Week 12 vs. Cleveland Browns
Andy Dalton continues to put up decent but not great fantasy numbers. He threw for 211 yards and two touchdowns last week against Baltimore. The absence of A.J. Green has been impactful and there is a good chance he won't play again this week.
Cleveland is the Week 12 opponent. The Browns are fourth in aFPA to quarterbacks. Against Cleveland, Dalton has been very successful in recent years. He has thrown 15 touchdowns without an interception over the last six games in the series. However, this Browns defense has been much better. Keep Dalton on the bench for Week 12 as a QB2.
Week 11 at Baltimore Ravens
Andy Dalton is coming off a poor outing last week against the Saints. He threw for only 153 yards and added two interceptions to his day. The Bengals looked strong earlier in the season but the offense has taken a step back and the team fired their defensive coordinator. It didn't help Dalton that AJ Green was out last week and probably will be this week as well.
Dalton will face the Ravens who are sixth in aFPA to quarterbacks. In the first meeting back in Week 2, Dalton was outstanding. He threw four touchdowns with zero picks. In his career, Dalton has been below average against Baltimore. He has thrown 17 touchdowns and 14 interceptions while completing 57 percent of his passes. Dalton is not a good play for Week 11. The team is struggling and so is the offense. Keep him on the bench.
Week 10 vs. New Orleans Saints
Andy Dalton had a solid game against Tampa last week throwing for 280 yards and two touchdowns. He might have lost his best receiver for awhile as A.J. Green will be out for at least a couple of weeks with a toe injury. This will probably hurt Dalton overall, but he won't disappear off the fantasy radar.
Dalton will face a Saints defense that is dead last in aFPA to quarterbacks. The good matchup might not be enough with Green out. Keep Dalton on the bench for Week 10 against New Orleans as a QB2.
Week 8 vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Andy Dalton had a great matchup last Sunday against KC and ended up with his worst performance of the season. He only completed 52 percent of his passes and threw for a season-low 148 yards. Dalton threw one touchdown and one interception. It was a disappointing outing in prime time for the Bengals' QB.
Dalton has another great matchup this week against Tampa Bay who is last in aFPA to quarterbacks in the NFL. But as we saw last week, a favorable matchup doesn't always help him. Dalton should be a starter for Week 8, but he only rates a low-end QB1.
Week 7 at Kansas City Chiefs
Andy Dalton put up solid numbers against the Steelers last week except he only averaged 5.5 yards per pass attempt. He did not throw any picks and did throw two touchdown passes. Dalton has never really lit up Pittsburgh so this was what we kind of expected.
Dalton will face the KC defense on Sunday night. The Chiefs are 29th in aFPA to quarterbacks so this is a great matchup for the Bengals offense. Expect Dalton to be near that 40 attempt mark and start him in all leagues and formats as a top 5 fantasy quarterback for Week 7.
Week 6 vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
Andy Dalton failed to throw for 300 yards for the first time since Week 3 and it was also the first time he has not thrown for multiple touchdowns in a game this season. Dalton still has great overall numbers, although a lot of the yardage has been accumulated in comeback mode.
Dalton will face the Steelers who are 26th in aFPA to quarterbacks, but were much better last week against Atlanta. Dalton has lost five straight to Pittsburgh and 8 of the last 9. He has never thrown more than two touchdowns in a game against the Steelers in his career.
The matchup is still good for Dalton, especially at home. He ranks a low-end QB 1 for Week 6 against Pittsburgh.
Week 5 vs. Miami Dolphins
Andy Dalton had a nice bounce-back game after throwing four interceptions the previous week. He completed over 70% of his passes and threw for 337 yards and three touchdowns. He also led his team to a comeback victory that landed them in first place.
Dalton will face an average Miami pass defense this Sunday and will be back in the Jungle for a home game. With back-to-back 300+ yard games, he seems to be playing well.
But he has not fared well against Miami in his career (more TDs than INTs) and there seems to be better quarterback options for Week 5. Keep Dalton on the bench as a high-end QB2.
Week 4 at Atlanta Falcons
Andy Dalton was shaky in the loss to Carolina last Sunday. He did throw for 352 yards and two touchdowns, but that was on 46 attempts. The four interceptions he threw hurt his team and his overall fantasy performance. Dalton had only thrown one interception in the first two games.
The Bengals face Atlanta this week, who rank 28th in aFPA to quarterbacks. Despite the poor outing in Week 3, the positive matchup and Dalton's previous two games put him on the fantasy radar. He rates as a high-end QB2 for Week 4. He should be considered a starter in deeper leagues.
Week 3 at Carolina Panthers
After a very efficient outing in Week 1, Andy Dalton was more explosive in Week 2 against division rival Baltimore, throwing for four touchdowns in the first half. The veteran quarterback also threw for 265 yards and did not throw an interception. His offensive line was excellent as the Ravens did not record a sack on the evening, helping Dalton and the Bengals to their second win.
Dalton is back on the road with a rare trip to Carolina—a stadium he has never played in. In fact, he only has played the Panthers once—a tie back in 2014. Carolina is 12th in aFPA to quarterbacks, so not a big advantage either way.
Although his numbers have been solid for the first two weeks, we see Dalton as a low-end QB2 for Week 3. Keep him on your bench as there are many better options this weekend.
Week 2 vs. Baltimore Ravens
Andy Dalton's Week 1 performance was decent and helped the Bengals to an Opening Day win. He threw for 243 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 1 interception. Dalton also completed 75 percent of his passes. This is about what we should expect each week from him—solid but not spectacular numbers.
It might not be as easy this week, as the Bengals host division rival Baltimore. The Ravens defense was outstanding last week against a poor Buffalo team. Dalton had a four-interception performance Week 1 against Baltimore last season and a three-touchdown game in the 2017 regular season finale. It's interesting that Dalton has a winning record in his career against the Ravens but has thrown more interceptions (17) than TDs (15).
The average numbers Dalton put up last week might be his ceiling for Week 2. We just don't like the matchup. Keep Dalton on the bench for the Bengals' home opener.
