Bengals vs. Jaguars MNF Start 'Em, Sit 'Em - Trevor Lawrence, Travis Etienne Jr., Calvin Ridley, Christian Kirk, Evan Engram, Ja'Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, more

December 2, 2023

Fantasy football start em, sit em lineups advice for the Bengals vs. Jaguars on Monday Night Football in Week 13 (2023). NFL matchups analysis and starts/sits.

The Week 13 schedule closes out with the Joe Burrow-less Cincinnati Bengals visiting the Trevor Lawrence-led Jacksonville Jaguars. Below you can read our Monday Night Football matchups analysis article for the Bengals vs. Jaguars game to help make any fantasy lineup decisions for both season-long and DFS.

This is a matchup of two teams headed in different directions. The Bengals have lost three straight and will be led by inexperienced Jake Browning once again, while the Jaguars have won seven of their last eight and appear ticketed for the NFL playoffs.

Read our fantasy football breakdowns for these games -- the recommended starts, sits, and matchups we love heading into the Week 13 matchups. Good luck RotoBallers!

Cincinnati Bengals at Jacksonville Jaguars

Spread: Jaguars -8.5
Implied Total: Bengals (15) vs. Jaguars (23.5)
Pace: Bengals (27th) vs. Jaguars (19th)
Bengals Off. DVOA: 13.2% Pass (17th), -7.2% Rush (19th)
Jaguars Off. DVOA: 23.7% Pass (11th), -13.3% Rush (24th)
Bengals Def. DVOA: 9.3% Pass (19th), 3.8% Rush (29th)
Jaguars Def. DVOA: -4.9% Pass (8th), -22.8% Rush (1st)

WEATHER: Forecasts predict a comfortable Florida night with temperatures of around 65 degrees. Weather is not expected to impact this matchup.

Matchups We Love

Trevor Lawrence (QB, JAX)

Lawrence led his team to an important divisional win to hold off the surging Texans. It was an impressive victory and another multi-touchdown game for Lawrence, who continues to score on the ground. The shootout nature of last week's contest is unlikely to repeat as heavy favorites at home against the Bengals, but he's still a top-12 signal-caller.

WHAT a throw from Trevor Lawrence and WHAT a catch by Calvin Ridley #NFL #HOUvsJAX pic.twitter.com/OS0avPnEmB

— Tanner Phifer (@TannerPhiferNFL) November 26, 2023

Travis Etienne Jr. (RB, JAX)

After riding hot for several weeks and finding the end zone weekly, Etienne Jr. has three games without a touchdown. It's been primarily a product of Lawrence vulturing them away. Etienne now sits 26th in rushing attempts inside the 10-yard line and 28th in rushing attempts inside the five-yard line. He's also seen a downtick in his snaps and rushing share as D'Ernest Johnson has become more involved. He still had 24 touches for 76 yards against the Texans, so in a get-right matchup against the reeling Bengals, he's locked in. Johnson is also a potential flex option with eight touches in each of his past two outings.

UPDATE: Etienne has been listed as day-to-day throughout the week but is expected to suit up. There is a chance Johnson takes more work away but he's still a top-15 back.

Jaguars WRs

This group remains a tough one to decipher. After being nonexistent in the first half, Calvin Ridley was everywhere, catching five passes for 89 yards and a score with a two-point conversion.

Calvin Ridley has a 137.5 NFL Rating when targeted deep (20+ Yards). #Jaguars

Ridley: 18 TGT, 10 REC, 209 YDS, 2 TDs
pic.twitter.com/4D8tO8GGUw

— Daniel Griffis (@DanDGriffis) November 28, 2023

It didn't prohibit Christian Kirk from producing with four receptions for 89 yards. It seems clear now that they intend to move forward with these two as their starters, using Zay Jones primarily in three wide receiver sets. There's nothing about Cincinnati's defense that scares you right now, so both jump into the top 24 given all the byes, albeit with more risk for Ridley.

Matchups We Hate

Joe Mixon (RB, CIN)

Jake Browning attempted 26 passes to go with the team's 11 carries. That's brutal for the offense and correspondingly for fantasy. Mixon accounted for 100% of the RB rushing attempts and targets, but with just 10 touches, including two receptions, there's no way you can trust him in another tough matchup. You may be forced to trot him out there given your options, but he's someone to pivot off of if you can.

In the first game without Joe Burrow

- Ja'Marr Chase: 6 targets, 4 catches, 81 yards
- Joe Mixon: 8 carries, 2 targets, 60 total yards

Everyone else had fewer than 30 yards pic.twitter.com/uHDNdBeY3g

— Michael F. Florio (@MichaelFFlorio) November 26, 2023

Other Matchups

Ja'Marr Chase (WR, CIN)

Chase is in a similar situation, except he can make incredible plays like the tipped-ball catch last week. His concentration and vision to locate the ball led to a 31-yard reception, but aside from that, he had three grabs for 50 yards. It's unreasonable to advise benching Chase with six teams on a bye week, but he's in the Garrett Wilson club now with a struggling QB, not as bad of one, on a poor offense. Tee Higgins is expected to return this week, but with Browning at QB, he's not worth considering until we see him play a full game.

Evan Engram (TE, JAX)

Engram is living in a good to great range. He went five for 49 as the TE12 last week, which is his highest finish since Week 4. He's had a finish of TE13 or TE14 three times in between, providing you with a floor but no ceiling. At the tight end position, touchdowns are critical, so having none is killing his value in 2023. The volume was there again with eight targets, so it's hard to chase the touchdown-or-bust type streamers instead, but it's worth considering if you need that higher output and are willing to take on the risk.

Notable Injuries

Joe Burrow (Out)

Tee Higgins (Expected to Play)

Travis Etienne Jr. (Expected to Play)

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