The league upheld the suspension of Bengals LB Vontaze Burfict on Wednesday but reduced it from 5 games to 3. That's obviously bad news for the player and his team, who believed he had a good case for overturning the punishment. But IDP owners will now get a potential top-shelf fantasy contributor for 2 more games. We've adjusted Burfict back up our 2017 IDP rankings, and he still sits well within consideration range for just about any sized fantasy football league. Backup LB Vincent Rey should still step in for Burfict over the 1st 3 games and carry significant IDP upside for those weeks.

The league has suspended Bengals OLB Vontaze Burfict for the 1st 5 games of the season, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. The ban stems from an illegal hit on Chiefs FB Anthony Sherman earlier this month, but the severity undoubtedly comes from previous infractions for Burfict in the same category. He missed the 1st 3 games of last season for a shot to the head of Steelers WR Antonio Brown in the playoffs the year before. Burfict will reportedly appeal the suspension, but IDP owners will have to plan for now as though Burfict will miss the 1st third of the fantasy season. That's a big blow for a high-ceiling fantasy option that had been enjoying perhaps the best camp and preseason of his career. LB Vincent Rey would likely start in Burfict's place and provide a high-upside IDP option. Burfict's absence also adds upside to OLB Nick Vigil and MLB Kevin Minter.

ESPN's Bob Holtzman reports that the Bengals will likely hold OLB Vontaze Burfict out of Sunday's season finale against the Ravens. Burfict still had yet to clear the league concussion protocol as of Thursday and missed the 1st 2 days of practice this week. He's also listed on the injury report with a knee issue. We'll confirm Burfict's status whenever official word arrives, but expect Vincent Rey to start in his place and Karlos Dansby to lead Cincinnati 'backers in snaps again.

The Bengals have ruled OLB Vontaze Burfict out for Saturday's game against the Texans because of his concussion. Vincent Rey should start in his place and carries some IDP upside.

Bengals OLB Vontaze Burfict will need to clear the league concussion protocol in order to play Saturday night against Houston. The team website reports that Burfict got cleared Sunday to return to the game after a 2nd-quarter collision sent him to the locker room for concussion testing. Burfict also reportedly passed several other checks during the game, but then reported symptoms some time over the following 2 days. Wednesday was the only full practice of the week, so we'll keep an eye on reports of Burfict's status. He's a top-level IDP option if available. If Burfict can't go, Vincent Rey would likely start in his place and bring fantasy upside. Rey's dealing with a hamstring injury this week, though, that limited his practice time Wednesday.

The Bengals activated LB Vontaze Burfict on Saturday, which points to him likely playing Sunday against the Steelers. Both he and HC Marvin Lewis have said, though, that Burfict will need some time to work his way into game shape. You can go ahead and stash Burfict in a deeper IDP league, because we'd bet on him regaining a full-time role before the season ends. But don't chase him too hard in leagues of moderate or shallow depth. We don't know how long it'll take him to get back to 3-down duty. Expect OLB Vincent Rey to retain his 3-down role for at least a while -- and perhaps even after Burfict is back to full strength.

Bengals OLB Vontaze Burfict will join his team for practice Thursday for the 1st time in more than a year, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer. Burfict suffered a knee injury last October that eventually required microfracture surgery in the offseason. He started this year on the PUP, which still gives the Bengals 3 more weeks to decide whether to activate him or put him on IR. We'll see how Burfict's knee responds to practice -- and perhaps game action before too long. But even he realizes that a full return right away isn't realistic. “Who hasn't played in a year and come plays 70, 80 snaps in one game?" Burfict said of his chances for Week 8. "So I'm just looking forward to contributing as much as I can." You can stash Burfict now if you play in a deep IDP league, but don't go dropping value to add him in average-sized formats (say, 5 IDP starters or fewer). Vincent Rey has been Cincinnati's best -- and only 3-down -- LB in Burfict's absence, dating back to last year. Expect him to retain a starting spot even when Burfict gets back into the lineup.

Monday started the 2nd week of eligibility for Bengals LB Vontaze Burfict to come off the PUP and begin practicing with his team, but he didn't take the field. “We’ve spent too much time talking about someone not on the roster," HC Marvin Lewis said, per the team website. “When he’s ready to come off rehab, he’s ready.” Guess we'll see what that means as this week goes on. IDP owners shouldn't be rushing out to grab him right now, though. On the other hand, OLB Vincent Rey reportedly returned. He suffered a knee injury back in Week 6 before the Week 7 bye. We'll see how he progresses through the practice week. Monday's practice was not a full workout.

Bengals OLB Vincent Rey left Sunday's win over the Bills with a right ankle injury and did not return. We'll see how serious the injury is. Fortunately, the Bengals get a Week 7 bye. LB Vontaze Burfict might be nearing a return as well after starting the season on the PUP. We'll keep an eye on this whole situation for IDP purposes.

