NFL Grind Down (TNF): CIN vs. CLE
The analysis should point you in the right direction, but it is still up to you to decipher the information and make your own selections. Use this article to help you gain a better understanding of the matchups for the coming week and build from there. We have everything you could possibly need on our Daily Research console for you to be a successful daily fantasy player!
Note: Any Fantasy Point Average Listed Uses FanDuel Scoring. For more info on FanDuel’s NFL Scoring System, check out the scoring systems section of our FanDuel Review.
Cleveland Browns at Cincinnati Bengals
| Cleveland Browns | Cincinnati Bengals | |||||||||
 |  | |||||||||
| Thu – 8:25 PM | Paul Brown Stadium | |||||||||
| Vegas Odds | Sprd | Total | Proj.Pts | Vegas Odds | Sprd | Total | Proj.Pts | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6.5 | 44.5 | 19 | -6.5 | 44.5 | 25.5 | |||||
| Tm Stats | PPG | Scoring | Pass | Rush | Tm Stats | PPG | Scoring | Pass | Rush | |
| Offense | 23.1 | 16 | 21 | 11 | Offense | 24.3 | 13 | 24 | 4 | |
| Defense | 24.3 | 13 | 24 | 4 | Defense | 23.1 | 16 | 21 | 11 | |
| Opp. Def vs. Pos | QB | RB | WR | TE | Opp. Def vs. Pos | QB | RB | WR | TE | |
| Cincinnati Bengals | 15 | 25 | 6 | 27 | Cleveland Browns | 8 | 19 | 24 | 12 | |
| Rec. Stats | Targets | Receptions | TDs | Yards | Rec. Stats | Targets | Receptions | TDs | Yards | |
| Austin | 41 | 26 | 2 | 339 | Green | 31 | 20 | 3 | 358 | |
| Hawkins | 69 | 39 | 1 | 504 | Sanu | 67 | 40 | 4 | 628 | |
| Benjamin | 23 | 11 | 3 | 200 | Tate | 20 | 14 | 1 | 159 | |
| Cameron | 31 | 13 | 1 | 250 | Gresham | 42 | 33 | 0 | 247 | |
Quick Grind
•Modest Vegas total with the Bengals favored – target their playmakers
•Bengals RB Jeremy Hill should be in for another monster game
•Terrance West appears to be the Browns new lead RB
| Core Plays: | CIN RB Jeremy Hill (if Gio is out), CIN WR Mohamed Sanu |
| Secondary Plays: | CIN WR AJ Green (tough matchup!), CLE RB Terrance West, CIN Defense, CLE WR Andrew Hawkins (if he plays) |
| GPP Plays: | CIN QB Andy Dalton, CLE WR Taylor Gabriel |
| Salary Relief: | CLE RB Terrance West, CIN RB Jeremy Hill, CLE WR Andrew Hawkins |
Cleveland Browns
Key Injury Alert: CLE TE Jordan Cameron has been ruled out for Week 10
The Browns have few viable options this week. If possible, consider plays from other teams.
The Cleveland RB Committee
Last week just before kickoff a Cleveland beat writer tweeted that RB Terrance West could lead the Browns in carries for the week. The report came completely out of nowhere; it was also completely accurate. West indeed led the Browns in carries last week with 15, though that didn’t mean much as he only managed 48 rushing yards. West did convert the lone RB TD, a 2-yard swing pass where he wasn’t covered. After the game, Browns HC Mike Pettine defended the shift to West, which suggests that we should anticipate West’s role to continue for at least another week.
Previous #1 RB Ben Tate probably ran himself out of a job last week, with 3 yards on 10 rushes (though he did add 29 yards on 4 catches). And the most talented Browns RB, Isaiah Crowell, didn’t even earn a snap.
Clearly West is the Browns RB to own this week, which isn’t saying much. West is a risky play, considering how quickly the Browns move from RB to RB (West has been benched before for poor performance), and the non-existent run-blocking since C Alex Mack was injured for the year. The only silver lining is the matchup: Browns RBs will have their 4th straight favorable matchup this week, as the Bengals allow 111.1 rushing yards per game to the position, 7th-most in the NFL. If you’re taking a Browns RB, make it Terrance West, but rostering one at all is a risky move.
