Bengals vs. Colts: Latest Odds and Stat Predictions for Top Fantasy Stars

The Cincinnati Bengals and Indianapolis Colts are set to square off for the second time this season, but this time the stakes are much higher in the Wild Card Round of the playoffs.

When these teams first met back in Week 7, the Colts earned a dominant 27-0 victory as the Bengals offense couldn't seem to get out of its own way, accumulating just 135 total yards. However, we should expect a much more even contest this time around, as Cincinnati has changed its offensive identity and Indianapolis has lost a bit of its firepower.

Despite those changes, both of these teams are chock-full of playmakers who could be fantasy studs for enthusiasts looking to dominate one-day leagues. Before we delve into some playoff fantasy analysis, let's first take a look at the game's updated odds and viewing information to ensure you don't miss a moment of the action.

Game Information

When: Sunday, Jan. 4

Where: Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana

Time: 1:05 p.m. ET

Channel: CBS

Live Stream: CBSSports.com

Betting Info (via Odds Shark):

• Over/Under: 49
• Spread: Colts (-3)

Fantasy Breakdown

Cincinnati Bengals

Player	Pos.	Projected Stats	Fantasy Points
Andy Dalton	QB	232 yds, 1 TD, 1 INT, 26 rush yds	13
Jeremy Hill	RB	147 rush yds, 2 TDs, 13 rec yds	27
Giovani Bernard	RB	56 rush yds, 42 rec yds	9
A.J. Green	WR	92 rec yds, 1 TD	15

Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton hasn't been overwhelmingly impressive in the fantasy ranks of late. He's scored exactly 13 fantasy points in each of his last two games, and that trend will likely continue against a Colts team allowing an average of 15 fantasy points per game to opposing signal-callers this season. This Cincinnati offense isn't pass-happy anymore.

Gene J. Puskar/Associated Press

Jeremy Hill, on the other hand, is poised for an enormous day. The rookie has carried at least 22 times in each of his last three games, and he's quickly become the centerpiece of the Bengals offense. The last time he received 25 carries, he put up 26 fantasy points, and he's likely to see that workload in the playoffs against a Colts team that allows an average of 18.1 fantasy points to opposing ball-carriers.

Pat Thorman of Pro Football Focus noted the significant increase in Hill's fantasy value—and Cincinnati's record—when the running back receives at least 17 carries:

Due to the emergence of Hill, running back Giovani Bernard has fallen by the wayside. He doesn't get many carries anymore, but he still has some value in the passing game, scoring a receiving touchdown in each of his last two contests. He could be in for a nice day if he scores again, but if he doesn't, expect a single-digit fantasy performance.

Wide receiver A.J. Green must be monitored prior to the game, as he's still dealing with the league's concussion protocol, according to Marc Sessler of NFL.com. However, Green has been Cincinnati's most reliable target in the passing game, and while the Colts only allow an average of 17.6 fantasy points to opposing wide receivers, Green's sheer volume of targets will afford him a decent outing.

Indianapolis Colts

Player	Pos.	Projected Stats	Fantasy Points
Andrew Luck	QB	313 yards, 3 TDs, 2 INTs, 34 rush yds	23
Daniel Herron	RB	62 rush yds, 31 rec yds	9
T.Y. Hilton	WR	108 rec yds, 1 TD	16
Coby Fleener	TE	72 rec yds, 1 TD	13

Colts quarterback Andrew Luck finished the season as the league's second-highest scoring fantasy quarterback; however, he displayed inconsistency down the final stretch, scoring 14, zero and 14 points to end the season. While the Bengals have become a ball-hawking secondary, they still allow decent yards to opposing signal-callers, giving up more than 300 in three of their last four games.

Mark Zaleski/Associated Press

Running back Daniel Herron spent some time with the Bengals, and due to an injury to Ahmad Bradshaw, he's become the Colts lead back. However, Indianapolis isn't much of a running team, and while the Bengals do allow an average of 19.4 fantasy points to opposing ball-carriers, Herron's sporadic usage will limit his fantasy value.

T.Y. Hilton really came through for the Colts—and his fantasy owners—in 2014. However, a nagging hamstring injury has prevented him from recording a reception since Week 15. According to Larry Hartstein of CBSSports.com, the receiver returned to practice this week, making him likely to play on Sunday. Cincinnati has struggled against quicker receivers this season, so expect Hilton to put up some nice numbers.

Kevin Bowen of Colts.com elaborated on Hilton's status:

Tight end Coby Fleener could be a nice dark horse in this contest. The Bengals have been good against opposing tight ends of late, allowing single-digit fantasy points in each of their last 10 contests. However, Fleener did rack up four receptions for 64 yards the last time Cincinnati came to town and is now being utilized more in the team's offense.

All fantasy rankings and statistics courtesy of ESPN.com standard-scoring leagues and current as of Dec. 31.