The Bengals on Saturday placed weak-side LB Vontaze Burfict on the PUP, which means he'll miss at least the 1st 6 weeks of the season. The move comes as no surprise after Burfict went the entire preseason without participating in a team practice. He's still working back from offseason microfracture knee surgery. Vincent Rey has started in Burfict's place in the preseason and has delivered solid fantasy numbers when called upon in the past. He should see 3-down duty as long as he's in the lineup and is well worth picking up in IDP leagues of moderate depth. A.J. Hawk has also stuck as the starter at the other outside spot, ahead of 2014 starter Emmanuel Lamur. He's still not very intriguing for IDP purposes, though.

The Bengals placed LB Vontaze Burfict on IR Tuesday. That's actually good news for IDP owners, because it means we can treat Vincent Rey as a starter the rest of the way. Rey has delivered top-20 LB numbers over the past 5 weeks.

Bengals LB Vontaze Burfict has now missed 6 games since the knee surgery that was only expected to cost him a few weeks. Despite being optimistic at the outset, HC Marvin Lewis told the Cincinnati Enquirer on Monday that he doesn't know if Burfict will return to the field at all in 2014. "We'll see him when everybody says he's ready to play or good enough to play we'll have an idea," Lewis said. Until Burfict proves ready to play, Vincent Rey remains a solid IDP option. He led all Cincinnati defenders in snaps played vs. Pittsburgh in Week 14 and has played all but 8 total snaps in the 6 games that Burfict has been out.

The Bengals have ruled LB Vontaze Burfict out for a 3rd straight game following knee surgery. That gives Vincent Rey another start at New Orleans, which has presented a positive matchup for LBs this season. He's an OK LB3 option for IDP owners but has yet to flash the kind of upside he did during a couple of games in place of MLB Rey Maualuga last season.

Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com reports that Cincinnati OLB Vontaze Burfict will miss a "couple of games" after undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery. The team reportedly "hopes" to have him back for the Week 11 trip to New Orleans. Burfict has dealt with multiple injuries this year and been a big disappointment for anyone who drafted him relatively high in an IDP league. His absence should make LB Vincent Rey a 3-down player and the weak-side starter. That gives Rey lots of upside, starting this week against the Jaguars.

The Bengals have gotten starting LBs Vontaze Burfict and Emmanuel Lamur back in practice this week. Both Burfict (neck) and Lamur (shoulder) followed limited practices Wednesday with full workouts Thursday. That certainly points to both being likely to play on Sunday. MLB Rey Maualuga remains out and appears likely to miss the rematch with Baltimore, which should leave a starting role for Vincent Rey once again. The question, however, is who will stay on the field for passing downs. That's been Burfict and Lamur when all starters are healthy. But might either OLB need a little break this week, leaving Rey to play those snaps? We'll keep an eye out for any signal. But barring some revelation, we'd have to assume that Burfict and Lamur remain the 3-down guys. Thus, they become the better IDP options over Rey, who carries upside whenever he steps into a full-time role.

Bengals LB Vontaze Burfict left Sunday's loss to the Colts early with a cervical strain in his neck. Burfict hurt himself when lowering the crown of his helmet into Colts QB Andrew Luck's chest while making a tackle on a Luck run. Burfict has already suffered a pair of concussions and a stinger in the neck/shoulder area. There's no word yet on his status for Week 8, but any missed time for Burfict would only help Vincent Rey continue to find a role.

The Bengals have ruled out MLB Rey Maualuga (hamstring) for Sunday's visit to Indianapolis. The team also will likely go without strong-side LB Emmanuel Lamur, who's doubtful with a shoulder injury. That would leave Vontaze Burfict as the only regular starter in the lineup, with Vincent Rey likely stepping in for Maualuga and filling a 3-down role. (The other starter won't matter for IDP puropses.) Rey presents intriguing sleeper potential in a top-10 matchup for fantasy LB scoring. The Bengals' team D outlook for the game doesn't change significantly with these 2 injuries.

Bengals LB Vontaze Burfict is doubtful for Sunday's game against the Patriots after missing practice all week.  He continues to deal with effects from a concussion he initially suffered back in Week 1.  Burfict returned to play in Week 2 but exited that game early and hasn't played since.  It's particularly worrisome that he couldn't practice at all after the Week 4 bye.  We'll see where he goes from here.  Look for Vincent Rey to start in his place again on Sunday.  Rey performed fine in Burfict's absence but played just two-thirds of the defensive snaps.  That makes him tough to trust for fantasy purposes.

As expected, Bengals LB Vontaze Burfict is inactive for the Week 3 game against Tennessee.  Vincent Rey will start in his place and carry healthy IDP upside.  Burfict's lingering concussion issues remain a worry beyond this week.