Bengals vs. Steelers Saturday Start 'Em, Sit 'Em - Joe Burrow, Russell Wilson, Ja'Marr Chase, George Pickens, Tee Higgins, and more

We kick off the final week of the NFL regular season with a Saturday slate that features two matchups. Below you can read our matchups analysis article for the Bengals vs. Steelers game to help make any fantasy lineup decisions for both season-long and DFS.

Motivation will be high for both the Bengals and Steelers in Week 18, as this matchup holds serious postseason ramifications. For Cincinnati, this is a must-win situation, while Pittsburgh will likely wait and see what happens with Baltimore in Saturday's earlier contest.

Read our fantasy football breakdowns for these games -- the recommended starts, sits, and matchups we love heading into the Week 18 slate. Good luck, RotoBallers!

• Quarterback fantasy football rankings
• Running back fantasy football rankings
• Wide receiver fantasy football rankings
• Tight end fantasy football rankings
• Kicker fantasy football rankings
• FLEX fantasy football rankings
• Defense (D/ST) fantasy football rankings
• Superflex fantasy football rankings
• IDP fantasy football rankings
• Dynasty fantasy football rankings

Cincinnati Bengals at Pittsburgh Steelers

Spread: Bengals -2.5
Implied Total: 48.5

Matchups We Love

QB Russell Wilson

Russell Wilson will enter Week 18 as a low-end QB1 option against the Bengals. Cincinnati has given up the fifth-most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks this season and has allowed multiple passing touchdowns in six of the past seven games. Given that Wilson also scored over 27 fantasy points against this secondary back in Week 13, he'll be a solid play this weekend.

Russell Wilson races to the pylon for his second rushing touchdown of the season! pic.twitter.com/AATyfsYD3T

— NFL Fantasy Football (@NFLFantasy) December 25, 2024

TE Pat Freiermuth 

Pat Freiermuth had another solid fantasy performance last week against the Chiefs, catching a season-high seven passes for 60 yards. Freiermuth has now scored in double figures in PPR formats in four of the past five games. As a result, he'll be a low-end TE1 play in a great matchup against the Bengals in Week 18. Cincinnati has allowed the most fantasy points to opposing tight ends in 2024.

Matchups We Hate

None

Other Matchups

QB Joe Burrow

Joe Burrow has been one of the best quarterback options this season, especially as of late. Burrow has thrown at least three passing touchdowns in eight straight games. As a result, he'll be a strong QB1 option in Week 18. He scored 20.3 fantasy points against the Steelers back in Week 13, and this matchup shouldn't scare away fantasy managers from playing him this weekend.

LEGEND: #Bengals QB Joe Burrow can become the 2nd player in #NFL GISTORY with at least three touchdown passes in nine consecutive games.

Burrow would join the GOAT Tom Brady, during the greatest season ever, 2007.

BURROW IS A STRONG MVP CANDIDATE. pic.twitter.com/mwNJ7903ad

— MLFootball (@_MLFootball) January 3, 2025

Steelers RBs 

Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren will be potential flex plays in Week 18 against the Bengals. Harris has played under 50% of the team's offensive snaps in four straight games, so his fantasy value is surely trending down. So, he'll be a riskier flex option on Saturday. As for Warren, he is a much better flex play. He has scored over 14 PPR fantasy points in back-to-back games and just totaled 112 yards from scrimmage last week.

Bengals RBs 

It remains to be seen if Chase Brown (ankle) will be able to suit up on Saturday against the Steelers. Brown left last week's game early due to an ankle injury. If he plays, though, he will continue to be a strong RB1 option. He has totaled at least 20 touches in seven of the past eight games. If he were to miss, Khalil Herbert would likely see the bulk of opportunities out of the backfield and would be a solid RB2 play.

WR George Pickens 

George Pickens didn't do much in last week's loss to the Chiefs but did play 91% of the team's offensive snaps in his first game back from a hamstring injury. As a result, fantasy managers can start him with confidence in Week 18 against the Bengals. Cincinnati just allowed Marvin Mims Jr. and Courtland Sutton to combine for 13 catches for 158 yards and three touchdowns last week. So, Pickens will be a strong WR2 option.

Bengals WRs 

With the Bengals still in the hunt for a playoff spot, both Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins will be must-start wideouts in Week 18 against the Steelers. Chase is currently the WR1 of the year and has totaled over 18 PPR fantasy points in seven straight games. As for Higgins, he's coming off a dominant 11-catch, 131-yard, three-touchdown performance against the Broncos. So, both Bengals wideouts are great plays this weekend.

Tee Higgins needs to be appreciated more pic.twitter.com/ulm9uODmei

— Megan (@MeganMakinMoney) December 29, 2024

TE Mike Gesicki

Mike Gesicki was surprisingly involved in the passing game last week, catching 10 passes for 86 yards. Despite playing under 35% of the team's offensive snaps in three straight games from Week 14 to Week 16, Gesicki played 57% of the team's offensive snaps in last week's win. While we don't know if that snap share will continue in Week 18 against the Steelers, he can be a solid TE1 option in deeper leagues this weekend.

Notable Fantasy-Relevant Injuries

• None

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