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Bengals Players Power Rankings: Week Sixteen

The Cincinnati Bengals Player Power Rankings is a weekly ranking system that not only figures the best players on the team, but the players playing the best. Despite being out of their control, injuries and inactives are huge hits largely because they're not contributing. This week, the Bengals need to count on these 20-players in order to make the Playoffs in back-to-back years for the first time since 1981-82.

Al Bello

Rank

Player

Last Week

Change

Notes

1

Geno Atkins

1

--

Geno Atkins will need to take advantage of an injured Steelers interior offensive line. Let's introduce ourselves to David DeCastro.

2

A.J. Green

2

--

Green was pretty much minimized the last time these teams met. He's going to need to find a way to get open despite crazy coverage schemes by Pittsburgh.

3

Andre Smith

3

--

Last week was Andre Smith's second bad game of the season. He was man-handled by Brandon Graham who is on a tear lately.

4

Leon Hall

5

+1

Hall allowed a couple catches but had a game-changing interception EXACTLY when his teammates needed somebody to snap them out of it.

5

Kevin Zeitler

6

+1

Zeitler was very impressive pulling to the outside and blocking for every one of BJGE's long runs.

6

Andrew Whitworth

4

-2

He seemed a little shaky after banging his head and playing with a concussion. They'll need Whit's best on Sunday.

7

Andy Dalton

7

--

Dalton was poor for the most part last week. He didn't pull the trigger on a couple open throws and that's alarming.

8

Adam Jones

9

+1

Per PFF, Jones is allowing the lowest yards (0.83) per snap in coverage of all CBs in the league with over 300 snaps played in coverage.

9

Reggie Nelson

11

+2

Love Nelson's energy and versatility. You have to look for him pre-snap every play; Zimmer has been moving him around lately.

10

Jermaine Gresham

8

-2

Becoming an average day for Gresham to catch five balls for 60 yards and be an inconsistently good blocker.

11

Carlos Dunlap

10

-1

If I were keeping track, I would tell you Carlos Dunlap has missed at least 6 easy sacks this season.

12

BenJarvus Green-Ellis

14

+2

Maybe he's not taking them all the way or breaking the last tackle, but he's hitting the right holes at the right times.

13

Michael Johnson

12

-1

He's back to flashing for only about 3 or 4 snaps per game. His backup (Gilberry) stands out more in half the snaps.

14

Vontaze Burfict

17

+3

This was Burfict's best performance since the last Steelers game.

15

Andrew Hawkins

13

-2

In a matchup I was excited to see, Hawkins was pretty much blanketed by rookie CB Brandon Boykin. Baby Hawk was open deep on one play that would've been a TD had Brandon Graham not stripped Dalton as he threw.

16

Rey Maualuga

16

--

Maualuga had a decent day in coverage as well as the run, but his run defense has become the norm.

17

Clint Boling

15

-2

What's the deal with whoever plays LG with Kyle Cook at center... sucks? I heard he's sick. Let's hope it's that simple.

18

Terrence Newman

18

--

I thought Newman was really good last week in Philly; especially as Bryce Brown tried bouncing runs to the outside.

19

Domata Peko

19

--

Peko got handled for the most part on Thursday; especially as a pass rusher.

20

Chris Crocker

NR

--

It's real; Crocker makes everybody in the secondary better. That's good for now and scary for next year.

Just Missed the Cut: Trevor Robinson, Kyle Cook, Kevin Huber, Pat Sims, Orson Charles.