The Bengals have allowed at least 21 points in every game this season.

Analysis: The Bengals just allowed Cardinals QB Kyler Murray to run wild for 93 yards while throwing for 253 yards in Week 5, and QB Lamar Jackson presents an even tougher task. Jackson has averaged 236.6 passing yards and 75.5 rushing yards per game over the last four weeks, and RB Mark Ingram can exploit weak run defenses as well. The Ravens have been careless with the ball at times with six turnovers over the last two games, but the Bengals have little upside in that category with just five turnovers…read more

The Bengals have forced five turnovers through four games, ranking 19th in the league.

Analysis: It's tough to generate fantasy points without turnovers and sacks, and the Bengals struggle in both categories with just five of each through four games. The Cardinals present an intriguing floor by averaging just 18.5 points per game, and there's a chance they'll be without WR Christian Kirk (ankle), who is tied for the team lead in targets (36) with WR Larry Fitzgerald. That would definitely take pressure off the Bengals' secondary, which has allowed 8.9 YPA this year -- the fourth-worst mark…read more

The Bengals have allowed the sixth-most points (27.7 PPG) in the league.

Analysis: The Bengals have allowed at least 21 points in every game this year, which hampers any fantasy upside they have. But there's not much in this outing, as the Bengals have just five sacks this season and Steelers QB Mason Rudolph was only sacked twice by a fierce 49ers' pass rush in Week 3. Rudolph is no Big Ben, but he has enough weapons around him led by WR JuJu Smith-Schuster and RB James Conner to manage the game. Even with a couple turnovers, the Steelers could push 30 points and wipe out…read more

The Bengals' have allowed 165.5 rushing yards per game through Week 2.

Analysis: The Bengals struggled to keep the Seahawks' and 49ers' backfields under wraps, and their matchup won't get any easier in Week 3. The Bills have a unique tandem of the rookie RB Devin Singletary, who has averaged 12.7 YPC, and veteran RB Frank Gore, who takes the bulk of the carries but marks just 2.9 YPC. That's not to mention QB Josh Allen's running abilities, as he leads the team in rushing touchdowns (two). The Bills should be able to get the ground game going, and Allen's arm has been…read more

The Bengals held Seattle's running backs to 3.1 YPC in Week 1.

Analysis: The Seahawks averaged 4.8 YPC in 2018, so the Bengals made a significant effort to stymie their run-heavy offense in the season opener. They also sacked QB Russell Wilson four times and forced a Chris Carson fumble, shaping up for a solid fantasy day. A Week 2 matchup against a similar 49ers offense awaits, so this is a solid opportunity for another fantasy-viable outing. RB Tevin Coleman (ankle) isn't expected to play, leaving Matt Breida and Raheem Mostert to man the backfield. Both are…read more

The Bengals will enter Week 1's game versus the Seahawks at full strength.

Analysis: The Seahawks were a notoriously run-heavy team last season, ranking second in the league with 33.4 rushing attempts per game. They were quite efficient with the three-man backfield of Chris Carson, Rashaad Penny and Mike Davis, but now they've swapped out Davis for a currently-healthy C.J. Prosise. The Seahawks' versatility spells trouble for the Bengals, who ranked 29th with 137.8 rushing yards allowed per game last year. Although the Seahawks passing game has tons of question marks behind top…read more

The Bengals had the 32nd-ranked overall defense (413.6 YPG) and the 30th-ranked scoring defense (28.4 PPG) in 2018.

Analysis: Cincinnati featured one of the worst defenses in the league last season and didn't significantly address the unit during the offseason, so it's tough to imagine a drastically different result in 2019. Kansas City racked up 38 points in the preseason opener, totaling 400 yards of offense. The Bengals will look for an improved effort in Thursday's preseason contest against the Redskins.

The Bengals feature the worst scoring (29.3 PPG) and total defense (418.3 YPG) in the NFL heading into their season finale against the Steelers.

