ja’marr Chase with 13 apiece is a recipe for fantasy gold, and that is what managers received from Higgins this week.
Tanner Hudson: 2 Targets, 2 Receptions, 13 Yards
With the Bengals receiving corps back to full strength, Hudson saw little opportunity in the passing game. Stuck deep in the depth chart, it would take a lot for Hudson to be fantasy-viable.
Jermaine Burton: 4 Targets, 1 Reception, 8 Yards
Burton started the game hot, playing multiple snaps and securing a catch on the Bengal’s first drive. Unfortunately, none of his 3 remaining targets would result in a reception. It is worth noting Burton was missed on a wide-open touchdown early in the game. Burton is firmly entrenched deep in Cinci’s depth chart and doesn’t warrant fantasy consideration.
Andre Iosivas: 3 Targets, 3 Receptions, 46 Yards
A slow start for Iosivas improved with two late receptions, including a crucial catch that set up the Hail Mary opportunity at the end of regulation. With Higgins and Chase in the lineup, Iosivas takes a clear backup role and will remain the 4th target in the offense moving forward.
Los Angeles Chargers
Quarterback
Justin Herbert: 17/36, 297 Yards, 2 TD, 5 Rushes, 65 Yards
Sunday Night was an undeniably great game for Herbert, who showcased his cannon for an arm and a set of wheels most fans probably didn’t know he had. Herbert needed no warm-up to start the game, beginning 6/6 for 124 yards with 2 touchdowns to go with over 50 yards rushing before the half. The second half didn’t go as well, but when the chips were on the line, Herb showed out, leading a 3-play 84-yard drive in only 38 seconds to score the game-winning touchdown. Whenever you have a quarterback capable of throwing for 300+ while rushing for 50+, the opportunity is always there for fantastic fantasy performances.
Running Back
JK Dobbins: 11 Rushes, 56 Yards, 2 TD, 1 Target, 1 Reception, 3 Yards
Slow and steady wins the race, and Dobbins showed exactly why on Sunday night, scoring a 29-yard touchdown to ice the game late in the 4th quarter after having a mostly unproductive game to that point. Despite a tough night on the ground to that point, Dobbins still showed some sweet skills on a 3rd quarter rush where he was in a defender’s grasp deep behind the line of scrimmage and used his strength and speed to break free and turn it into a 12-yard gain. Dobbins remains LA’s most effective rusher, and with the way the team approaches the game, he will most likely continue to have productive fantasy outings.
Gus Edwards: 6 Rushes, 27 Yards
Unfortunately for fans of the Gus Bus and fantasy managers alike, the Chargers seemed to forget about Edwards at times Sunday night. He was barely used in the ground game despite success in a majority of his attempts and, as has been his career norm, received zero work through the air. Fantasy managers who were expecting to use Edwards going forward will have to wait another week to see if his opportunity increases.
Wide Receiver/Tight End
Ladd McConkey: 9 Targets, 6 Receptions, 123 Yards
McConkey is slowly emerging as Justin Herbert’s favorite target, and when you watch him play, it’s easy to see why. He consistently beats coverage, whether man or zone, and is open in clutch moments when his team needs him most. On the Chargers game-sealing drive, Ladd found himself wide-open twice in a row and single-handedly walked the team down the field to set up the touchdown. Herbert has proven capable of supporting top-achieving fantasy wideouts, and Ladd may be the next to join the ranks.
Quentin Johnson: 8 Targets, 2 Receptions, 48 Yards, 1 TD
QJ could’ve had a much bigger game than he ended with if not for two outstanding defensive plays by Bengals CB Julian Newman, who not once but twice made diving deflections, preventing 40+ yard completions that could have gone for more. Johnson did manage to find himself open in the end zone early in the game, catching a terrific strike from Justin Herbert for the team’s second score. Fantasy managers will be disappointed in the overall result, but there is plenty of reason for optimism as the fantasy playoffs approach.
Will Dissly: 6 Targets, 4 Receptions, 80 yards, 1 TD
Whenever Justin Herbert needed a play downfield Sunday night, Will Dissly was there. Despite previously being known as a blocking tight end, Dissly is emerging as a serious pass-catching threat with a great connection with Herbert. He was making plays both close to the line in dump-off scenarios as well as catching deep strikes down the field, including a 29-yard touchdown on the Charger’s first drive. In the current tight-end landscape, fantasy production similar to that Dissly is proving comes at a premium.
Joshua Palmer: 4 Targets, 2 Receptions, 23 Yards
Despite being the longest-tenured wide receiver on the roster, Palmer isn’t earning the snap share required to be a solid fantasy asset. He is ceding work to younger players like Quentin Johnson and Ladd McConkey, and with the Chargers deploying multiple tight ends on a high percentage of plays, Palmer looks to be off fantasy radars for the immediate future.