How will the 2020 Cincinnati Bengals perform without Joe Burrow? We will get our first full-game look on Sunday against the New York Giants.
The Bengals (2-7-1) were absolutely rudderless with Ryan Finley under center in place of Burrow after he sustained his season-ending knee injury. The Bengals gained just 17 yards from scrimmage in five drives with Finley, who completed only 3 of 10 passes with an interception. Tyler Boyd caught nine balls for 85 yards against the Washington Football Team. A.J. Green scored his first touchdown of the year. Giovani Bernard gained just 45 total yards on 13 touches. There’s just no doubt all of these players will struggle to produce consistently without their rookie franchise QB. Instead of sticking with Finley, the Bengals will reportedly hand the reins off to quarterback Brandon Allen.
The Giants (3-7) took down the Philadelphia Eagles when they last took the field in Week 10. Daniel Jones went without a turnover in back-to-back games for the first time in his short career. He threw for 284 yards against the Eagles and tacked on a 34-yard rushing touchdown. Running back Wayne Gallman scored twice, and wide receiver Darius Slayton had his best outing in about a month as he hauled in five of seven targets for 93 yards.
TV Info
Date: Sunday, Nov. 26
Time: 1:00 p.m. ET
Channel: FOX
Broadcast map
Notable Statistical rankings (Football Outsiders)
Giants: #25 Overall — #19 offense, #32 defense, #7 special teams
Bengals: #31 Overall — #27 offense, #30 defense, #16 special teams
DraftKings Sportsbook odds
Giants: -5, -245
Bengals: +5, +210
Total: 42.5
Fantasy football start/sit advice
Giants
Wayne Gallman, RB, $5,000
Gallman has been competent for the Giants. He didn’t run for more than 70 yards in any of his last four games, but he didn’t score in each and five times in total. With positive game script likely to come in this game, Gallman is a high-floor RB2/flex that allowed 94 yards and a TD on 16 carries to Antonio Gibson last week.
Darius Slayton, WR, $4,900
Slayton and Sterling Shepard ($5,100) both look like green-light options against a defense that has ceded seven WR touchdowns in its last three games. Shepard is a safer option, but with Slayton, you can save a little money while taking on more big-play upside. Slayton is averaging 15.4 yards per catch.
Bengals
Tyler Boyd, WR, $5,000
Understandably, the Bengals’ receivers have seen their DraftKings’ prices drop precipitously. Tee Higgins’ stock has taken the sharpest dive, from $5,900 to $4,700. But he might see a lot of the Giants’ top corner, James Bradberry, in this matchup. Boyd, whose price has fallen $600, should have no such worries in the slot, and Cincy’s sure-handed leading receiver could turn into a safety valve for Allen. Boyd has a catch rate of just less than 80 percent.
Samaje Perine, RB, $4,000
Perine may be line for 15-plus touches this week as Giovani Bernard is questionable to play due to a concussion. The Giants have allowed only one back to run for more than 65 yards in their last five games, so the matchup ain’t the bee’s knees, but the opportunity and the price make Perine worth consideration. He has run for 102 yards and one touchdown on 24 carries this season.