Tyler Kroft Next Man Up in Cinci

BALLER MOVE: Add in Deep Leagues

OWNED IN: 1% Owned in Fleaflicker

ANALYSIS: Can you believe Pittsburgh’s Mike Mitchell concussed another player?  Can you believe Cincinnati has two tight ends named Tyler on their roster?  And can you believe that Tyler Kroft could actually help someone win their fantasy league?

Kroft should be the next man up at tight end if Eifert cannot dress this week after suffering a concussion at the hands and helmet of Mitchell.  Kroft and fellow Cincy second-stringer A.J. McCarron hooked up twice for 31 yards after Eifert and QB Andy Dalton left this past Sunday’s game.  That’s all well and good for the third-round Rutgers rookie, but he has a long way to go to prove to fantasy owners that he is worthy of a pickup.  Kroft only has four receptions on the season.

The Dalton-less Bengals will travel to San Francisco this Sunday to face the 49ers, who cover receivers as well as Colin Kaepernick throws spirals.  San Fran is ranked 27^th against the pass, so if Kroft fails to post decent numbers this weekend it will not be because he was locked down by sticky defensive backs.

Cincinnati’s wideouts should be bigger beneficiaries of Eifert’s injury if he is unable to go this weekend than Kroft.  But for fantasy owners who have Eifert and do not see many other options on their league’s waiver wire, Kroft can be picked up and plugged in, and owners who do that can pray that Kroft and McCarron stay on the same page and connect more often.