Cincinnati Bengals Fantasy Football News | Shark Bites

Panthers S Vonn Bell (quad) and S Xavier Woods (thigh) are questionable for Thursday night's game against the Bears. Bell put in full practices all week and looks ready to finally return after missing the past 3 games (with a Week 7 bye mixed in). Woods looks iffier after missing two practices and remaining limited Wednesday with a new issue. We'll check the status on both players ahead of the game.

Bengals WR Tee Higgins (hamstring) was limited in Wednesday's practice. He seemed to make it out of Sunday night's win over the Bills fine, but Higgins' status can never be taken for granted. Check back tomorrow for another update on his status for this weekend's game vs. the Texans.

Bengals WR Ja'Marr Chase (back) did not practice on Wednesday. Chase fell hard on his back in last week's win over the Bills but was able to play through it. We're tentatively expecting him to play vs. the Texans this weekend but will get another update on his status tomorrow.

Bengals HC Zay Taylor labeled WR Ja'Marr Chase "day-to-day" with back soreness. Chase took a hard fall right on his back in Sunday night's game vs. the Bills (which Cris Collinsworth then talked about for the next 15 minutes). "It's not trying to raise warning signs or anything like that," Taylor added. "Right now, it's sore." Unless there's any structural damage here, we'd expect Chase to be ready for this weekend's game vs. the Texans. We'll keep a close eye on him throughout the week.

Bengals WR Tee Higgins entered Week 9 vs. the Bills with a 47.5% catch rate that ranked lowest among 48 WRs who've seen at least 40 targets this season. Those who stood patient with him were rewarded as his fortunes changed on Sunday night with 8 catches on 9 targets for a team-high 110 receiving yards. This is the first time that Higgins went for 100+ yards in a regular season game since Week 16 of 2022. While it’s disappointing that teammate Ja’Marr Chase didn’t post major stats (4 catches, 41 yards), fantasy managers ought to be encouraged to see the Cincinnati passing game as a unit firing on all cylinders for the fourth game in a row. The duo should be considered top-15 options next week vs. a Texans defense that ranks 24th in pass defense DVOA.

Bengals QB Joe Burrow completed 31 of 44 passes for 348 yards with 2 TDs in Week 9 vs. the Bills. It’s evident at this point that he’s over that right calf injury that slowed him down early in the year. Over the past four games, Burrow ranks fourth in passing yards per game (283.2), third in fantasy points per game (21.8), and first with 2.5 passing TDs per game. The former No. 1 overall pick can now be safely treated as a high-end QB1 regardless of matchup.

Panthers S Vonn Bell (quad) apparently isn't ready to return just yet. He's doubtful for Sunday's game despite putting in limited practices all week. It'll be Bell's third straight missed game -- and another start for Sam Franklin in his place. Franklin made noise with a 99-yard INT return for a TD back in Week 4, but he has just one game all season with more than 2 solo tackles. He's not a worthwhile option for most IDP leagues. The Panthers might also miss CB Donte Jackson. He's officially questionable despite not appearing on the injury report until Friday, as a full participant.

Bengals Edge Trey Hendrickson returned for a limited practice Thursday after sitting out Wednesday with a foot injury. Hendrickson saw a normal workload in the win over San Francisco and doesn't seem to be in danger of missing this week's game against the Bills. But we'll certainly be checking his status in Friday's practice and heading into the game.

Panthers S Vonn Bell put in limited practices Wednesday and Thursday, his first action since injuring a quad the Thursday before a Week 6 meeting with the Dolphins. Bell missed that game and last week's win over the Texans, sandwiching a Week 7 bye. But he just might be ready to return Sunday against the Colts. Indy has been a negative scoring matchup for DBs on the season, but Bell's a decent tackle play in just about any spot. His return would send S Sam Franklin back to the sideline.

Bengals WR Tee Higgins posted a merely solid receiving line in Sunday's win over the 49ers. His 5 receptions and 69 yards, though, were each his second-highest marks of the season. His 6 targets ranked second on the team even though Higgins trailed Tyler Boyd for third in snaps and routes among Cincinnati WRs. Higgins' 11.5 yards per target against San Francisco checked in 4.1 higher than in any other game this season. Bet on a much better Higgins the rest of the way, now that he's off the injury report and his QB is healthier.

Bengals WR Ja'Marr Chase caught 10 passes for 100 yards and 1 TD on 12 targets in Sunday's win over the 49ers. Even with Tee Higgins off the injury report, Chase claimed 37.5% of the team's targets and accounted for 35.3% of Cincinnati's receiving yards. Chase has rebounded from a quiet first two games to average 13.6 targets, 10 receptions, and 117.2 yards over the past five contests.

Bengals QB Joe Burrow threw almost as many TD passes as incompletions in Sunday's win over the 49ers. He went 28 of 32 for 283 yards and 3 TDs against a defense that entered the week ranked fifth in pass DVOA. His 134.8 passer rating marked a season high by a wide margin, as did Burrow's 43 rushing yards. The bye undoubtedly helped, even if only by allowing WR Tee Higgins (ribs) to get off the injury report. Burrow and his 7.1% TD rate over the past three games looks like a good weekly bet going forward. Week 9 holds a potential shootout at home vs. Buffalo.

Colts RB Zack Moss (elbow, heel) is active for today’s game vs. the Saints. He only got in a limited practice on Thursday and was reportedly a game-time decision, so it’s safe to assume that Moss will not be at 100% today. That could mean more work for RB Jonathan Taylor.

Colts RB Zack Moss (heel, elbow) "plans to play" vs. the Saints today, "barring no setbacks in pregame warmups," according to insider Jordan Schultz. It sounds like Moss' heel injury is a bigger issue than the elbow. It's certainly possible that he cedes even more work to RB Jonathan Taylor today. Consider Moss a risky RB3 or flex play.

Colts RB Zack Moss "wants to see how his foot feels once he puts pressure on it in pre-game warmups before deciding whether he can play vs. the Saints" today, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Moss is officially questionable with heel and elbow injuries after only getting in a limited practice on Thursday. It's safe to assume he'll be at less than 100% if he does end up active later today.

The Panthers have ruled S Vonn Bell (quad) out for the second straight game. He missed the full week of practice coming out of the Week 7 bye. S Xavier Woods, on the other hand, appears to be trending toward a Sunday return. He's questionable for Sunday's game against the Texans after finishing the week with a full Friday practice. Woods has been out since Week 3. We'll check his status Sunday.

Colts RB Zack Moss (elbow, heel) is listed as questionable for this weekend’s game vs. the Saints. He only got in a limited practice on Thursday, so he seems legitimately iffy. Moss’ absence would obviously be a big boost for RB Jonathan Taylor.

Colts RB Zack Moss (elbow, heel) returned to a limited practice on Thursday. He should be available for this weekend's game vs. the Saints, but check back tomorrow to see how Moss is listed on the final injury report.

Colts RB Zack Moss (elbow, heel) did not practice on Wednesday. He seemed to make it out of last week's game fine, so we're guessing this is more of a maintenance day. Check back tomorrow for another update on Moss' status for Sunday's game vs. the Saints.

Colts RB Zack Moss ran for just 21 yards on 7 carries, as Indy barely tried the ground game in a lopsided loss to the Jaguars. He scored from 3 yards out in the fourth quarter, though, and added a 6-38 receiving line on 7 targets. That tied him for third on the team in targets. Jonathan Taylor got much closer to Moss in his second game back, beating Moss by 1 carry and trailing him by just 1 target. A Week 7 meeting with the Browns looks tough for the whole offense.