Normally, a game against the Cincinnati Bengals would spell doom for a fantasy QB. After all, in Weeks 9 and 10 Cincinnati held Ben Roethlisberger and Peyton Manning to under 200 yards each. Big Ben threw one TD, while Manning didn't score at all. Through one half of the Week 11 game against Buffalo, the Cincinnati secondary was living up to their billing as an elite unit. Then, injuries struck.
Out went Johnathan Joseph, one half of what may be the best cornerback tandem in the league. Out went starting safeties Roy Williams and Chris Crocker. All three injuries happened in the first half, and without three of their four starters in the secondary, Cincinnati allowed four offensive TDs, three to Steve Johnson. The upshot? Ryan Fitzpatrick ended up with a very nice fantasy performance, with 316 yards, four TDs and two INTs.
None of the three injured defensive backs are expected to be available on Thursday night, and that should lead to a very nice game for Mark Sanchez. Facing a healthy Bengals defense, Sanchez may have ranked outside the top 20. Against the B-team, he's a top ten play and an excellent QB1 for Week 12.
1. Drew Brees, NO at DAL
2. Aaron Rodgers, GB at ATL
3. Philip Rivers, SD at IND
4. Michael Vick, PHI at CHI
5. Ben Roethlisberger, PIT at BUF
6. Eli Manning, NYG vs. JAC
7. Peyton Manning, IND vs. SD
8. Tom Brady, NE at DET
9. Matt Ryan, ATL vs. GB
10. Mark Sanchez, NYJ vs. CIN
11. Shaun Hill, DET vs. NE
12. Brett Favre, MIN at WAS
13. Kyle Orton, DEN vs. STL
14. Ryan Fitzpatrick, BUF vs. PIT
15. Matt Cassel, KC at SEA
16. Matt Hasselbeck, SEA vs. KC
17. Sam Bradford, STL at DEN
18. Joe Flacco, BAL vs. TB
19. Matt Schaub, HOU vs. TEN
20. Jon Kitna, DAL vs. NO
21. Josh Freeman, TB at BAL
22. Donovan McNabb, WAS vs. MIN
23. Jay Cutler, CHI vs. PHI
24. Troy Smith, SF at ARI
25. Rusty Smith, TEN at HOU
26. Derek Anderson, ARI vs. SF
27. David Garrard, JAC at NYG
28. Carson Palmer, CIN at NYJ
29. Jimmy Clausen, CAR at CLE
30. Tyler Thigpen, MIA at OAK
31. Chad Henne, MIA at OAK
32. Jake Delhomme, CLE vs. CAR
33. Jason Campbell, OAK vs. MIA
34. Tim Tebow, DEN vs. STL
35. Bruce Gradkowski, OAK vs. MIA
36. Brian St. Pierre, CAR at CLE
37. Seneca Wallace, CLE vs. CAR
• Making surprise appearances into the top-12 this week are Shaun Hill and Brett Favre. Hill has the weapons to succeed in Detroit, and New England has had trouble stopping the pass this season. The Detroit QB should manage at least 250 yards and multiple TDs on Thanksgiving day. As for Favre, his tumultuous relationship with coach Brad Childress is now over, and it's possible the lifting of that particular burden could lead to inspired play against a bad Washington defense.
• Fitzpatrick abused the Cincinnati backups in the second half of last week's game, but don't expect anything near that level of play against the Steelers. While Buffalo will likely be playing from behind most of the day, that will just give Fitzpatrick more opportunities to get picked off. Look for a better matchup in Week 12.
• Matt Hasselbeck has really stepped his game up over the last two weeks, and although the loss of Mike Williams, should he not be able to play, would hurt, Ben Obomanu is starting to develop a little consistency, and Golden Tate looks ready to return. Hasselbeck is a sneaky add for the fantasy playoffs.
• David Garrard had his nice two-week run snuffed out by the Browns, and the Giants should give him the same type of problems, especially considering Mike Sims-Walker won't be available in Week 12. You may have been burned by him in Week 11, but don't make that same mistake this week, as he goes on the road to face the Giants.
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