Bengals News (7/8): Examining Cincinnati’s fantasy football prospects

Is this the year Christian Westerman finally gets a chance to start?
Westerman joined the Bengals via the fifth round in 2016 and caught the eye of onlookers in a few different ways since, especially because of his strong pass blocking when given the chance.

Fitz on Fantasy: 2019 Cincinnati Bengals Buying Guide
When most people think of chili, they think of Texas-style chili: ground beef, beans, chili powder and some other spices that deliver smoke flavor and heat. Cincinnati chili is something else entirely, with no beans and an unusual blend of ingredients that might include some combination of Worcestershire sauce, cinnamon, cloves, allspice, nutmeg and/or cocoa powder. (For the record, I enjoy Cincinnati chili, but it’s, uh … different.)

AFC North Watch: Hue Jackson ripped, Steelers talking Antonio Brown
While other AFC North teams weren’t having major football quality-of-life changes, it doesn’t mean there weren’t some interesting headlines. These are the most notable notes from around the AFC North.

3 areas of concern for the Bengals heading into 2019
The Cincinnati Bengals are getting the cold-shoulder treatment in relation to their AFC North competitors. Just consider how the Pittsburgh Steelers, Baltimore Ravens, and Cleveland Browns have had plenty of headlines since the 2019 season came to a close. Sometimes the publicity isn’t always a good thing, but in this case the Bengals are looking like the clear-cut weak link in the division.

Bengals to Update Indoor Practice Field
By the way, did you know the Bengals HAVE an indoor practice field? It is not a completely separate full sized football field. Also, they still have to bus ten minutes up the road to the University of Cincinnati a couple times a year when the weather requires it. Still, it is a basketball court sized field that was converted to turf during the 2015 renovations. You can view the renovation details and photos linked here.

100 Questions: The fantasy outlook for the Cincinnati Bengals
Dalton has the image of a quarterback who has perpetually been a mediocre option at best for fantasy, a modified Ryan Tannehill. But he was a top-10 option twice in three years in 2013-2015, including a peak as the No. 4 QB in 2014. It’s true, though, that he’s been no great shakes for our game in more recent seasons, finishing 19th, 21st, and 21st in the last three. Dalton has never been fleet of foot, but he hasn’t reached 100 rushing yards in a season or scored even a single rushing touchdown in either of the last two years.

Around the league

Ex-Patriots LB Bruschi 'doing much better' after stroke
"Around 10:30 a.m. on July 4th I lost use of my left arm," Bruschi wrote. "I then tried to speak and realized I was slurring my speech. As I turned to my wife she noticed the left side of my face was drooping. We immediately knew what was happening. These are stroke warning signs. We called 911 and an ambulance got me to the hospital. Thank you for all your kind thoughts and prayers. I'm doing much better."

Jabrill Peppers likely a kick return option for Giants
"The guy is a for-sure ball-handler," Giants special teams coordinator Thomas McGaughey said via nj.com. "Can make all the cuts full speed. He just brings juice."

NFL players celebrate USWNT's win in World Cup final
The nation's attention turned to France on Sunday morning, where the United States women's national soccer team defeated the Netherlands in the 2019 Women's World Cup final, 2-0.

Frank Gore won't retire until he 'can't do it no more'
That's a question that many around the league ask every offseason as the aging, indestructible running back returns for yet another campaign. The 36-year-old Gore is entering his 15th season in the NFL. Now a member of the Buffalo Bills and coming off his most efficient season since 2012, Gore isn't planning an exit from the game anytime soon. In fact, he's playing his career by ear.

Titans coach Vrabel reiterates Ryan Tannehill is backup
This year will be Tannehill's first as a backup QB. He was often on the bench in Miami but due to injury rather than performance reasons. Drafted by Miami eighth overall in the 2012 draft, Tannehill started 77 straight games to open his career before being felled by a torn ACL. The Dolphins, under new leadership, moved on from Tannehill this offseason, shipping him to Tennessee and replacing him with Josh Rosen and Ryan Fitzpatrick.