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A.J. Green: I wouldn’t bench A.J. Green in a two team league. You’re starting him.
Andy Dalton: The Dolphins have surrendered 317 passing yards per game, and Andy Dalton has shown increasing confidence throwing the ball. He’s averaging 20 points a week even when factoring in his 6 point performance against the Ravens in Week 1. With many fantasy owners facing bye weeks, Dalton is a premium rental for the week. Andy Dalton should be considered a solid QB1 this weekend.
Bengals Defense: Whenever a defense plays a rookie quarterback it’s hard to recommend benching them. Quarterback Ryan Tannehill is coming off an impressive performance against the Arizona Cardinals in which he threw for 431 yards and a touchdown. Regardless, Tannehill threw 2 interceptions which now brings the young rookie to 6 interceptions in four weeks. My point is simply that Tannehill, like most rookies, is prone to turnovers. Expect the Bengals defense to take full advantage of Tannehill’s mistakes as they continue with the momentum they’ve built over the past two weeks.
Mike Nugent: He’ll always get opportunities, and he’s been 100 percent this season. I’m sure there are arguments for a better kicker, but I won’t get into it simply because I despise projecting kickers.
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BenJarvus Green-Ellis: Green-Ellis has been frustrating recently. He’s lost two fumbles in the past two weeks, and he now faces a top run defense against Miami. It’s hard to see Green-Ellis rebound after his pedestrian performance against the Jaguars, but the Law Firm’s most productive game of the season was against a 4th ranked Baltimore run defense. You could certainly do worse than play Green-Ellis in your flex position or as a bye week plug-in.
Jermaine Gresham: Gresham finished his game in Jacksonville with 47 yards on 5 receptions. He’s made some crucial catches for the Bengals, but that doesn’t always translate into fantasy value. Miami is mediocre against tight ends and for the most part they’ve only faced mediocre tight ends. I’d like to believe that Jermaine Gresham is not a mediocre tight end, but in the world of fantasy football he’s been lackluster to say the least. If you need to start Gresham as a bye week band-aid, then hope for a touchdown as Miami will prevent much from happening on the ground and force Dalton to find receivers.
Andrew Hawkins: Andy Dalton has been spreading the ball around well and Hawkins makes plays when the ball is in his hands, but I wouldn’t start Hawkins unless you’re in a jam at wide receiver as a result of injuries and bye weeks. Hawkins is playing about half of the Bengals snaps, and outside of A.J. Green it’s hard to say who Dalton will lean on. Hawkins is a low end WR3 with upside – and there will always be upside when discussing Andrew Hawkins.
Discuss your Week 5 fantasy football dilemmas in the comments below. For other Sit/Start or Trade questions, feel free to chat with me on Twitter @AndrewFoxMiller.