Bengals @ Cardinals Week 5 Game Preview

Cincinnati Bengals @ Arizona Cardinals

Before the season, it would have seemed unbelievable that this Bengals and Cardinals matchup would feature two 1-3 teams. What would have seemed even less plausible is that the Bengals have been the worst of the two teams to start the year, yet here we are.

Almost any way you slice it, the Cardinals have had a better start to the year. Arizona ranks 9th in EPA per play, while Cincinnati ranks 26th. The Bengals are dead last in offensive TDs, with just three on the season, while Arizona is all the way up at eight. 

Of course, much of the Bengals' struggles can be linked back to Joe Burrow’s calf injury and the limits that have been placed on him and the offense more broadly. Until he gets fully healthy (I’m eyeing after their Week 7 bye), it will be difficult to get excited about playing anyone on this offense outside of Ja’Marr Chase.

That is especially true this week with Tee Higgins likely to miss due to a rib injury. Chase should be a target monster this week and is always a threat to break a big play after the catch.

Joe Mixon is a strong play this week thanks to his major role in the offense and soft matchup against a Cardinals defense that has allowed plenty of points to opposing RBs. He is a top-10 RB option in the Fantasy Life ranks this week, but it’s difficult to see much of a ceiling unless the offense finds a way to put up points this week.

Although the Cardinals haven’t exactly been a juggernaut, they are far more competent on offense than anyone (myself included) expected coming into the season. Josh Dobbs and the Arizona offense have been able to support at least one fantasy-relevant option at each position:

• James Conner (RB16 in PPR scoring)
• Marquise Brown (WR17)
• Zach Ertz (TE10)

They shouldn’t have too much trouble keeping the success going this week against a Bengals defense that hasn’t looked like anything special so far this season. 

Keep an eye on ascending rookie WR Michael Wilson who has lived up to the offseason hype so far and should continue to command a bigger and bigger role in the offense as the season progresses. Wilson is coming off of an overall WR6 performance last week and looks to be earning the trust of his QB earlier than we could have hoped.

I’m honestly a little bit surprised that the Cardinals are 3-point home underdogs, and I’ll be watching that line throughout the week. While I have no doubt the Bengals are a better team when fully healthy, I think the market may be underappreciating how well this Cardinals team is playing. 

The Cardinals have managed to get off to a fast start in a lot of their games (last week against San Francisco excluded), and if they get out to a lead in this one, I do wonder if a hobbled Burrow is capable of leading a comeback with a depleted WR room.