Steelers Fantasy Perspective: Week 13 vs. Bengals

The Steelers enter the final stretch of games sitting at 9-2 as they travel to Cincy to take on the division rival Bengals. The Steelers have continued to have their ups and downs, but their star players have put up statistically strong games. Which ones should you start in your fantasy lineups?

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Ben Roethlisberger – Sit

Big Ben has had a substantial increase in production over the past 2 weeks, going on a rampage against the Titans and Packers. Things get slightly more tricky this week, with a road matchup against a desperate Bengals team that will be looking to bring the heat. Roethlisberger found some success against the Bengals in their first meeting of the season and could’ve had a bigger day had the offense not stalled in the redzone (more on that later). I think Big Ben could have another big game this week, but I will always be concerned about starting him on the road. Start him if you must, but be cautious.

Le’Veon Bell – Start

In his 1st meeting against the Bengals, Bell rushed 35 times for 134 yards and added another 3 receptions and 58 yards receiving. The Bengals defense has been anything but special this season and due to Bell’s ridiculous historic workload this season, there is zero reason to keep him on your bench. Bell has been hot as of late, only adding fuel to what should be a solid game for him.

Antonio Brown – Start

Antonio Brown is arguably the best receiver in the NFL. There is absolutely zero reason to bench him. Ever. He continually commands the majority of the targets from Roethlisberger, giving him the highest upside of almost any receiver in the NFL on a weekly basis. Start him and reap the benefits.

JuJu Smith-Schuster – Sit

Coming off of a hamstring injury, JuJu is an iffy play this week in fantasy and likely won’t be pushed beyond his limits if he isn’t feeling 100%. JuJu and Big Ben have had their chemistry grow this season, giving the rookie some upside, especially considering his surprising deep ball prowess. Smith-Schuster could be a decent flex piece with some upside, but I would wait a week before re-inserting him into your lineup.

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Martavis Bryant – Sit

With all of the drama seemingly behind him, Bryant has had some big moments in recent weeks. He finally found the endzone for the first time since Week 2 but has yet to really have one of his big, deep field plays that he was known for before his 2016 season-long suspension. For that reason, Bryant sits firmly in the “boom-or-bust” category and shouldn’t be in your lineup unless you are in desperate need of a flex player.

Jesse James – Sit

Jesse James has re-involved himself back into the offense with the absence of Vance McDonald due to injury. This has allowed James to see some targets but not enough to consider him anything more than a touchdown-dependent player. The tight end position is thinner than ever, meaning there are certainly worse tight ends to use that aren’t James, but there are likely better as well. Keep him on your bench.

Steelers D/ST – Start

The Steelers defense has continually generated pressure this season, making life a nightmare for opposing quarterbacks. In their previous matchup with the Bengals, the Steelers picked off Andy Dalton twice and added an additional 4 sacks. The Bengals have struggled this season but are in a better position than they were earlier in the season. Don’t expect as explosive of an output from the Steelers this time around, but feel comfortable keeping them in your lineup.

Chris Boswell – Start

In case you needed a reminder, Boswell went 5/5 on field goals the last time these teams met and has converted 14 total field goals in their last 3 meetings. Coming off the game where he set his new career-high on distance (53 yards), the Wizard of Boz remains one of the safer plays in fantasy at kicker. He might not always have double digit outings, but his solid accuracy and an offense that stalls in the redzone make Boswell a consistent pick.


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