.png)
Last week was a setback, no two ways about it. Unfortunately the Bengals caught Philly at a point where they have seemingly gotten their mojo back and got run over.
Regardless, it's back to the grind this week, this time with what should be more winnable game. The Raiders are by no means a loaded team, they have talent, but it's very bright dots in an otherwise black and silver sky. Cincy should be able to get themselves back on track this week against a team that only has wins against the Browns and (somehow) the Ravens. This completes the Las Vegas' season series against the AFC North and while the Raiders are hoping to make it 3-1, it's more likely going to end up 2-2.
Raiders @ Cincinnati
Kickoff - 1p FOX
Line - Bengals -7 O/u 45.5
Series - Raiders lead 21-13-0
Last meeting - Bengals 26-19 January 15, 2022 in Cincinnati, OH
Buy or Sell at the Deadline?
With the NFL Trade Deadline rapidly approaching (Tue Nov 5 @ 4p EST) Sunday's game might determine if the Bengals will be buyers or sellers. A win makes it easy to make a move (or moves) that could get the Bengals back into the thick of the playoff race while a loss makes it hard to justify not getting something for Tee Higgins who would likely bring a healthy haul of picks.
Fear not Jungle Denizens, if the reports are to be believed, the Bengals have no interest in trading Higgins win or lose. Whether that means they will work on an extension following the season or they will tag him again is up for debate, but don't forget, they have Ja'Marr Chase waiting on an extension of his own, one that will almost certainly be much more expensive than Higgins.
Who could they be targeting? Defense, help in the secondary and on the defensive line would be the first priorities. With Trey Henderson the only threat on the line, they could certainly look to target either the Dolphins' Calais Campbell (who they should have signed in the off season anyhow) or the Giants' Azeez Ojulari who they saw just a few weeks ago (and managed a pair of sacks against them). Neither of them should have a terrible price tag with both likely to go for a Day three pick.
Another possibility could be Cleveland's Za'Darius Smith. Would the Browns trade within the division. The NFL isn't what it was forty years ago, teams regularly deal within their division, but old habits die hard, especially in the AFC North.
As for corner help, the Rams' Tre'Davious White could be a possibility. He's had a number of injuries in the last few years and that may have robbed him of some of his explosion, but he remains a solid veteran who would give the Bengals cornerback room a boost. Former Buckeye Marshon Lattimore could be a possibility to return to Ohio as well, he's dealing with a hamstring issue, but the Saints are going nowhere.
Bit and Baubles
Bengals - Joe Burrow has only 348 yards passing against the Raiders in two career games, the Bengals won both games. The Bengals are 0-2 this season when favored by 7+ points.
Raiders - Brock Bowers' 52 receptions marks the first time since 1988 that a tight end has led the NFL in receptions through eight weeks. After being the second most penalized team in the NFL in 2023 (the Bengals were the most penalized) the Raiders are the LEAST penalized team through week 8 in 2024.
Injury Report
Bengals
Zack Moss - RB - Doubtful (Neck)
Tee Higgins - WR - Doubtful (Quadriceps)
Orlando Brown Jr. - OT - Doubtful (Knee)
Geno Stone - S - Questionable (Shin)
Charlie Jones - WR - Questionable (Groin)
Raiders
Michael Mayer - TE - OUT (Personal)
Andre James - C - OUT (Ankle)
Robert Spillane - LB - Questionable (Knee)
Dylan Parnham - OG - Questionable (Foot)
Zamir White - RB - Questionable (Quadricep)
Fantasy Advice
We've seen that the Bengals offense just isn't the same when Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins aren't on the field together and while Chase is no slouch when he's on his own, the team certainly doesn't look right. Keep an eye on Higgins' hamstring in the pregame and have an available option if he can't go. If Higgins can't go, Mike Gesicki might be a good option if you want to stay with the Bengals, he had 7 catches for 73 yards last week. If the Chase Brown and Zack Moss duo can get the run game moving, that could open up the pass game for Joe Burrow and company. That might be easier said than done though with the duo managing less than 100 yards combined in the last two games though the Raiders are allowing the seventh most yards per carry to running backs.
Brock Bowers is far and away Vegas' biggest threat in the pass game with over 200 yards more than Jakobi Meyers who is the number two threat, look for Bowers to continue that this week on his way to what should be a 1000 yard receiving season. Outside of Bowers there's not much on this raiders team regarding the fantasy game, they're in (another) rebuild.
Prediction
Bengals 31-20
Comentarios