Monday Night Matchups Analysis

Texans @ Bengals

Matchups We Love:

Marvin Jones, WR, Bengals - The Bengals offense has six players that are must start fantasy options. The trio of Andy Dalton, A.J. Green and Tyler Eifert have all spoken for themselves and their fantasy value this season. The running back duo has been frustrating but productive. Finally, Marvin Jones has separated himself as the WR on the other side of Green that Dalton most looks for. Jones is averaging a consistent six targets a game without the consistent production. Despite being the fourth receiving option on the team he is still a top 40 fantasy WR by almost any standard or ranking. The Texans have just been a bad defense all year and they are missing a few key players (Kareem Jackson and Jadeveon Clowney) so Jones and the Bengals offense have an appetizing matchup.

Alfred Blue, RB, Texans - Blue hasn't played that well but he is going to get a lot of opportunities Monday Night. Chris Polk is battling an injury and the Texans simply just don't have that many bodies on the team that can produce offensively. Blue and the Texans run game haven't done much to be in love with them but they are still going to be heavily leaned on to produce. Outside of DeAndre Hopkins, Blue might be the only Texan worth rostering at this point in the season.

Matchups We Hate:

Mohamed Sanu, WR, Bengals - With the rising of Marvin Jones comes the inevitable downfall of Mohamed Sanu. Jones has 103 more snaps than Sanu through the teams eight games played this year. With the abundance of talent on the Bengals offense Sanu has become a situational healthy Sanu just isn't worth a roster spot.

Brian Hoyer, QB, Texans - Hoyer has been surprisingly productive - fantasy wise - in every game he's played in this year. Hoyer has thrown for two touchdowns in all but one game while averaging 263.5 passing yards a game. Other weeks I might have considered liking Hoyer but this Bengals defense has been playing it's best ball the last two weeks. For the season, the Bengals have given up the seventh fewest fantasy points to opposing QBs. Hoyer might be a good play if you're absolutely desperate moving forward, but this week is one where the Texans may wish Ryan Mallett was still on the squad.

Prove It To Me Players:

DeAndre Hopkins, WR, Texans - Hopkins is on pace for 132 receptions, 1740 yards, and 12 touchdowns this season. Needless to say start him, the only question is will he have double digit receptions or not?

Chris Polk, RB, Texans - Polk is injured and may seem limited snaps as a result. For that reason he isn't worth playing but even when Polk has gotten the opportunity this year he hasn't done anything with it. Although Arian Foster is gone for the year Polk still isn't worth the roster spot. Polk has the chance on Monday Night to potentially change my mind about this but if he still doesn't produce than there just isn't enough season left to believe he will figure it out.

Cecil Shorts III/Nate Washington, WR, Texans - Cecil Shorts will be returning after missing two weeks with a hamstring injury. During his absence Nate Washington showed potential to be the number two receiver opposite DeAndre Hopkins (Washington had 13 receptions, 201 yards, three touchdowns). Both Shorts and Washington won't be worth the start because they'll be vulturing targets from each other. Even if one emerges as the guy on Monday Night that won't mean much going forward because they're both just "guys" that aren't DeAndre Hopkins.

Giovani Bernard/Jeremy Hill, RB, Bengals - Bernard is the better back, but Hill has more touches this year. Bernard has more rushing/receiving yards but Hill has more rushing/receiving touchdowns. The Bengals backfield situation might be one of the most frustrating in the league but the positive side is that both backs are worth starting. Bernard obviously has more value in PPR leagues but both backs should be starting in 12 team leagues.

Andy Dalton, A.J. Green, Tyler Eifert, Bengals - Obviously you start all three of them. Can Andy Dalton have an MVP season if he is surrounded by so many people who are complete and total studs at their position? Eifert has been the most productive TE outside of Gronk and Green has had a subpar season by his standards but still ranks as a top 15 WR. Basically, even when Andy Dalton is playing well I still think he's overrated but that doesn't mean you shouldn't start him and five other Bengals.

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