When the Denver Broncos travel to Cincinnati to play the Bengals in Week 9, it will be veteran QB Peyton Manning that is the biggest difference maker in the early Sunday battle.

Has Peyton Manning returned to fantasy prominence?

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Manning and the fourth-ranked pass offense of the Broncos (292.9 yards per game through the air) will be playing against the mediocre Bengals secondary.

With veteran Leon Hall coming back from a knee injury and playing better each week, Cincinnati’s 16th-ranked defense will have to step up big if it wants to stop Manning and the boys.

Lucky enough for fantasy owners, each of the offensive weapons around Manning will play huge and make his day even easier.

 

Hi-res-154260318_crop_exact Jeff Gross/Getty Images

Fantasy Breakdown

Manning is coming off his fifth-straight game of at least 300 passing yards and his fourth straight game with three touchdowns. For those fantasy owners still skeptical of Manning’s health, those numbers should answer all questions emphatically.

Who is Peyton Manning's biggest weapon?

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Add in the evolution of star receivers Demaryius Thomas and Eric Decker, and Manning has the weapons to make him the must-start fantasy option he has been throughout his career.

With the elite play of Willis McGahee in every capacity—five games this season of at least 98 all-purpose yards—Manning has the offense around him to make a fantasy start a must against almost any defense.

As good as Cincinnati was supposed to be this year, it has resorted to the way of the Bungles and will not pose a threat to Manning and the Broncos Sunday.

Start Manning in any formatted league from here on out.

 

Final Predicted Stat Line: 27-of-37 for 311 yards and three touchdowns

 

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