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2008 Team Preview by RotoExperts.com Staff Writer Jon Williams.
OVERVIEW
The Cincinnati Bengals don’t have a problem scoring points. They have very talented players at just about every offensive skill position. They have an extremely respected Head Coach in Marvin Lewis who has put together a brilliant coaching staff with Mike Zimmer as the Defensive Coordinator and Bob Bratkowski as the Offensive Coordinator. Bratkowski has gained respect as he’s developed the Bengals’ offense into one of the most explosive in the NFL. The problem for the Bengals during Lewis’ reign seems to have always been the defense, which has typically underachieved despite the Bengals consistent attempts to address the problem. This year Mike Zimmer will attempt to turn things around for the Bengal defense, as he did for the Cowboys under Bill Parcells. If Zimmer has any luck the Bengals could be a force to be reckoned with in 2008. |
PROJECTED DEPTH CHART Players listed in order of fantasy relevance. Recommended round to draft in standard 10 to 12-team leagues with 16 rounds in parentheses. Quarterback: Carson Palmer (5), Ryan Fitzpatrick, Jeff Rowe, Jordan Palmer Running Back: Rudi Johnson (6), Kenny Watson, Chris Perry, Kenny Irons, DeDe Dorsey, Bradley Glathaar, James Johnson Wide Receiver: Chad Johnson (3), T.J. Houshmandzadeh (3), Antonio Chatman, Glenn Holt, Jerome Simpson, Andre Caldwell, Mario Urrutia, Marcus Maxwell, Travis Brown, Maurice Purify, Clyde Logan Tight End: Reggie Kelly, Ben Utecht, Daniel Coats, Matt Sherry, Nate Lawrie Kicker: Shayne Graham (15) NOTABLE PLAYER MOVES Additions: QB Jordan Palmer, DE Antwan Odom, TE Ben Utecht
Subtractions: WR Doug Gabriel, LB Odell Thurman, WR Chris Henry 2008 ROOKIES TO WATCH Round One: Keith Rivers, LB, USC
Round Two: Jerome Simpson, WR, Coastal Carolina
Round Three: Pat Sims, DT, Auburn
Round Five: Jason Shirley, DT, Fresno State TOP POSITION BATTLE Back-up Running Back: Kenny Watson, DeDe Dorsey, and Chris Perry 2008 SCHEDULE Top fantasy matchups in bold Sep 07: at Baltimore Ravens
Sep 14: Tennessee Titans
Sep 21: at New York Giants
Sep 28: Cleveland Browns
Oct 05: at Dallas Cowboys
Oct 12: at New York Jets
Oct 19: Pittsburgh Steelers
Oct 26: BYE
Nov 02 Jacksonville Jaguars
Nov 09 at Houston Texans
Nov 16 Philadelphia Eagles
Nov 20 at Pittsburgh Steelers
Nov 30 Baltimore Ravens
Dec 07 at Indianapolis Colts
Dec 14 Washington Redskins
Dec 21 at Cleveland Browns
Dec 28 Kansas City Chiefs 2008 FANTASY POSITIONAL OUTLOOKS Quarterback:
Carson Palmer shouldn’t take a back seat to any quarterback in the league. He is typically ranked fifth among quarterbacks behind Tom Brady (6.39ADP), Peyton Manning (17.98ADP), Tony Romo (21.47), and Drew Brees (36.50). As a fantasy owner, you want to gain as much value as possible with every pick you make. Tom Brady and usually Peyton Manning are first round picks in most leagues, according to Mock Draft Central’s ADP rankings. Tony Romo and Drew Brees are usually gone in the second and third rounds. Let your opponents draft quarterbacks in the earlier rounds while you can still grab Palmer (44.68) who is only minor inches behind the first four in value with a fourth or even fifth round pick. Palmer is also dropping in the rankings due to the Chad Johnson trade rumors, but more often than not, these sort of rumors turn out to be nothing. Here’s why you should ignore all the noise and make Palmer your QB pick in 2008: Palmer is young and still improving. He had a career high in passing yardage in 2008 with 4,131 yards. He is averaging 26 touchdowns per season in his career, and he has a pair of top receivers and a nice running game. The Bengals also have a very favorable schedule that should boost their offensive statistics, especially during the first five games and the last three games – Fantasy Football Primetime.  | ENGEL EYE ON: THE CINCINNATI BENGALS | If I'm a T.J. Houshmandzadeh owner, I'm praying that Chad Johnson doesn't do something that will keep him off the field or that he has any more health issues. Houshmandzadeh benefits greatly from the double-teams that Johnson still draws, and without Johnson, Houshmandzadeh could see a significant drop in his regular fantasy production. He wouldn't have a respectable complement, so Housh would get lost in the double-teaming himself. |
Running Back:
Rudi Johnson had an off seasonin 2007 due to injuries. Chris Perry was injured, as usual. Kenny Irons is still injured. Despite their health problems the Bengal backfield is looking pretty good for the 2008 season. Rudi Johnson and Chris Perry were both healthy and performing in mini-camp. DeDe Dorsey really impressed the Bengals coaching staff in 2007 and has earned himself a meaningful (if small) role in the offense, however, he has a hamstring strain that may linger into training camp. If everyone stays healthy, fantasy owners should see Rudi Johnson as the primary back. Johnson will be most frequently spelled by a healthy Chris Perry. If Perry were to be again haunted by injury problems, Kenny Watson would get the carries. Watson was limited by an undisclosed ailment in mini-camp, but it isn’t expected to be a serious problem. You don’t want Johnson as your RB1 in 2008, but he’s an acceptable RB2 and a great RB3 or flex player depending on the depth of your league. Perry and Watson should only be drafted as running back depth and absolutely can not be counted on to play a vital role for the Bengals OR for your fantasy team. Although many of the other running backs on the Bengals' roster are talented, they shouldn’t have any consistent fantasy value. Wide Receiver:
