Don't Turn Your Back on the Cincinnati Bengals

If it weren't for the Detroit Lions last year, the Cincinnati Bengals could have easily been the laughing stock of the NFL.

And if it weren't for the Bengals' three-game winning streak to end the year, they would have finished with the league's second-worst record.

Ah, but a new year is up for the Bungles.

Surely, this team can't compete with the likes of Pittsburgh and Baltimore, who squared off in the AFC Championship game last year. And there is no way anyone should look to this roster for significant fantasy production either.

Or is there?

You better think twice about those comments and put some serious thought into drafting both Carson Palmer and Chad Ochocinco in this year's fantasy draft.

It's going to be tough to pull the trigger on a QB after his surgeon said, "[His injury] was devastating and potentially career-ending."

The USC standout and two-time Pro Bowl QB suffered torn ligaments in his left knee, damaged cartilage, and a dislocated knee cap.

His star wideout, who is a five-time Pro Bowler, is coming off of his worst statistical season, since his rookie year and demanded a trade throughout last year.

This sounds like an instant recipe for disaster. But if you draft them at the appropriate time, both can be had and both can contribute to your championship run.

I am in a fantasy league run by cbssports.com, in which standard scoring is in place with the exception that all receptions are worth one point. With that in mind, Ochocinco is the 18th ranked receiver by the Web site. Palmer is the 13th ranked QB.

This means both can fall into the middle rounds where you can scoop them up and earn double points. Too often, we focus on whom to draft in the opening rounds and then fall asleep at the wheel during the middle rounds. Fantasy owners start to draft on positional needs and not on the players that are going to produce the most points for their team.

This is a classic example where other fantasy players may need a QB and they start to draft the likes of Matt Ryan, Jay Cutler, and Tony Romo just because their mock draft kit tells them to do so. I'm not going to argue that Palmer is better than any or all of them. I will argue that if Palmer is drafted with Ochocinco the combo could prove to be one of the best in fantasy football.

Last year Kurt Warner went undrafted in our league. He was our first pickup after the draft because we took Larry Fitzgerald with the sixth overall pick. We were not putting all of our eggs in one basket since we drafted another quarterback during the draft. But when we knew if Fitz went off, Warner was going to be the main beneficiary.

Well the same holds true here. If Palmer goes off, Ochocinco will have a tremendous season.

This does not mean you should draft either one with a top pick or go out of your way to get them. Take some players you are comfortable with and then take a gamble on this combo that could be one of the more prolific in the NFL this year.

Palmer was the full-time starter for the Bengals from 2005-2007. During that stretch he put up the following averages: 4,000 yards, 28 TD and 15 INT.

Ochocinco during that same stretch put up averages of: 92 receptions, 1,413 yards and eight TD.

Those are some incredible numbers for guys that can be had in the middle of the draft this year. And if you draft wisely you can take a better QB a couple spots ahead and rely on him if Palmer doesn't pan out this year. Or you can do the same with a receiver and Ochocinco.

Also remember the departure of T.J. Houshmandzadeh could help increase Ochocinco's production, while it may hurt Palmer since he has less options to throw to now.

The point, however, is to keep your options open and don't use fantasy magazines and projections to make picks in the middle rounds. Use your gut and instinct. Go with players that you know have outstanding potential and could help you win a championship.

A lot of great players are seeing their stock drop significantly this year, which means if they return to the players we remembered them as, you could have a stocked roster.