Fantasy Football Week 12 Thanksgiving Night: Cincinnati Bengals at New York Jets

Week 12 Match-up:  Cincinnati Bengals (2-8) at New York Jets (8-2)

Rankings based on top 16 QBs, 32 RBs, 48 WRs and 16 TEs

(brought to you by pyromaniac.com)

Cincinnati Bengals (Bengals Schedule)

Opponent Defensive Ranks

New York Jets Pass Defense – 2010: Yards Allowed/Game 16th - TDs Allowed T-11th

New York Jets Rush Defense – 2010: Yards Allowed/Game 5th – TDs Allowed T-8th

Cincinnati Offensive Cast

Carson Palmer (QB Week 12 Ranking: Not ranked)

2010 Season: 240/394 for 2,625 yards and 18 TDs

Like I said last week, the reason why Palmer is putting up decent fantasy stats is NOT because he’s good (because he’s not), but because his receivers are all-world.  However, I wouldn’t put faith in them Thanksgiving night against what has come to be a stifling Jets pass D again with Darrelle Revis back on his game.

Cedric Benson (RB Week 12 Ranking: No. 28)

2010 Season: 200 carries for 747 yards and 4 TDs. 19 receptions for 126 yards and one TD

What’s even worse for the Bengals in this game is that the Jets rush defense is even better than their pass D!  That said, Benson should get a heavy workload in an effort to control the game, so some decent stats could come as a result.

Chad Ochocinco (WR Week 12 Ranking: No. 32)

2010 Season: 50 receptions for 587 yards & four TDs

Whether it’s Revis Island or Cromartie Canyon guarding him this game, it won’t matter.  Don’t expect much more than WR3 fantasy stats, at best, for ol’ Ochoschizo.

Terrell Owens (WR Week 12 Ranking: No. 28)

2010 Season: 62 receptions for 897 yards and 8 TDs

The same goes for TO as it does for Ochoschizo.  Both Revis and Cromartie will get their chance to shut him (and his mouth) down this game and I expect them to do a pretty decent job.  Palmer will certainly be tossing it up his way quite a bit, but I still don’t expect more than WR3-type stats for Owens in this one.

Jordan Shipley (WR Week 12 Ranking: Not ranked)

2010 Season: 35 receptions for 480 yards and one TD

The beneficiary of tight corner coverage on Ochoschizo and TO this game might be Jordan Shipley.  I can’t say he’ll get more than about 50 yards, but he’ll likely see a bunch of targets with Palmer dumping it off all game.

Jermaine Gresham (TE Week 12 Ranking: Not ranked)

2010 Season: 42 receptions for 330 yards and 3 TDs

When your wide receivers are being blanketed the way they will be this game, I’d normally look to the tight end for some pretty good production.  However, the Jets only allow 3.7 receptions a game to TEs, so the only way Gresham will be productive for your team is if he can do something special with those limited chances.

New York Jets (Jets Schedule)

Opponent Defensive Ranks

Cincinnati Pass Defense – 2010: Yards Allowed/Game 18th - TDs Allowed T-13th

Cincinnati Rush Defense – 2010: Yards Allowed/Game 23rd – TDs Allowed T-26th

New York Jets Offensive Cast

Mark Sanchez (QB Week 12 Ranking: No. 11)

2010 Season: 185/336 for 2,306 yards and 15 TDs

Sanchez may not be an elite quarterback just yet, but he sure has been tossing the pill around like one lately.  Dirty Sanchize has averaged 316.7 yards and two TDs a game over the last three weeks, so with the Bengals pass D being a bit sketchy, I could easily see a nice 275-yard, two-TD game out of him.

LaDainian Tomlinson (RB Week 12 Ranking: No. 13)

2010 Season: 153 carries for 692 yards and 5 TDs. 43 receptions for 315 yards and zero TDs

The Jets have been tapering down LT21’s carries the past handful of weeks, but that doesn’t mean he won’t rack up a whole bunch of total yards and probably a TD in this one.  Cinci allows the seventh most points in the league (26.2 points/game) with a good amount of them coming on the ground.  Look for LaDainian to snatch one up this Thanksgiving.

Shonn Greene (RB Week 12 Ranking: No. 30)

2010 Season: 122 carries for 505 yards and one TD. Eight receptions for 58 yards and zero TDs

The big, second-year back has been working his way back into the fold lately as he’s had more carries than LT21 in each of the last two games.  He may not be as dynamic as the old guy, but he’ll get the opportunity to run it down the Bengals throat when all’s said and done this Thursday night.

Santonio Holmes (WR Week 12 Ranking: No. 11)

2010 Season: 27 receptions for 447 yards and 3 TDs

Santonio is one of the hottest wide receivers in the game right now.  He and Sanchez have developed quite a rapport in just six games of action together, which makes it pretty scary to think about what they’ll do in the future.  As for this game, the Cinci pass D is nothing special, so have fun riding out Holmes’ current streak.

Braylon Edwards (WR Week 12 Ranking: No. 23)

2010 Season: 33 receptions for 598 yards and 6 TDs

Holmes isn’t the only one streaking right now as Braylon is having no problem picking up the slack left by the injured Jerricho Cotchery.  In seven of the Jets 10 games this year, Edwards has made a grab of 30-plus yards.  My guess is that he’ll do it again this week and more.

Jerricho Cotchery (WR Week 12 Ranking: Not ranked)

2010 Season: 29 receptions for 315 yards and 2 TDs

Cotchery has been ruled out for this game due to a groin injury. 

Dustin Keller (TE Week 12 Ranking: Not ranked)

2010 Season: 35 receptions for 479 yards and 5 TDs

If there’s one thing the Bengals do pretty well, it’s defending the opposing team’s tight end.  Coupled with the fact that Keller hasn’t caught more than four balls since Week 3, or reeled in a touchdown reception since Week 4, and you’re looking at a fat goose-egg this week for your fantasy team.