Week 18: Dalton vs Colts
Andy Dalton finished the regular season with a very up and down performance against the Steelers which really was a microcosm of his season. Inconsistency and lack of big plays hurt the QBs fantasy impact in 2014 after he was outstanding last year.
He did get his team to the postseason again, and we have seen how the Bengals have fared over the past three playoffs. They will be an underdog on the road in Indy, but there is some good news. The game is Sunday afternoon (we have seen Dalton's struggles in prime time) and he is playing the Colts who are 27th in aFPA to quarterbacks. The bad news is he was horrible against Indy in their meeting back in October where he only completed 47% of his passes and only threw for 126 yards.
He ranks in the bottom half of the eight quarterbacks playing Wild Card weekend so if you can avoid putting him in your playoff lineup, do so.
Week 17: Dalton vs Steelers
Andy Dalton has been in his comfort zone the last three weeks, throwing about 26 passes per game and staying away from turnovers for the most part. However, his overall fantasy numbers are still hovering around the league average.
Dalton will take to the road in Pittsburgh this Sunday with the division on the line. He actually had a good outing against the Steelers three weeks ago completing 72% of his passes and throwing two TDs without an INT. The Steelers are last in the NFL in aFPA to quarterbacks so Dalton has the matchup advantage. But because his year has been so up and down and the fact he usually struggles in prime time and against Pittsburgh, he should not be in your starting lineup for Week 17. Keep him on the bench.
Week 16: Dalton vs Broncos
When you win 30-0, you expect your quarterback to have some pretty good fantasy numbers. Well, at least decent. Not the case last week for Andy Dalton. He has put up some really bad games in 2014 and you can count last week as one of them. Dalton only threw for 117 yards and zero touchdowns and he added his 14th INT of the season. He has thrown only 15 touchdowns.
Dalton will have a good matchup against Denver who is 28th in aFPA to quarterbacks. He might be throwing the ball a lot on Monday, but is that really enough? Dalton has had several really bad games and you can't afford one now in your fantasy playoffs. Probably not worth the risk. Keep Dalton on the bench against the Broncos for Week 16.
Week 15: Dalton vs Browns
Andy Dalton's numbers were pretty good against Pittsburgh last week with a 72% completion rate, 302 yards, two touchdowns and zero INTs. His team lost so the fine performance was wasted, but it was good to see Dalton play well against a team he has struggled with in the past.
Speaking of struggling, the last time Dalton faced Cleveland, he has his worst game ever and that was at home. The Browns are 7th in aFPA to quarterbacks so we don't expect a great performance from Dalton this week so keep him on the bench.
Week 14: Dalton vs Steelers
Andy Dalton has been up and down this season and last week was down with three picks against Tampa Bay. Dalton has 11 interceptions in his last six games and has been nowhere near as consistent as he was in 2013. He will face his old nemesis Pittsburgh, against whom he has only completed 53% of his passes and has thrown 7 TDs and 5 INTs.
The 2014 Steelers are 27th in aFPA to quarterbacks so the advantage is with Dalton, but not enough to start him for Week 14. Keep him on the bench.
Week 13: Dalton vs Buccaneers
Andy Dalton was very average last week against Houston throwing only 1 TD and adding an interception. He did throw for 233 yards and completed 69% of his passes so overall, it was a decent effort.
Dalton will face Tampa Bay who is 26th in aFPA to quarterbacks. The good matchup for Dalton doesn't overshadow how he has been inconsistent over the 2014 season. You just don't know what Dalton you are going to get week-to-week. There are plenty better options at quarterback this week, so keep Dalton on the bench if possible.
Week 12: Dalton vs Texans
If you stuck with the embattled Andy Dalton after his worst career performance, you were rewarded last week. Dalton completed 16 of 22 passes for 220 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions in Sunday's win over the Saints. Those type of games have not come to often for the Bengals signal caller, but maybe this will give him a spark the rest of the season.
The problem you face now is which Dalton will show up in Houston on Sunday? The Texans are 23rd in aFPA to quarterbacks so the matchup favors Dalton. But the game from two weeks ago weighs on my mind and so we will wait and see where Dalton is headed down the stretch. Keep him on the bench for Week 12.
Week 11: Dalton vs Saints
Last week, Andy Dalton hit an all-time low so the good news, it probably can't get any worse. He had a 30% completion rate, 86 passing yards, zero TDs and three interceptions. His fantasy owners from around the world wept. Ugly.
It has been a rough stretch for Dalton as he has four touchdown passes and eight interceptions the last five games. The 2013 season is a distant memory right now.
Dalton actually had a good matchup this week as Saints are 25th in aFPA to quarterbacks. But the game is on the road and we have not seen any indications that Dalton is going to break out of this slump. Keep him on the bench for Week 11.
Week 10: Dalton vs Browns
Andy Dalton continues to put up shaky fantasy numbers although this past Sunday against Jacksonville, he did throw two touchdowns. It was the first time he has thrown a TD since Week 7. The interceptions continue to plague him as he has five in the last four games. The return of his most dangerous weapon, AJ Green, did not yield great returns, but one of those touchdowns did go to Green.
Dalton will face a familiar foe in division rival Cleveland. He has had mixed results against the Browns averaging 226 yards per game while throwing 11 TDs and 7 INTs. Last season, he struggled in the two meetings.
Cleveland is ranked 8th in aFPA to quarterbacks so we are not expecting a big game from Dalton on Thursday. He only rates a QB2 for Week 10 and that's with a lot of QBs on byes. Keep him on the bench against the Browns.
Week 9: Dalton vs Jaguars
Andy Dalton completed 75% of his passes and threw for 266 yards last week against the Ravens, but did not throw a touchdown pass for the second straight game. Dalton, who surprised many people last season with his numbers, has not been able to even closely repeat his 2013 fantasy performance.
He might get some help this week if A.J. Green returns from injury. The Jaguars is a neutral matchup for Week 9 as they are ranked 13th in aFPA to quarterbacks. Dalton rates as a QB2 this week so it would be best to keep him on the bench again this week.
