Seahawks vs. Bengals: Week 6 Start 'Em, Sit 'Em - Geno Smith, Kenneth Walker III, Tyler Lockett, DK Metcalf, Joe Burrow, Ja'Marr Chase, Tee Higgins

Welcome to our Bengals vs. Seahawks fantasy football start 'em, sit 'em matchups analysis article for Week 6 of the 2023 NFL season.

Read our matchups analysis, player breakdowns, and lineup recommendations for the matchup and set those winning lineups. Good luck RotoBallers!

Seattle Seahawks at Cincinnati Bengals

Spread: Bengals -3.0
Implied Total: Seahawks (21) vs. Bengals (24)
Pace: Seahawks (11th) vs. Bengals (19th)
Seahawks Off. DVOA: 37.4% Pass (7th), -0.7% Rush (9th)
Bengals Off. DVOA: -5.7% Pass (24th), -12.2% Rush (20th)
Seahawks Def. DVOA: 16.3% Pass (25th), -32.1% Rush (2nd)
Bengals Def. DVOA: 3.5% Pass (12th), 7.2% Rush (30th)

WEATHER: This game is expected to have moderate wind with heavier gusts but no rain. The impact should be minimal.

Matchups We Love

Ja'Marr Chase (WR, CIN)

As a spectator, you often think to yourself why don't they just hyper-target their best player, especially when he's as good as Chase? Chase shared this view, putting up posts of 7/11, indicating he's always open. Thankfully, Joe Burrow obliged to the tune of 15 receptions for 192 yards and three touchdowns. He actually finished ahead of Moore, who we wrote about in the last matchup, which is unthinkable. Chase capitalized on Tee Higgins' absence and will continue to be a force.

Without Higgins, the assumption was Tyler Boyd would take on the No. 2 role. However, Trenton Irwin played two more snaps and bested him in targets, receptions, and yards. Boyd did have a touchdown called back, but it seems like more of a 2A and 2B than you would've anticipated. Higgins has been a limited participant on Wednesday and Thursday, indicating he could return. He'd be a riskier top-36 receiver if active.

UPDATE: Higgins is listed as questionable for Sunday's game. At this point, it's best to look at other options even if he plays.

Seahawks WRs

The last time we saw the duo of DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett, it was in an odd struggle against the Giants on Monday of Week 4. The bye week should do good things for this offense, particularly their O-line, which has been riddled with injuries. They're the WR23 and WR40 in fantasy points per game, respectively, but I'd expect those numbers to climb in the coming weeks. The Bengals are a middle-of-the-pack matchup, keeping these two in the top 20.

Kenneth Walker III (RB, SEA)

Kenneth Walker III has been a touchdown machine in 2023, which is a skill set he flashed in his rookie year. He has 11 attempts inside the 10-yard line, five of which he's converted into touchdowns. His red zone usage and efficiency are top five in the league, plus he's averaging 16 carries per game. He's firmly in the top 12 against Cincy, who ranks 30th in run DVOA and 31st in rushing yards per attempt allowed.

Matchups We Hate

Geno Smith (QB, SEA)

After a breakout season, Smith hasn't looked quite like he did thus far. His on-target percentage of 76.1% ranks 16th, his quarterback rating of 97.8 ranks 10th, he's averaging just 212 passing yards per game, and has only five passing touchdowns. Some of it can be attributed to the offensive line, but something seems off. He's not been a great start for fantasy, and this isn't a matchup to expect a huge performance, making him a lower streaming option.

Other Matchups

Joe Burrow (QB, CIN)

It was great to see the statistical performance from Burrow, but what was more noteworthy was his mobility and movement. He looked a lot more comfortable, even scrambling for a 10-yard gain. It's tempting to crown him as back to his usual self, but with a bye week lurking and the promising day coming against Arizona, it's wise not to buy all the way back in just yet. It's another good spot for him and Chase to excel so he remains a top-12 signal-caller.

Joe Mixon (RB, CIN)

The two things Mixon thrives on in this offense are scoring opportunities and volume, especially in the passing attack. Neither of those was working out well through the first four weeks with only one touchdown and nine receptions. Thankfully, just like the rest of the offense, those things bounced back against the Cardinals.

He tied his season-high of four catches to add to his 25 rushing attempts. He didn't find pay dirt but he had a couple of opportunities, which he's likely to capitalize on in the future.  The Seahawks are a tough opponent on the ground, so scoring or catching passes will need to sustain his value.

Notable Injuries

Tee Higgins (ribs)
DK Metcalf (ribs)

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