The Cincinnati Bengals and Pittsburgh Steelers will both be looking to avoid falling into the 0-2 hole in this AFC North showdown. With no team in the division nailing down a win last week and the Cleveland Browns and Baltimore Ravens facing tough opponents, this match-up could very well determine who will be leading the division after Week 2. The Steelers struggled to move the ball against the Tennessee Titans last week, while the Bengals offense performed decently but still made crucial mistakes that ultimately cost them the game. A.J. Green had one of the biggest games of his young career, but Antonio Brown turned in an average performance that failed to make much of an impact.
A.J. Green, Cincinnati Bengals
The former Georgia Bulldog showed why many people consider him the second-best wideout in the league after Calvin Johnson. If Andy Dalton ever gets a better handle on his deep throws, Green could very well supplant Johnson as the best receiver in the game. It's exciting to think that Green can still get better.
Against a tough Chicago Bears secondary, Green snagged nine receptions for 162 yards and two touchdowns. Green is the complete package as a receiver as there is literally nothing he can't do. Whether it's a short curl for a critical third down, a deep fly for a long bomb, or a end zone jump-ball, Green is able to do it all. He's also a monster at picking up yards after the catch.
Facing the Steelers is always a tough task for any offensive player in fantasy football, but at this point Green should be considered an automatic lock on your starting roster no matter who he plays. He is simply that good. Chicago has a stout defense that is designed to put the squeeze on top receivers, and Green still had a huge game against one of the league's best cornerbacks anyway. Disregard the match-up with the Steelers and pencil him in.
Projection: 8 catches for 120 yards, 1 TD
Antonio Brown, Steelers
The fourth-year receiver had a decent, yet unremarkable performance against the Titans with five grabs for 71 yards. The Steelers had no shortage of troubles getting anything done on offense, netting just 195 yards of total offense. With an already beleaguered backfield situation, things could get worse for the offense following the loss of Pro Bowl center Maurkice Pouncey to a season-ending knee injury. Ben Roethlisberger struggled to make plays behind a porous offensive line, and the Bengals bring a ferocious pass rush.
Brown has fared fairly well in his past four games against the Bengals with 19 receptions, 86.5 yards per game, and one score to go along with an impressive 18.21 yards per reception. If Roethlisberger can find a little more time to throw this week, Brown could be in for some big gains.
Even though Brown is the top receiving option in Pittsburgh, and Roethlisberger is bound to perform better, you may want to hold off before giving him the start this week. However, the Steelers should be throwing a lot with the backfield in complete disarray. Although he's a No. 1 in the Steelers offense, consider him a No. 2 fantasy receiver with a bit of upside.
Projection: 6 catches for 75 yards, 1 TD