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So long, Red Rifle

Bengals benching Dalton for Finley

The Bengals are benching Andy Dalton for Ryan Finley. I was aware that the Bengals are winless, of course, but I thought the primary culprit was their horrible defense and offensive line incapable of opening so much as a crease for Joe Mixon. But quarterbacks usually get the most credit and most blame, so Dalton will take the fall this time.

In fairness to the Bengals, it's not as if Dalton hasn't had enough of a shot running the offense. He's been their starter since 2011, and has never quite gotten over the hump -- no playoff wins, as everyone knows, and a lot of mediocrity.

That's also true in the fantasy realm. In those eight seasons as Cincinnati's starter (2011-Present), Dalton has had one top-10 fantasy finish (1 point for every 20 passing yards and 4-point TD passes), back in 2013. That's as many in that timeframe as Alex Smith and Mark Sanchez, and one fewer than Blake Bortles.

TOP 10 FANTASY QUARTERBACKS, 2011-PRESENT
YearPlayerPassTDP2 PtRunTDRFFRk
2018Patrick Mahomes509750127224961
2018Ben Roethlisberger51293449834282
2018Matt Ryan492435212534273
2018Andrew Luck459339214804044
2018Deshaun Watson416526055153975
2018Jared Goff468832310823916
2018Aaron Rodgers444225326923677
2018Kirk Cousins429830312313598
2018Drew Brees39923212243569
2018Dak Prescott3885222305635310
2017Russell Wilson398334258634161
2017Cam Newton330222175463672
2017Tom Brady45773222803643
2017Kirk Cousins409327017943554
2017Matthew Stafford44462929803525
2017Alex Smith404226035513486
2017Philip Rivers4515280-20337.557
2017Carson Wentz329633429903358
2017Ben Roethlisberger42512824703339
2017Dak Prescott3324220357632610
2016Aaron Rodgers442840236944461
2016Drew Brees52083702024222
2016Matt Ryan494438211704153
2016Andrew Luck424031234123864
2016Kirk Cousins49172509643795
2016Philip Rivers43863303503556
2016Blake Bortles390523235943517
2016Matthew Stafford432724120723478
2016Jameis Winston409028316513459
2016Dak Prescott3667230282634010
2015Cam Newton3837350636104551
2015Blake Bortles442835131024062
2015Tom Brady47703605334063
2015Russell Wilson402434055313994
2015Carson Palmer46713502413825
2015Drew Brees48703201413796
2015Eli Manning44363506103687
2015Aaron Rodgers382131434413638
2015Kirk Cousins41662924853639
2015Matthew Stafford4262320159136310
2014Andrew Luck476140027334431
2014Aaron Rodgers438138126924122
2014Peyton Manning4727392-2403943
2014Drew Brees49523306813924
2014Ben Roethlisberger49523232703845
2014Russell Wilson347520084963756
2014Matt Ryan469428114503637
2014Eli Manning44103003113508
2014Philip Rivers428631010203499
2014Ryan Tannehill4045270311134710
2013Peyton Manning5477550-3114971
2013Drew Brees51623905234372
2013Andy Dalton429333018323773
2013Matthew Stafford46502926923714
2013Cam Newton337924058563595
2013Philip Rivers44783207203596
2013Andrew Luck382223437743537
2013Ben Roethlisberger42612809913418
2013Matt Ryan45152605503359
2013Russell Wilson3357260539133210
2012Drew Brees5177430514371
2012Aaron Rodgers429539125924112
2012Tom Brady48273403244053
2012Cam Newton386919074183924
2012Matt Ryan471932014113845
2012Peyton Manning4659371603846
2012Tony Romo49032824913727
2012Matthew Stafford496720112643678
2012Andrew Luck437423025553669
2012Robert Griffin III3200200815736410
2011Drew Brees54764628614761
2011Aaron Rodgers464345025734562
2011Tom Brady523539010934473
2011Cam Newton4051212706144454
2011Matthew Stafford50384127804285
2011Eli Manning49332901513706
2011Philip Rivers46242713613517
2011Matt Ryan41772908423458
2011Tony Romo41843104613449
2011Mark Sanchez3474260103632410

Fourth-rounder Ryan Finley takes over, and we'll see how that goes. There are a couple of pretty good fourth-rounders starting right now, Kirk Cousins and Dak Prescott.

But on this team and behind this offensive line, Finley is likely to struggle as much as (probably more than) Dalton. He should at least have plenty of motivation. Winning a couple of games would help knock Cincinnati out of position to draft his replacement atop the 2020 Draft.

--Andy Richardson

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