The Cincinnati Bengals (6-8) will host their divisional rivals the Cleveland Browns (3-11) in Week 16.
Cincy has an opportunity to sweep Cleveland for the first time since the 2017 season. The Browns will not only want to avoid that but they can stick it to their rivals by eliminating them from the playoffs with an upset win.
With this being a must-win for the Bengals to have any hope of sneaking in the backdoor to the postseason, I expect their best players to play at their best, and their fantasy football managers should bet on that happening.
Fantasy Football Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em: Tee Higgins
Higgins is coming off a bounce-back performance in Week 15 against the Tennessee Titans. He finished with five catches for 88 yards and a touchdown on eight targets. He has caught a touchdown in four of his last five games.
In Week 16 he faces a Cleveland defense that allows the fifth-most PPG to receivers this year per Pro Football Reference. In their last four games, they have allowed three receivers to register at least 75 receiving yards and given up five touchdowns to the position.
When these two franchises met in Week 7, Higgins collected four balls for 82 yards and a touchdown on eight targets. That was one of his four games he had at least 80 receiving yards this season.
Higgins is a high-end WR2 who should get the volume of targets that can turn into a great Sunday afternoon for his fantasy managers.
Verdict: Start ‘Em
Fantasy Football Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em: Chase Brown
The lead running back for Cincinnati has been on a tear since taking over the backfield. Per NFL Pro, Brown has played 85.3% of the Bengals offensive snaps since Week 10. He has been productive in the passing game, generating the third-most receiving yards over expected (+76) and the most receptions for first downs (12) by any running back in that span.
This Sunday he will face a Browns defense that is allowing the ninth-fewest PPG to running backs this season per Pro Football Reference. They are one of five teams in the league that haven’t given up a receiving touchdown to a running back.
Only one running back crossed 55 rushing yards against Cleveland in their last four games, which was Jaleel McLaughlin, who finished with 84 rushing yards. In those four contests, they only gave up three touchdowns to the position.
In the Week 7 meeting between the teams, Brown finished with 53 total yards on 17 touches but still was splitting time with Zack Moss.
Everything that was laid out might tell you to consider sitting Brown in Week 16 but he is one of those players who got their fantasy managers to this point of the playoffs. Plus you can’t ignore the volume of touches and the production he has had since Week 10.
You have to keep playing Brown this weekend.
Verdict: Start ‘Em
