It’s looking more likely that Antonio Brown might not play on Monday night. With a toe injury, he hasn’t practiced the last two days, and he’ll be a game-time decision.
Fantasy upside: Ben Roethlisberger has thrown 4 TDs two weeks in a row, but with his lengthy, well-document track record of being great at home and lousy on the road (31 TDs in his last 28 games), he’s not a quarterback you should be willingly putting in your lineup.
I would also not be excited about Chris Boswell. Me gets the feeling the bungling Bengals are finally going to get over the hump against their long-time nemesis and win this game. With kickers, I prefer guys on teams that are going to win. I can’t say that with any certainty about the Steelers.
Speaking of kickers, how about Travis Coons? Chargers have added him to their active roster. Nick Novak (back) will get the week off, Coons is filling in, and the punching-bag Browns are coming to town. Very good chance that Coons is a top-10 kicker this week. Heck, top 5.
Correction: I posted it earlier on the site, but it’s worth repeating. In the customized PPR rankings, Cordarrelle Patterson grades out as the #17 wide receiver. That’s too high. I like him as a fill-in option with a decent chance of being a top-40 receiver, but I don’t see him as much different than their other two wide receivers this week (Seth Roberts, Johnny Holton). Details on how the Patterson ranking went sideways (for PPR only) are posted at the website.
Back to the Steelers and Bengals.
Brown is a game-time decision. If you have him, it would be good to have a contingency plan in place. So those with Brown should perhaps make a waiver claim for Brandon LaFell, Jesse James or (gulp) Eli Rogers or (double gulp) Justin Hunter. That way if Brown were to scratch on Monday night, you would at least have a body to plug in. Or if you have better options, perhaps just move on Sunday with what you have, with there being a good chance Brown will sit.
If Brown sits, the Steelers will ask more of their other wide receivers. JuJu Smith-Schuster would become more of their featured guy. Martavis Bryant probably would see a few more balls. And they’d have to Eli Rogers and/or Justin Hunter on the field more. Smith-Schuster has had a hamstring injury but has been practicing all week – he’s ready to go.
Steelers have ruled out Vance McDonald (ankle), making Jesse James more of a full-time tight end and palatable fantasy option at the position.
Pittsburgh won’t have half of their starting secondary. Joe Haden (fibula) is out, and Mike Mitchell (ankle) is doubtful. This has me feeling better about A.J. Green possibly coming up with a big game. Steelers have shut him down at times, but he’s also had some huge games against them over the years.
For the Bengals, they’ll be missing three defensive starters. Linebackers Vincent Rey (hamstring) and Nick Vigil (ankle) and safety Shawn Williams (hamstring) have all been declared out.
—Ian Allan
PITTSBURGH STEELERS at CINCINNATI BENGALS
PITTSBURGH STEELERS
OUT CB Joe Haden (fibula), TE Vance McDonald (ankle)
DOUBTFUL S Michael Mitchell (ankle)
QUESTIONABLE WR Antonio Brown (toe)
DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE
Thursday: CB Joe Haden (fibula), LB James Harrison (knee), TE Vance McDonald (ankle), S Michael Mitchell (ankle), LB Ryan Shazier (ankle)
Friday: WR Antonio Brown (toe), CB Joe Haden (fibula), LB James Harrison (knee), TE Vance McDonald (ankle), S Michael Mitchell (ankle), LB Ryan Shazier (ankle)
Saturday: WR Antonio Brown (toe), CB Joe Haden (fibula), TE Vance McDonald (ankle), S Michael Mitchell (ankle)
FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
Thursday: WR JuJu Smith-Schuster (hamstring)
Friday: WR JuJu Smith-Schuster (hamstring)
Saturday: LB James Harrison (knee), LB Ryan Shazier (ankle), WR JuJu Smith-Schuster (hamstring)
CINCINNATI BENGALS
OUT LB Vincent Rey (hamstring), LB Nick Vigil (ankle), S Shawn Williams (hamstring)
QUESTIONABLE DE Michael Johnson (back)
DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE
Thursday: LB Vincent Rey (hamstring), LB Nick Vigil (ankle), S Shawn Williams (hamstring)
Friday: LB Vincent Rey (hamstring), LB Nick Vigil (ankle), S Shawn Williams (hamstring)
Saturday: LS Clark Harris (illness), DE Michael Johnson (back), LB Vincent Rey (hamstring), LB Nick Vigil (ankle), S Shawn Williams (hamstring)
LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
Thursday: TE Tyler Kroft (wrist), T Cedric Ogbuehi (shoulder)
Friday: WR A.J. Green (illness), DE Michael Johnson (back)
FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
Friday: TE Tyler Kroft (wrist), T Cedric Ogbuehi (shoulder)
Saturday: WR A.J. Green (illness), TE Tyler Kroft (wrist), T Cedric Ogbuehi (shoulder)