Bengals vs. Chargers Sunday Night Football Start 'Em, Sit 'Em: Joe Burrow, Justin Herbert, Chase Brown, J.K Dobbins, Ja'Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, and more

Let's take a look at some fantasy football outlooks for tonight's primetime clash. We have an exciting matchup for Sunday Night Football between two of the league's most interesting teams, as the Cincinnati Bengals take on the Los Angeles Chargers.

Despite possessing one of the league's most explosive offenses, the Bengals enter Week 11 with a 4-6 record, as the clock continues to click on their playoff chances. Another tough road challenge awaits against the Chargers on Sunday Night Football. It didn't take Jim Harbaugh long to completely renovate the culture in L.A., as the Bolts have been one of the league's best defenses with Justin Herbert playing at an All-Pro level.

We'll be bringing you Sunday Night Football analysis all year long, focusing on who to definitely start, who is on the fence, and who should find the bench. Let's dive into this awesome Sunday Night matchup. You can also read all Week 11 Matchups for the entire slate. Good luck, RotoBallers!

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Cincinnati Bengals at Los Angeles Chargers - 8:20 pm ET

Spread: Lions -1.5

Total: 48.5

Matchup Outlooks

Matchups We Love:

QB Justin Herbert 

Justin Herbert is a sneaky QB1 option in Week 11 against the Bengals. Herbert has finished as a top-12 fantasy quarterback in three straight games, and the Chargers quarterback ran a season-high nine times last week. As a result, he could be in for a big game against a Bengals defense that has allowed the fifth-most fantasy points per game and most rush yards to the position this season. 

Justin Herbert vs. Joe Burrow.

Who would you start a team with right now? 👀 pic.twitter.com/wtsEIh5y9e

— Sunday Night Football on NBC (@SNFonNBC) November 15, 2024

WR Quentin Johnston 

The target share (17.8%) remains a concern for Quentin Johnston's season-long value. He also saw only two targets in last week's win. However, he continues to get into the end zone, which makes him a sneaky flex option in 12-plus team leagues this weekend. Johnston has caught five touchdown passes across seven games, and the Bengals allowed Rashod Bateman, Nelson Agholor, and Tylan Wallace to cross the goal line last week. 

TE Will Dissly

If you need a tight end this week in 16-plus team leagues, Will Dissly has some potential as a TE1 option. He has caught at least five passes in three of the past four games, which helped him total at least eight PPR fantasy points in all three of those contests. Since the Bengals are also allowing the fourth-most fantasy points per game to tight ends, Dissly could be a high-floor play this weekend. 

Matchups We Hate:

RB Chase Brown

After seeing at least 21 touches in back-to-back games, you likely aren't sitting Chase Brown in fantasy this week. But he does have a tough matchup against the Chargers in Week 11. Los Angeles hasn't allowed a top-12 fantasy running back this season and has given up the third-fewest fantasy points per game to the position through 10 weeks. Still, Brown is a solid RB2 play this week.

Other Matchups:

QB Joe Burrow

Joe Burrow will continue to be a solid QB1 play this week against the Chargers. He has finished as the overall QB1 in back-to-back weeks, and this Chargers secondary just allowed Will Levis to score 19 fantasy points a week ago.

RB J.K. Dobbins

With Gus Edwards back in the mix last week, J.K. Dobbins still saw 18 carries and totaled 55 yards from scrimmage. While Dobbins does lose some goal-line touches with Edwards back, he will still be a solid RB2 option in Week 11 against the Bengals. Cincinnati has allowed the eighth-fewest fantasy points per game to opposing running backs, but that defense has also let up seven top-16 fantasy running backs this season. 

WR Ja'Marr Chase 

Chase is a must-start in Week 11, especially after his record-breaking game last week against the Ravens. He totaled 55.4 PPR fantasy points behind an 11-catch, 264-yard, three-touchdown performance. So, keep him in your lineups this week. 

WR Tee Higgins 

Tee Higgins (quad) has missed the past few games due to a quad injury, but he could return in Week 11 against the Chargers. If he does, Higgins will be a solid WR2 option. Even though the Chargers have allowed the sixth-fewest fantasy points per game to opposing wideouts this season, this secondary has allowed big games to Ridley (25.4 PPR points), Tillman (19.5 PPR points), and Olave (18.7 PPR points) in recent weeks. 

Bengals WR Tee Higgins is expected to play against the Chargers.

🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/O1uj3M9Jnq

— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) November 15, 2024

Update: Higgins is off the injury report and will play in Week 11.

WR Ladd McConkey

McConkey will be a low-end WR2 option in Week 11 against the Bengals. He has seen at least six targets in six of the past seven games while finishing as a top-32 fantasy wide receiver in four of those seven weeks. With the Chargers likely needing to score in this game to keep up with the Bengals, the rookie is a high-floor play this weekend. 

TE Mike Gesicki 

Whether you should play Mike Gesicki will come down to if Higgins plays or not. If he does, Gesicki should be left on benches in most leagues. The tight end has totaled only eight catches across five games with the wideout active this season. If Higgins is out, though, he becomes a solid TE1 option in most leagues. Gesicki has seen at least six targets in three straight games without the wideout in the lineup. 

Fantasy-Relevant Injuries: 

• Tee Higgins - Expected to Play

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