Thursday night matchups can be hit or miss for fantasy owners. This week was a bit of a miss, unless your team started the Cincinnati Bengals defense, because in that case, your team is sitting pretty in this weekend's playoff matchup already.
The Bengals defeated the Eagles 34-13 and forced five turnovers, including a staggering four fumble recoveries. The team now is in a prime position to make the playoffs and has the inside track for a Wild Card spot in the AFC.
The Eagles continued their disappointing season and wasted any momentum they had from winning last week to snap a four-game losing streak. The offensive stars were all duds for the Eagles on Thursday night, especially Jeremy Maclin and Bryce Brown.
Here are some details about the performances in the game and these players statuses going forward for the final two weeks of the NFL season and the fantasy playoffs.
Scoring for this article is based on a Yahoo fantasy league with one point per reception, one point for every 30 passing yards, one point for 10 rushing yards, one point for 10 receiving yards and six points per touchdown. Check out our fantasy recap from last week.
QUARTERBACK
Andy Dalton, Cincinnati Bengals
Dalton wasn't terrible on Thursday night fantasy-wise, but he didn't light up the scoreboard either. He threw for just 127 yards and one touchdown, but had one rushing touchdown to salvage the night, posting 15.03 points, more than any other Eagles player. He was inaccurate all night, completing just 13-of-27 passes and throwing one interception.
In the past three weeks Dalton has posted less than 20 points in each contest and has a tough matchup next week against the Steelers. Prior to the Oakland game three weeks ago, Dalton posted at least 20 fantasy points in three straight games
WEEK 15 Status: SIT. The Pittsburgh secondary has played well over the past few weeks and will be desperate for a win, because if they lose, the Bengals will clinch a Wild Card berth.
RUNNING BACK
Bryce Brown, Philadelphia Eagles
Brown was one of the most disappointing players on Thursday after posting over 32 points in two of his past three games. After putting up just 5.13 points, Brown has now combined for just eight fantasy points over the past two weeks.
He rushed for 34 yards on the ground and also added one reception for 11 yards. Brown has rushed for 528 yards this season, but has gained only 40 over the past two weeks after gaining 178 and 169 in his first two career starts. The fact that Eagles are playing so poorly hurts Brown's stock going forward, as does his issues with fumbling.
WEEK 15 Status: SIT. After two bad weeks in a row, things aren't going to get any better against a Washington Redskins team that is ranks seventh in rushing defense in the league.
BenJarvus Green-Ellis, Cincinnati Bengals
Green-Ellis posted the highest total of any player in the game on Thursday, gaining 16.06 points after rushing for 106 yards and a touchdown. He has posted double-digit fantasy points in each of the past five weeks and has been solid out of the backfield catching 21 balls this season, a bonus for owners in points-per-reception leagues.
WEEK 15 Status: SIT. Unless he's your emergency starter, sit Green-Ellis this week. The Steelers are a tough defense up front and give up the fifth-least rushing yards in the NFL.
WIDE RECIEVER/ TIGHT END
A.J. Green, Cincinnati Bengals
Green had a solid game fort the Bengals, posting 15.80 points after making six receptions for 57 yards and a touchdown. He rebounded from a tough game last week against Dallas and notched double-digit fantasy points for the sixth time in seven games. Dalton has targeted Green 31 times in the past three weeks, but he has only scored one touchdown.
WEEK 15 Status: START. Green is playing a tough defense in Pittsburgh, but he is poised for a breakout game after two so-so starts.
Riley Cooper, Philadelphia Eagles
Cooper was the highest-scoring Eagles player on Thursday, notching 10.33 points while making three catches for 20 yards and a touchdown. Cooper has scored in double-digits in two of the past three weeks, but has a been a disappointment for most of the year.
WEEK 15 Status: SIT. Cooper faces another tough matchup against a Washington secondary that includes DeAngelo Hall. Foles has regressed the past two weeks. Cooper is an option only in deeper leagues.
DEFENSE
Cincinnati Bengals
The most valuable fantasy player in Thursday's game was not a player at all, but a group of them: the Cincinnati D. The team forced five turnovers, including four fumbles and one interception, as they posted the highest points total of anyone in the game with 28.70 points. The team allowed just 13 points and also notched a sack and a defensive touchdown off of a blocked kick.
WEEK 15 Status: START. It's going to be a dog fight next week with the Steelers and with quarterback Ben Roethlisberger hurting, the defense will feast.