"Cincinnati, I love you. Vote for Obama." Chad Johnson, the Bengals’ number one receiver as well as a top source of controversy, had little to say to the media during June’s mandatory minicamp. In fact he barely participated due to claims of back and ankle injuries. His chief contribution to the team in mini-camp was the above quote. Despite rumors to the contrary, no one seems to be taking these injury claims or Johnson’s earlier trade demands seriously. Together with T.J. Houshmandzadeh, there are few teams that enjoy a better wide receiver tandem. Johnson has led the AFC in receiving yards the last four seasons, including five one hundred-yard games in 2007. Houshmandzadeh is not Robin to Johnson’s Batman; he is at worst the Michael Keaton Batman to Johnson’s Christian Bale. Last year Housh had a league leading 112 receptions for 1,143 yards. Chris Henry used to expand that outstanding tandem into an untouchable trio, but Henry is no longer a member of the Cincinnati Bengals. Antonio Chatman, Glenn Holt, Jerome Simpson, and Andre Caldwell will compete for the third and forth receiver spots. Chatman struggled to stay healthy last season but is the favorite to receive most of the WR3 duties. The other players are all young and gifted, but unlikely to make a dramatic fantasy impact this season. That is, unless one of the top three is injured or Johnson successfully talks himself off the team. Tight End:
Only Reggie Kelly and Ben Utecht will get any serious playing time at the TE position this season for the Bengals. Daniel Coats will be used as a fullback and will make only occasional appearances at the tight end position. Kelly is primarily a blocker, and Utecht is hardly a great receiver. Look elsewhere for your fantasy tight ends. Kicker:
Shayne Graham is not only one of the better kickers in the NFL, but he is also tough as shoe leather. Last season, Graham played through a painful hip pointer but connected on 31 of 34 field goals, contributing 130 fantasy points. Graham should be one of the first few kickers selected in any fantasy draft, but that still shouldn’t occur until almost the very end. The Bengals haven’t a clue who their punter or back-up place kicker will be as of this writing, but if Graham is at least as healthy as he was last season, it won’t matter much to the Bengals or fantasy owners. Defense/Special Teams:
As Marvin Lewis’ third Defensive Coordinator in six seasons, Mike Zimmer seems to have done what his predecessors could not. He has made the young Bengals think defense, breathe defense, and if mini-camp reports are accurate, play defense. Make no mistake, selecting this team’s defense for your fantasy squad would be a risk of the highest order (in most leagues they’ll go undrafted), but there is definitely serious defensive talent in the locker room. lack of experience is the primary problem that Mike Zimmer needs to overcome. Starting cornerbacks Johnathan Joseph and Leon Hall are already in love with Zimmer’s bump and run, aggressive blitzing and in-your-face defensive philosophy. I’m pegging both as good IDP picks in 2008. Odell Thurman’s presence is a thing of the past. Ninth overall pick Keith Rivers will add the skills and character that this team needs at the linebacker position. Rivers will be thrown right into the fire as a starter, and the Bengals think he not only can handle it but will excel. Zimmer will also try to coach a rebound out of DE Robert Geathers, as Geathers and free-agent acquisition Antwan Odom attempt to add stability to the defensive line. The Bengals think DT Damata Peko and the as-of-yet unsigned DT Jason Shirley can be the future anchors for this young defense. Mike Zimmer has his work cut out for him, but there is hope. Offensive Line:
It was not just the running backs who suffered through an injury plagued season. The members of the Bengals offensive line also missed a combined 22 weeks to injury. Still this is a solid group with Levi Jones at the Left Tackle, Big Willie Anderson at the Right Tackle, and the young and extremely talented Stacy Andrews providing superb depth and pushing Anderson for his starting role. Solid veterans Andrew Whitworth and Bobbie Williams will man the Offensive Guard positions with young Nate Livings providing depth. If this line has a problem it is at the Center position, where Eric Ghiaciuc has struggled with injuries. Ghiaciuc is an excellent pass blocker but isn’t as effective in the running game. This squad does more for the passing game than it does for the running backs, but overall they get the job done. Hey look! You just read likely the only Cincinnati Bengals team preview that doesn’t dwell on the fact that the team can’t seem to avoid players with legal problems! Let me know your thoughts by e-mailing me at
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