With Fantasy Football season ready to kick in high gear, FanHouse is here to preview each and every team -- one per day until we've done them all. Meet The ...
Team best known for self-destruction and felonies! Yes, only in America ... it's the Cincinnati Bengals. Honestly though, the troubled times seem to be in the past, as the Bengals are preaching team unity and singing a new tune heading into the upcoming season. Under the radar? Sleepers? Well, when was the last time we heard such chatter as it relates to the Bengals? Hold tight, let's watch this story develop. However, you heard it here first (sort of): The Bengals have some fantasy potential.
They possess one of the top quarterbacks in the league (when healthy), a stable of cast-off running backs, a troubled receiving corps with "rebound" potential and the capability to be an explosive offense, again. Will the line hold up to keep Carson healthy? Will Ochocinco snap back into circa 2005 form? A lot of questions, but you already know there is gonna be risk with these guys. However, this year they do offer a sliver of hope that they will indeed reward.
The Breakout
Chris Henry. We've been waiting and waiting for him to stay out of trouble and he managed to do so for this entire off-season. When he's on the field, it's tough to argue his talent. You'll have to turn the clocks back to 2006, with a healthy Carson Palmer and a suspension-less season, Henry grabbed nine TDs. He complements this offense perfectly as third option. One could argue he helps the offense click when he's on the field.
He's a semi-proven commodity as a deep threat. And with the ever confusing Ochocinco saga and the uncertainty of Laveranues Coles as the 2nd option, one should like the chances of Henry and Palmer rebuilding some rapport. Is it a long shot? Of course, but who else do you really trust on the Bengals to actually "break-out"? Temper your expectations, I'm certainly not forecasting a 1,500 yard season. I'm seeing more like 800 to 900 yards and around 10 TDs. That wouldn't be bad for WR3 or flex spot.
The Bust
Sorry, Cedric Benson, but we aren't fooled. Benson assumed the starting gig by default last season and it looks to be more of the same present tense. Hopefully by now we can all agree that Benson should not be trusted with a feature role on any team, let alone your fantasy team. Benson closed last season about as strong as one possibly could and left a lot of eager owners tantalizing over him finally tapping into his potential. Your eyes do NOT deceive you, he dropped 171 yards on the Browns in Week 16.
Now, raise your hand if you were starting Benson in your Championship game. I commend you for trusting him if you did just that. However, that's fools gold my friends...it was the Browns. Fact of the matter is the Bengals were down to Jordan Palmer at QB and the passing game was in the tank. Basically, he was all they had, so they fed him the ball non-stop.
Benson enters camp as the starter and despite the fact that Bengals finally cut ties with the ever-injured bust in Chris Perry, the backfield is still somewhat cloudy. Brian Leonard was picked up off waivers to fill the back-up role and we're certain to see a dose of Kenny Watson at some point. The Bengals also have a fondness for Bernard Scott whom they took in the 6th round of this past draft.
Benson has a long history of letting us down. Look no further than his days in Chicago. The Bengals aren't 100% in belief that he is their guy. I'm sensing a consistent shake-up in this backfield all season long. Benson will be consistently inconsistent and the forecast calls for something along the lines of 700 yards and a mere 3 TD's.
The Depth Chart
QB1 - Carson Palmer
QB2 - J.T O'Sullivan
RB1 - Cedric Benson
RB2 - Brian Leonard
RB3 - Kenny Watson
WR1 - Chad Ochocinco
WR2 - Laveranues Coles
WR3 - Chris Henry
WR4 - Antonio Chatman
WR5 - Jerome Simpson
TE1 - Reggie Kelly
TE2 - Ben Utecht
K - Shayne Graham
The D/ST
The old Achilles heel in Cincinnati has always been the defense. However, surprisingly in fantasy terms this is a defense that managed to produce it's fair share of turnovers last season. This is a defense that loves to gamble, but has improved in the better course of the past few seasons. They ranked in the lower half of the league against the run and points allowed last season, so they'll no doubt have to improve in those areas. However, much like the offense you can always use the Bengals DST as a high risk/high reward unit against certain match-ups. Of course, with better options...I never suggest as much. Yet, with the draft selections of Rey Maualuga at linebacker and Michael Johnson at DE, all signs indicate the Bengals intend to get serious about playing good defense. That's fine and dandy if you're looking at the bright side of things. However, for fantasy football purposes they are what they are, a bye week filler against the right match-up.
The Skinny
The moral of the story here is the Bengals pose great risk at the skilled positions, but they also could be huge steals in the middle of the draft.
-As mentioned, if Carson Palmer is healthy (and all reports indicate he is) look out. He's a top fantasy QB talent looking for a rebound season and it was just a few short seasons ago he was an every week starter. He'll no doubt slide down some draft boards based on injury concerns, but with a solid receiving corps in stable, I find Palmer to be the sneaky steal of the draft at the QB position.
-Oh Ocho, Oh Ocho. What can we make of the man formerly known as Chad Johnson? He's coming off by far his worst statistical season to date. For many, he's fallen completely off the fantasy map. Tough fall for a guy who was once a top 5 fantasy WR. He's doing and saying all the right things thus far, but isn't his best asset his mouth? He's always talked a "monster" game, but failed to live it up. This is a make or break season for Chad and it's hard to see him replicating the disaster that was last season. Let's remember just how much his game suffered without Carson Palmer. This season he is the undisputed focal point of this offense with T.J Houshmandzadeh gone for greener pastures.
-Laveranues Coles steps into the role vacated by Houshmandzadeh. One problem though: He's not nearly as good at this point in his career. Coles was pretty much a lost cause in the Jets offense last season, sans a few break-out games. He could be a safety valve for Palmer, but nothing along the lines that old #84 brought to the table. Expect the usual from Coles - decent numbers, but nothing to confidently start on a fantasy roster. If he's taken before Round 12, somebody made a mistake.
-You know how I feel about Chris Henry, so thank or hate me later.
-Cedric Benson will no doubt be snatched by some gung-ho owner in the mid-to-late rounds looking for a sneaky pick as a starting option. However, my hunch tells me that at some point the rookie Bernard Scott gets a chance. You may be stuck holding onto him for a while if you opt to grab him via the draft. The advice here would be to monitor Benson and grab Scott off the waivers when the time is right.
It isn't 2005 anymore and the Bengals offensive stars are sure to slip down the draft boards, but play the hunch if the spot is right and be ready for the revival of sorts.
