NFL Week 2: Bengals vs Texans fantasy football starts and sits

The Cincinnati Bengals dropped a big goose egg on offense last week, and hopefully your fantasy team did a little better than that. Outside of A.J. Green and Giovani Bernard in PPR settings, the Bengals probably completely failed your fantasy teams.

It is a new week, and the Bengals will be playing the Houston Texans on Thursday Night Football, which means you have to decide quickly if these Bengals or Texans are worth playing this early in the week.

Absolutely Start

No one is worth this mark. The Texans and Bengals both struggled last week and on a short week, you likely can find someone better to be playing.

Favorable Matchups

Cincinnati Defense: The Texans offensive line gave up 10 sacks last week, and they could be starting Deshaun Watson in his first start as an NFL Quarterback on a short week. While the Bengals defense isn’t on the same level as the Jaguars, they should still be able to put up a decent outing if you streamline defenses.

Texans Defense: The Bengals offense didn’t fair much better than the Texans last week. The Ravens constantly were in Andy Dalton’s face last week, and J.J. Watt could be doing the same thing. Dalton is also coming off a five turnover performance, which means the Texans defense may have an opportunity to take one back for a score.

Lamar Miller (Texans RB): The Bengals got gashed last week by the Ravens run game. If the Texans are smart they will probably run the ball and minimize the amount of times their quarterback is put in the way of danger by dropping back to pass. You should expect a solid output from him on Thursday.

Good but not great

Giovani Bernard (Bengals RB): Bernard is going into a favorable match up, but the fact the running back situation still seems to be fluid hurts him quite a bit. Technically Joe Mixon received the most touches of any running back last week, but Bernard was the one who was able to make some big plays. Jeremy Hill would probably also be in line to take any goal line touches from Bernard. At best Bernard is a flex in a deep league.

A little piece of advice as well, never play anyone in the flex on Thursday. Always put them in the running back or wide receiver spot because it allows you more flexibility come Sunday and Monday in case there is a late scratch.

DeAndre Hopkins (Texans WR): Hopkins is easily one of the best receivers in the NFL, but he has been cursed with a revolving door at the quarterback position. He did score a touchdown with Watson last week, and as of right now, Watson is supposedly starting.

Hopkins should expect plenty of targets from a rookie who will probably be running for his life and desperately looking for a safety blanket.

Deshaun Watson (Texans QB): Realistically you shouldn’t have to play Watson at this point in your season. Hopefully you ended up with at least one consistent quarterback, but if you’re really hurting you could do worse than Watson on the waiver wire. He has the ability to contribute fantasy points with his legs as well as his arm. Plus getting sacked usually doesn’t hurt your quarterback’s fantasy score.

Unfavorable

A.J. Green (Bengals WR): Look you’re probably starting Green, but just don’t expect this to be a great game for the Bengals’ No. 1 receiver. Green has never scored against the Texans in five games. He also has only surpassed the 100 yard mark once against them as well. Again I wouldn’t sit him because he was probably your first or second round pick, but just temper expectations so you don’t get disappointed.

Sit

Andy Dalton (Bengals QB): Just don’t put yourself through hoping Dalton can put up the numbers he needs to in fantasy this week. It isn’t even all on him. His offensive line can’t keep defensive lines from running him off his spot. It is just best to sit Dalton and see if the offense can work out its kinks without putting your fantasy team at risk.

Tyler Eifert (Bengals TE): really until we see this offensive line show they can protect Dalton is hurts all the skill position players. Eifert also not appearing to be 100 percent quite yet also hurts. I’d look elsewhere for a tight end this week.