Cincinnati Bengals - Fantasy News

Who to Start: Antonio Brown or A.J. Green?

by Mike Rose

12/1/17

NFL

Cincinnati Bengals

A.J. Green

An AFC North matchup is set to go down at Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati on Monday Night Football when the Bengals welcome the Steelers for the first time since these two teams hooked up in Pittsburgh in Week 7.

The Steelers won that clash 29-14 and will be looking to bust out the brooms in this division rivalry. The first time around, Antonio Brown recorded four receptions for 65 yards and one touchdown to outplay wideout counterpart A.J. Green, who had three catches for 41 yards. He will look to outshine him once again.  

Fantasy Matchup: Antonio Brown (19.5 PFP) vs. A.J. Green (14.0 PFP)

Brown has averaged 19.59 Dober Fantasy Points per game on the season, which is more than Green. He enters this matchup installed as a 5.5-point favorite, which comes as no surprise because last week he was super clutch against the Green Bay Packers defense. Against a tired Packers secondary, he recorded 10 receptions for 169 yards and two touchdowns.

While Green Bay is ranked a horrendous No. 29 in fantasy against opposing wideouts, Brown and the rest of the Steelers wide receiver corps will turn their attention to a Bengals pass defense that ranks No. 3 in that department. Cincinnati has allowed just 203.8 passing yards per game, which is good for No. 5 in the NFL and has allowed just 26.0 fantasy points per game to receivers.

For the season, Brown has hauled in 80 receptions for 1,195 yards and eight touchdowns. He’s averaged 7.27 catches and 108.64 yards per game in the process. He’s managed to reach the 100-yard plateau six times in 12 efforts and has totaled 313 yards and five touchdown receptions in his last two contests. Let’s see if the top receiver in fantasy can continue his hot streak in Week 13.

Meanwhile, Green has averaged 13.13 Dober Fantasy Points per week. He’s hauled in 809 yards and six touchdowns and managed 100 yards or more three times. In the last three games, he’s scored twice. In his past four meetings with the Steelers, he’s averaged 15.0 yards per catch and 16.7 fantasy points per contest. If he can put up similar numbers, it will definitely help the Bengals keep pace with the potent Steelers offense in this prime-time affair.

As the No. 4 receiver in fantasy football, Green will be facing a Steelers defense that ranks No. 14 against fantasy wideouts. Pittsburgh’s ‘D’ has allowed only 193.4 passing yards per game as a unit, good for No. 3 in the league. It has also allowed only 26.2 fantasy points per contest to opposing wideouts. This could be a real disadvantage for Green on Monday night.

There is no doubt that Brown and Green are two of the most elite and prominent receivers in the NFL, which they’ve proven once again this season. But because Brown has been playing very good football, you should definitely ride the hot hand on your Dober Play Cards.

Week 13 Fantasy Projection: Antonio Brown (-5.5) vs. A.J. Green