RADIO
As we head into the holiday weekend, the NFL has gifted us with two games on Saturday, December 23. With fantasy football league semifinals underway, the contest featured in this article could certainly have some serious impact on fantasy football matchups. Below you can read our matchups analysis article for the Bengals vs. Steelers game to help make any fantasy lineup decisions for both season-long and DFS.
This matchup features a pair of teams that have headed in different directions over the past month. Despite the loss of star QB Joe Burrow, the Bengals have now won three straight with Jake Browning under center. On the other side of this one is a Steelers squad that's imploded with Kenny Pickett out of the lineup and comes into Week 16 the losers of three in a row. Pittsburgh will turn to third-string QB Mason Rudolph in an effort to find a spark this week.
Read our fantasy football breakdowns for these games -- the recommended starts, sits, and matchups we love heading into the Week 16 matchups. Good luck, RotoBallers!
Editor's Note: Our incredible team of writers won two writing awards and received 12 award nominations by the Fantasy Sports Writers Association. A big congrats to our very own Byron Lindeque (Golf) and Jordan McAbee (NASCAR) for both winning Writer Of The Year awards! Be sure to follow RotoBaller's analysis and advice all year long, and win more. Win More With RotoBaller!Cincinnati Bengals at Pittsburgh Steelers
Spread: Bengals -2.5
Implied Total: Bengals (20.25) vs. Steelers (17.75)
Pace: Bengals (30th) vs. Steelers (19th)
Bengals Off. DVOA: 20.8% Pass (14th), -4.2% Rush (14th)
Steelers Off. DVOA: 4.9% Pass (22nd), -5.8% Rush (17th)
Bengals Def. DVOA: 10.4% Pass (20th), 2.2% Rush (29th)
Steelers Def. DVOA: 0.4% Pass (9th), -10.1% Rush (15th)
WEATHER: This game is expected to have light rain and minor wind, though the impact should be minimal.
Matchups We Love
Joe Mixon (RB, CIN)
Mixon found the end zone again in Week 15, but the negative game script forced the Bengals to air it out. He split the receiving work with Chase Brown as they had each had three targets, but maintained the goal-line role, which is key to his value. With so few healthy and reliable tailbacks left, he's among the best right now the way the offense is playing and utilizing him. Pittsburgh got gashed by the Colts on the ground last week, setting Mixon up in the top 15 with Brown, who had over 50 scrimmage yards as a flex option.
Tee Higgins (WR, CIN)
The passing volume we referenced was good news for Ja'Marr Chase until he suffered a shoulder injury. That paved the way for Higgins to haul in two touchdowns, the latter of which is a candidate for play of the year. It's going to be the Higgins show now that Chase is sidelined with Tyler Boyd and their tight end Tanner Hudson as the next options on the depth chart. The opening on the depth chart moves Higgins into the top 24, despite lining up across from Joey Porter Jr., with Boyd as a flex option and Hudson as a streamer.
Tee Higgins with an incredible catch and stretch for the touchdown – simply outstanding!😳😳😳
pic.twitter.com/pdhdEfU8JV— Katherine Chu (@ThanhUy31166529) December 17, 2023
Matchups We Hate
Pat Freiermuth (TE, PIT)
Trusting anyone from the Pittsburgh passing attack aside from Diontae Johnson has been a fool's errand. While it's noteworthy that his career day of 11 for 120 was against Cincinnati four weeks ago, it was with Kenny Pickett. Furthermore, since that week, he's totaled nine receptions for 63 yards in three games.
#Steelers Pat Freiermuth on Mason Rudolph-praises how he’s handled his situation pic.twitter.com/eus2217riL
— Jeff Hathhorn (@jhathhorn) December 19, 2023
Other Matchups
Jaylen Warren (RB, PIT)
The Steelers' backfield is also in a good spot because the Vikings ran all over Cincy last week. Unfortunately, the split there is a little more even, making it harder to identify the more valuable player. After storming out to an early lead, they fell flat and spent most of the afternoon trying to come back, which favored Warren. As home underdogs, they're likely to be dealing with that issue again, making Warren the preferred back over Najee Harris. Mitch Trubisky was benched in the fourth quarter, prompting the team to move to Mason Rudolph this week. It's a lateral move that carries an unknown element.
Diontae Johnson (WR, PIT)
Trubisky and Johnson have a chemistry together that tends to result in good things. He had another solid outing, scoring his third straight touchdown since Trubisky took over. He should remain the focal point of the passing attack but he drops outside the top 24 with a switch at QB, despite the positive matchup.
Jake Browning (QB, CIN)
Browning looked in over his head for three quarters but rallied his team late to squeak out another victory. It wasn't all pretty, but for fantasy purposes, he went over 300 passing yards and threw two touchdowns, so you have to be happy with that. Losing Chase isn't ideal because it enables the defense to focus their attention on the other weapons, which could make life more difficult for Browning. That being said, he's still a potential streamer given his recent streak.
What a dime from Jake Browning pic.twitter.com/Zet2eOOJqR
— Bussin' With The Boys (@BussinWTB) December 16, 2023
Notable Injuries
Kenny Pickett (ankle) - OUT
Ja'Marr Chase (shoulder) - OUT
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