NFL Week 3: Bengals vs Packers fantasy football starts and sits

It has been two rough weeks for the Cincinnati Bengals in actual football and producing for fantasy teams. Hopefully you weren’t relying on too many Bengals during this stretch otherwise you may be in need of a win just like the Bengals.

The Bengals will be playing their first road game of the season, and it will be against the Packers who are fresh off a butt kicking in Atlanta. Both teams will be entering the game relatively banged up as well.

The Bengals will be without Tyler Eifert and John Ross. The Packers have six starters listed as doubtful including wide receiver Randall Cobb, left tackle David Bakhtiari and several defensive players. Jordy Nelson is listed as questionable, but he was a full participant in practice most of the week with a quad injury.

This game has the potential to get weird quick. The Bengals had a short bye week to get use to new offensive coordinator Bill Lazor, and with all the injuries to the Packers, it could mean some Bengals players could become playable.

Here are the players you should put in your lineups, and the ones you should just keep out.

Absolutely start

I’d feel bad telling you to absolutely put any of these guys in your roster. There is too much unknown going into this one.

Favorable matchups

Ty Montgomery (Packers RB): The Bengals have struggled to stop the run this year, but they did improve last week against the Texans only allowing running backs to run for 101 yards on 30 carries (3.36 yards per carry), and they also managed to keep them from scoring.

Montgomery is different though. He only carried the ball 10 times against the Falcons, and the game got away from the Packers meaning they couldn’t run the ball as much. For most fantasy backs this would be it.

Montgomery managed to catch six passes, tied for second on the team, for 75 yards and a touchdown. He is one of those backs that no matter the situation the Packers love to get him the ball.

A.J. Green (Bengals WR): Green has put up solid number so far this season, but it isn’t as much as what we’re use to from him. After last week’s loss he called for the ball to get to play makers more often, and you can bet that when Green calls for more targets he will get it.The Packers are missing two starters in their secondary also, which should make it slightly easier for Green. Also without Eifert he should get all the red zone looks he can handle.

Aaron Rodgers (Packers QB): Honestly it was hard to decide where to put Rodgers in all of this. I mean you aren’t sitting him that’s for sure, but his history against this team isn’t great. He has struggled against the Bengals, but that was when Mike Zimmer was still the defensive coordinator. I think best case scenario for Rodgers is he lights it up and scores three touchdowns, and worst case he gets you one garbage time touchdown and a few interceptions. A lot of it depends on how well the Packers bounce back from that embarrassing loss, and how good this Bengals defense actually is.

Good but not great matchups

Joe Mixon (Bengals RB): I think this is the week we finally get to see Mixon featured more. Last week he had nine carries for 36 yards. Giovani Bernard and Jeremy Hill combined for 11 carries and only 27 yards. It is clear which back gives you the best opportunity when carrying the ball, and the Bengals coaching staff is figuring out maybe they aren’t good enough to bring him along this slowly. The Packers defense gave up three touchdowns to running backs last week, and Mixon should be in line for a big game. If they finally give him a shot.

Jordy Nelson (Packers WR): The injury is really the only thing keeping Nelson this far down. He is listed as questionable, but is he really healthy? That will probably determine if he is out there for all the snaps he should be. When he is out there though he still remains to be Rodgers favorite target, so that is worth quite a bit.

Davante Adams (Packers WR): Adams had a huge garbage time without Nelson on the field. He ended up with eight catches for 99 yards and a touchdown. Even if Nelson returns the Packers will still probably be without Cobb, so expect plenty of targets for Adams.

Unfavorable matchups

Tyler Boyd (Bengals WR): Look the only reason I’m even including Boyd is because Eifert and Ross are out, and Dalton might have to get the ball out quickly to someone. If you are in a deep PPR league you should take a look at Boyd for a flex play, but beyond that until he shows something I’m not confident in playing him when everyone is healthy.

Martellus Bennett (Packers TE): I don’t know whether it is because the two teams the Bengals faced couldn’t throw the ball or not, but the Bengals have shut down opposing tight ends this season. Bennett’s best game came last week with five catches for 47 yards, and I don’t think he gets above that this week.

Just sit them

Andy Dalton (Bengals QB): Listen I think there is a possibility that Dalton turns it around under Lazor, and it could happen this game. Still there is an abundance of payable quarterbacks in fantasy football right now, so why would you risk playing Dalton over someone like Jacoby Brissett or Jay Cutler? Both have good matchups, and they are probably available if you need them.

Cincinnati defense: You may have played the Bengals defense both weeks of the season, and they’ve been good. This is a different beast though. There is no need to risk your game on a fantasy defense performing against quarterbacks like Rodgers or Tom Brady.