Analysis: Cincinnati also ranks in the bottom half of the league in sacks (33) and takeaways (17), as the injury-ravaged unit has exhibited few strengths in 2018. Meanwhile, the Steelers possess one of the top offenses in the league, ranking in the top four in scoring (27.5 PPG) and total offense (407.3 YPG). QB Ben Roethlisberger is mistake-prone at times, as Pittsburgh has turned the ball over 25 times, but that hardly diminishes their strengths. The Bengals have proven to be one of the poorer…read more

The Bengals rank last in the NFL in total defense (413.0 YPG) and second-to-last in scoring defense (29.5 PPG) as they travel to Cleveland for a Week 16 matchup.

Analysis: Cincinnati had one of their better defensive outings of the season in last Sunday's win against Oakland, as they allowed 16 points and 297 yards of offense while forcing two turnovers. It only took facing one of the worst and most depleted offenses in the league to garner such a performance, but still, progress in progress. The last meeting with the Browns came Week 12 and Cleveland scored 35 points through the first three quarters to hand Cincinnati a lopsided defeat. The Browns rank in the…read more

Bengals linebacker Vontaze Burfict is nursing a concussion as Sunday's game against Oakland inches closer.

Analysis: Burfict's presence would certainly give the Bengals a boost, but probably to no avail. Cincinnati draws an Oakland offense in Week 15 that has endured its struggles. Yet, it seems more stars would have to align for the Bengals to begin warranting our serious attention. Cincinnati currently sits on a throne of disappointment as the league's worst-ranked total and scoring defense (421.9 YPG, 30.5 PPG). Some teams warrant matchup plays depending on the opposition. Cincinnati is one of the few…read more

Bengals cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick is nursing a foot injury ahead of Sunday's game against the Chargers.

Analysis: Regardless if Kirkpatrick plays, the Bengals are another defense to avoid in Week 14. Much of the season has been a struggle in Cincinnati, and while injuries are certainly responsible for the backwards slide, the defense has been (nicely put) lackluster in 2018. The Chargers have been somewhat overshadowed by their LA counterpart this year, but they're not a team to sleep on this week. Even without Melvin Gordon (knee) the Chargers hung 33 points on the Steelers during last week's 33-30…read more

The Bengals boast the league's worst-ranked total defense (439.6 YPG) entering Week 13 action.

Analysis: It's been a struggled to say the least for Cincinnati in 2018 and perhaps rock bottom was met following last week's 35-20 home loss to the Browns. The defeat marked the fourth time in the last five games in which the Bengals allowed 34-plus points. At 5-6, Marvin Lewis' squad is not out of contention for a wild card berth, but things appear to trending in the wrong direction...fast. Sunday's pivotal draw against Denver will featurew a pair of 5-6 teams with everything to lose. Although not…read more

The Bengals enter their Week 12 game against the Browns allowing a league-worst 449.2 yards per game.

Analysis: The Bengals managed to break a string of three straight games allowing 500-plus yards of offense in last week's 24-21 loss to the Ravens, but still managed to allow 265 yards rushing, including 117 to rookie QB Lamar Jackson in his first career start. Middle linebacker Preston Brown (knee) has now been placed on injured reserve while Nick Vigil continues to nurse a knee issue, as the injuries have debilitated the group of linebackers. The Browns offense has been inconsistent this season with…read more

The Bengals surrendered 509 total yards of offense during last week's 51-14 loss to the Saints. Cincinnati takes on the Ravens in Week 11.

Analysis: On one hand, it seems as though nobody has discovered the formula for slowing the Saints' offense. Even so, Cincinnati's Swiss-cheese defensive efforts have been a recurring bug. The poor defensive showing marked the third consecutive game in which the Bengals have conceded 500-plus yards of offense. Likewise, Marvin Lewis' squad has yielded at least 28 points in each of its last four contests. The only way for Cincinnati to win is apparently to score on each possession, otherwise it's a lost…read more