WR Andrew Hawkins
Note: Hawkins is Questionable and will be a Game-Time Decision this week
Baby Hawk was a letdown in Week 9, hauling in just 3 of 8 targets for only 34 yards, and also missing part of the game with an injury. That injury has lingered, making Hawkins a GTD Thursday night. Should Hawkins play, he’ll again be the only receiving weapon the Browns have left. However, a less-than-100% Hawkins probably isn’t worth the risk this week considering some of the strong value plays at WR.
WR Taylor Gabriel
If Andrew Hawkins is OUT this week, the Browns passing game will be without a clear go-to option. But, that will also free up a chunk of extra targets for other Browns receivers. I don’t think Miles Austin will have much success on the outside, but big-play WR Taylor Gabriel could benefit from extra targets. Gabriel went 5-87-1 last week and has been good for a few big plays per game. Coincidently, the Bengals allowed a few big plays to the Jags anemic passing attack last week, including two long TDs to Allen Hurns (7-112-2); the Bengals also will have to reshuffle their CBs if top DB Leon Hall doesn’t pass his concussion tests. The possibility of extra looks and a matchup with replacement DBs gives Gabriel extra tournament appeal, but ultimately you can find much better options in the Sunday games.
Cincinnati Bengals
Key Injury Alert: RB Gio Bernard will not play this week – Upgrade RB Jeremy Hill
RB Jeremy Hill
Jeremy Hill replaced Gio Bernard last week and absolutely detonated the Jaguars defense for 163 total yards and 2 TDs. Hill’s blend of impressive power and deceptive speed make him a terror once he gets going, and the Bengals didn’t hesitate to thrust the rookie directly into a high-volume role with a fat 24 carries last week. With Gio out again this week, expect another high-volume day from Hill. The scary thing is, Hill’s matchup this week is even better than last week – the Browns allow the 6th-most rushing yards per game, and have allowed more than 100 yards to opposing #1 RBs in 3 of their last 4 games. Hill could have a massive day against the Browns, and is arguably the top overall play in this game.
WR AJ Green
AJ Green finally returned from injury last week, but Grinders that tried to exploit his favorable matchup and modest price were rewarded with part-time play and second-rate production: Green played less than 60% of the snaps and received just six targets, which he converted into 3-44-1. Considering the erratic play of Andy Dalton and the regular double-coverage Green saw, such production is actually pretty encouraging. Green will undoubtedly see more snaps this week, but unfortunately his routes will come in the coverage of Browns CB Joe Haden. While we were able to target Haden earlier in the season, doing so has been the opposite of a good idea lately:
| CATCH PERCENTAGE ALLOWED | AVERAGE QB RATING ALLOWED | |
| WEEKS 1-6 | 72.4% | 120.7 |
| WEEKS 7-9 | 44% | 56.5 |
Granted, Haden has faced both the Jags and Raiders lately, but he also held Vincent Jackson catchless on 5 targets in his coverage last week. Haden seems ‘back’, which could be trouble for Green considering he was dominated by Haden last season:
| CATCHES | YARDS ALLOWED | PASSES DEFENDED | INTERCEPTIONS | |
| WEEK 4 | 5 | 41 | 2 | 0 |
| WEEK 11 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 2 |
Green is without question an elite WR, but considering he might not play a full amount of snaps, might not truly be 100%, and will face a matchup he’s struggled against in the past, he’s a risky play this week.
WR Mohamed Sanu
With AJ Green facing double-teams last week, Sanu was able to feast, hauling in 4 of his team-high 8 targets for 95 yards and a TD. This week, Green’s showdown with Haden means Sanu has his own showdown of a different sort with CB Buster Skrine. I’ve run out of quips about how bad Skrine is, but all you need to know about him is that after tying for the most TDs allowed by a CB last season, Skrine is now also tied for the most TDs allowed this season (6), and has allowed the 6th-most yards (526). Last week alone, Skrine gave up 9 catches for 136 yards and a TD to Vincent Jackson and Mike Evans. The matchup is one of the best a WR can get, making Sanu an excellent play this week.