Fantasy Football Week 14 Matchup: Cincinnati Bengals at Pittsburgh Steelers

Week 14 Match-up:  Cincinnati Bengals (2-10) at Pittsburgh Steelers (9-3)

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

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Cincinnati Bengals (Bengals Schedule)

Opponent Defensive Ranks

Pittsburgh Pass Defense 2010: Yards Allowed/Game 23rd—TDs Allowed Fifth

Pittsburgh Rush Defense 2010: Yards Allowed/Game First—TDs Allowed Tied-First 

Cincinnati Offensive Cast

Carson Palmer (QB Week 14 Ranking: No. 16)

2010 Season: 280/465 for 3,009 yards and 20 TDs

Palmer was just accepted as the new assistant manager at a downtown Cincinnati Wendy’s, so this should be the last we see of Carson until FOX hires him as a commentator.  That said, Carson will try to go out with a bang, expect a ton of passing from the new Burger King of Cincinnati.

Cedric Benson (RB Week 14 Ranking: No. 26)

2010 Season: 237 carries for 837 yards and six TDs || 22 receptions for 140 yards and one TD

Benson actually had a decent game against the league’s best rush D earlier this season rolling out 74 total yards and a touchdown back in Week 9.  His two 100-yard games against the mighty Ravens last year also showed he can bulldoze even the best defenses at times.  Don’t be so fast to let the stats do the talking though because with the Bengals defense being as bad as it is, Palmer and company will likely have to be playing catch-up the whole game, which means a whole lot less of Ceddy this weekend.

Terrell Owens (WR Week 14 Ranking: No. 14)

2010 Season: 71 receptions for 961 yards and nine TDs

If there’s one way the Steelers can be beat, it’s through the air.  TO and the Bengals will have to do just that playing at Heinz Field this weekend, so look for Palmer to air it out to the only man good enough to keep him in the league at this point, Terrell Me-O Owens.

Chad Ochocinco (WR Week 14 Ranking: No. 27)

2010 Season: 59 receptions for 724 yards and four TDs

Schizocinco continued his up-and-down season last week hauling in five catches (on 10 targets) for a team-high 96 yards against the Saints.  It’s tough to predict what he’ll do next, both on and off the field, but one thing we know for sure is that the Bengals will be passing the ball in this game.

Jordan Shipley (WR Week 14 Ranking: Not ranked)

2010 Season: 44 receptions for 543 yards and two TDs

Shipley could end up with a good four to five catches this week with the Bengals likely having to throw the ball, but it’s hard to depend on a WR3 when you’re right at fantasy playoff time.

Jermaine Gresham (TE Week 14 Ranking: No. 16)

2010 Season: 47 receptions for 409 yards and three TDs

The Bengals will have to pass the ball to win this game, and against a tireless Steelers pass rush, Palmer might have to look for his ultra-talented tight end early and often in this one.

Pittsburgh Steelers (Steelers Schedule)

Opponent Defensive Ranks

Cincinnati Pass Defense 2010: Yards Allowed/Game 15th—TDs Allowed T-14th

Cincinnati Rush Defense 2010: Yards Allowed/Game 24th—TDs Allowed T-25th

Pittsburgh Offensive Cast

Ben Roethlisberger (QB Week 14 Ranking: No. 10)

2010 Season: 159/258 for 2,078 yards and 13 TDs

So let’s go through the list here:  He’s got a broken-as-hell nose, a fractured foot, has at least four prior concussions, has an abnormally large body, and can basically be described as a narcissistic date-rapist who’s fond of motorcycles and wins a Super Bowl on an average of every three years.  Pretty interesting character; I say go with him.  Oh, and Cinci’s D is absolutely sucking right now giving up an average of 33 points over the last four games.

Rashard Mendenhall (RB Week 14 Ranking: No. 5)

2010 Season: 257 carries for 1,007 yards and nine TDs || 19 receptions for 116 yards

Mendenhall went for 99 yards (130 total) and a touchdown against the Bengals earlier in the season and has scored in eight of 12 games so far this year.  With Cincinnati basically throwing in the towel and Pittsburgh needing to win to stay atop the division, you can expect yet another nice game out of Mendy this weekend.

Mike Wallace (WR Week 14 Ranking: No. 10)

2010 Season: 41 receptions for 868 yards and  eight TDs

The Big Ben-Wallace combo may have fallen off a bit the last couple of weeks, but they hooked up nicely in their last match against the Bengals in Week 9 to the tune of 110 yards and a touchdown.  Those numbers look about right for the second game as well.

Hines Ward (WR Week 14 Ranking: No. 28)

2010 Season: 41 receptions for 523 yards four TDs

Ward’s seven-catch, 107-yard ice cream sundae two weeks ago turned into a one-catch, 13-yard dirt sandwich last Sunday night against the Ravens.  He’s tough to get a gauge on at this point in his career, but you’d have to think that if this is the end of the line for Hines, he’ll want to go out with a bang, so anything’s possible.

Heath Miller (TE Week 14 Ranking: Not ranked)

2010 Season: 33 receptions for 384 yards one TD

Miller will be held out of this one after sustaining a concussion last week, so get him on your bench and don’t even think about using Matt Spaeth as a replacement.

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