3 Bengals Vs Steelers Week 7 Fantasy Takeaways

First, and most obviously, Ja’Marr Chase looked every bit the Triple-Crown winning receiver that he is. He finished the day with 16 receptions on 23 targets for 161 yards (averaging 10.1 yards per reception) and a touchdown. 

Not only did Chase post his highest fantasy score of the season, but he did so in an incredible fashion. Multiple times throughout this contest, he pulled in jaw-dropping grabs that seemed assuredly uncatchable. 

One factor that helped Chase (and Tee Higgins, for that matter) in a major way was Joe Flacco’s willingness to air it out. Flacco showed a blatant trust in his receivers by consistently throwing into tight coverage, daring the defense to make a stop. 

While the defense did have its fair share of impressive, clean deflections and stops, Cincinnati still pulled in difficult catches again and again. Jake Browning may be more youthful and athletic, but Flacco’s veteran presence allows him to play the math game with the talent at his disposal. 

Chase’s 16 receptions are a new franchise record, which is especially impressive if you watched Andy Dalton pepper AJ Green over the years. It does suggest that he and Flacco are building a solid rapport, though, and it is a good sign for things to come. 

This looks to be a massive improvement, and in Flacco’s second game as a Bengal, he helped to get Chase back to the top overall receiver in fantasy. Chase may have been a trade target in your league, but he again looks to be the kind of player who can win you any given week on his own. 

Freriermuth Should Be Startable 

After posting five consecutive weeks of single-digit fantasy scores (barely cracking six in most formats), Pat Freiermuth finally had his breakout game. He brought in five of his six targets for 111 yards and two touchdowns. 

While Freiermuth led the Steelers in receptions, he was far from leading the team in targets. He just so happened, however, to make the most catches and the most of his opportunities.

This is good for Freiermuth’s stock and should increase his role in the offense, especially considering Jonnu Smith has been used more since his acquisition. His 22.2 yards per catch is nothing to be scoffed at (even if Cincinnati’s defense is), and starting him as a streaming option now seems like a solid move. 

It’s not quite time to say Freiermuth is startable weekly, as many fell into with Harold Fannin after his Week One Bengal-torching. Freiermuth is someone to keep an eye on going forward. 30 plus points is impressive, and Pittsburgh knows how to distribute the ball well. He may not be a safe bet for 30 each week, but it is a safe bet that he will see more looks going forward. 

Chase Brown Looked Like Himself

For the first time this season, Chase Brown played as well as he did last season. The reason for his return to form was (as everyone would have guessed): Samaje Perine.

Jokes aside, Cincinnati did lean on Perine more in this game than they have all season. Logging the most runs of the season (seven) with his most rushing yards (31), and looked like a clear RB2. 

Brown, for his part, converted his 11 carries into 108 yards, averaging 9.8 yards per carry and a 37-yard rush for a season high. These are the kinds of numbers fantasy managers were hoping for when they drafted him in the early rounds, and he can officially be placed back into starting lineups. 

The Bengals’ shifting between Brown and Perine had a big impact on the running game, as Brown’s stats this game are about double the team’s numbers this season. With Flacco looking in the groove with Cincinnati’s game plan, the running game should only be that much more effective. 

Brown is still looking for his first touchdown since Week One and, if he continues to play as he did last night, should find it sooner rather than later. It’s time to start him if you have him, and if you don’t, it may be the prime opportunity to trade for him. 

End Of My Cincinnati Bengals-Pittsburgh Steelers Rant

For the first time this season, Bengals’ fans (and fantasy owners) have something to be genuinely excited about. Chase looked like the best WR on the planet, and Brown finally looked not only like a competent fantasy play for the first time this season, but a good one. 

As far as the Steelers go, Freiermuth looked like a clear TE1. He made the most (by far) of his targets, which will no doubt increase his workload in the future, and should be a priority waiver add.

In an exciting Thursday night AFC North matchup, Cincinnati took home the win, but fantasy owners can take more away from this game than any other this season. Tune in next week (in NFL terms) for the three biggest fantasy takeaways from the Bengals’ Week Eight (October 26) matchup with the New York Jets.