Bengals vs Browns: Fantasy football starts and sits for NFL Week 7

The way the Bengals and Browns are playing, with both ranking in the bottom six in scoring this season, it’s tempting to say that nobody is worth a start in fantasy football from these squads in Week 7. But the Bengals are in the top six in yardage, and you get points for yardage, not just touchdowns. So let’s take a gander at who is worth a play this week in fantasy football from the upcoming Bengals-Browns game, kicking off at 1:00 p.m. ET.

ABSOLUTELY START THESE PLAYERS

A.J. Green (Bengals WR) is going against a Browns’ defense that has given up 16 passing touchdowns (second worst in the NFL), and almost 300 passing yards per game. He is an elite receiver, and coming into Week 7, he’s ranked second in the NFL with 606 receiving yards.

FAVORABLE MATCHUP

Cody Kessler (Browns QB) It’s doubtful you have him (only 2% owned in Yahoo! leagues), but if you’re desperate for a cheap option in a spot start, Kessler could be a gamble that could pay off. The Bengals are notoriously bad at stopping rookie quarterbacks, and have been getting torched in the air.

Jeremy Hill/Giovani Bernard (Bengals RB) could finally get on track this week. The Browns have given up a league-worst 11 rushing touchdowns. This could especially bode well for Hill. Hill was a full go in practice this week after being limited at times during the last two weeks with a chest injury. He should be back to getting 50 percent of the running back snaps, if not more.

Andy Dalton (Bengals QB) much like Kessler, Dalton gets a great matchup this week. If you are despearate, you could do worse. And the possibility of Eifert returning makes this all the more interesting.

MEH, IF YOU MUST

Isaiah Crowell and Duke Johnson (Browns RBs) face a decent matchup against a Bengals’ defense who has been very hit or miss against opponent’s running backs. But by the nature of both players splitting work, they are going to be very hit or miss, and touchdown dependent.

UNFAVORABLE MATCHUP

Bengals defense and Browns defense: With two bad offenses facing two bad defenses, something has to give. It’s tempting to want to start one of the defenses, because they have such an easy matchup. But neither defense really merits starting.

BE ON THE LOOKOUT

Terrelle Pryor (Browns WR) has emerged as the rare exception of a college quarterback who transitioned to NFL wide receiver. Pryor is currently ranked seventh in FFL for receivers, but, he’s battling a hamstring injury and was questionable to play coming into the matchup. He might be limited if he does suit up. Be sure to check the inactives list 90 minutes before kickoff to see if Pryor is on it.

Tyler Eifert (Bengals TE) is a great player and gets a great matchup, if he plays. Eifert could be making his 2016 debut, but, you’ll need to eye the inactives list 90 minutes before kickoff to see for sure whether he’s going to suit up. If he does, assume he’ll be on a limited snap count. It might be best to sit Eifert for one more week, but he wait should pay off! Eifert will be touchdown dependent in his return to football and you just need to decide how much you think he will get used, if at all, assuming he plays.

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UPDATE: Both Pryor and Eifert are active for the Bengals vs Browns matchup.