Under the Fantasy Radar?

Published July 8, 2009 at 5:00 a.m.

While we here in the Cincy Jungle and our players in the Orange and Black have overflowing amounts of confidence and pre-season swagger going into next season, it seems that most in the media world disregard us as Fantasy duds next year. 

Take espn.com's fantasy previews.

QB  http://sports.espn.go.com/fantasy/football/ffl/story?page=nfldk2k9qbpreview

1. Drew Brees, Saints
2. Tom Brady, Patriots
3. Peyton Manning, Colts

Tier 2
4. Kurt Warner, Cardinals
5. Aaron Rodgers, Packers
6. Philip Rivers, Chargers

Tier 3
7. Tony Romo, Cowboys
8. Matt Ryan, Falcons
9. Matt Schaub, Texans
10. Donovan McNabb, Eagles

Tier 4
11. Matt Cassel, Chiefs
12. Jay Cutler, Bears
13. Ben Roethlisberger, Steelers
14. Carson Palmer, Bengals
15. Eli Manning, Giants

My jaw dropped when I saw this.  Carson Palmer is barely listed above Eli Manning.  Ok, I know that the guy was injured last year, but he's not dead and anybody who has a pulse ought to beat out Eli in fantasy football.  Putting Palmer there is both disrespectful and humiliating to us as fans, but as fantasy football players, it's 5 round draft gold.

or WR http://sports.espn.go.com/fantasy/football/ffl/story?page=nfldk2k9wrpreview

 

Tier 1
1. Larry Fitzgerald, Cardinals
2. Andre Johnson, Texans
3. Calvin Johnson, Lions
4. Randy Moss, Patriots
5. Steve Smith, Panthers
6. Greg Jennings, Packers
7. Reggie Wayne, Colts
8. Roddy White, Falcons
9. Anquan Boldin, Cardinals
10. Terrell Owens, Bills
11. Dwayne Bowe, Chiefs
12. Marques Colston, Saints

Tier 2
13. Brandon Marshall, Broncos
14. Wes Welker, Patriots
15. Roy Williams, Cowboys
16. T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Seahawks
17. Braylon Edwards, Browns
18. Vincent Jackson, Chargers
19. Antonio Bryant, Buccaneers
20. Chad Ochocinco, Bengals

 

Tier 4
30. Jerricho Cotchery, Jets
31. Donald Driver, Packers
32. Torry Holt, Jaguars
33. Laveranues Coles, Bengals
34. Lance Moore, Saints

I don't want to beat a dead horse here, but Braylon Edwards beat out Ocho?  Since 2005, the Bengals Offense hadn't finished lower that 10th and Ocho hadn't had less than 1300 yds and 7 tds.  Plus, Coles has got to be better than Torry Holt with Chad drawing double teams and a healthy Carson Palmer.

 

or Team Defense http://sports.espn.go.com/fantasy/football/ffl/story?page=nfldk2k9dstpreview

 

Tier 4
24. Buffalo Bills
25. Jacksonville Jaguars
26. Cleveland Browns
27. New Orleans Saints
28. St. Louis Rams
29. Denver Broncos
30. Cincinnati Bengals
31. Kansas City Chiefs
32. Detroit Lions

Ok, defense is pretty random in Fantasy football, but in overall yards last year, the Bengals had the 12th ranked defense, and by most accounts, they only got better in the offseason.  Yet we are barely above the Lions.  The Lions!

Given these poor fantasy projections, my question for all of you, is which Bengals are you going to draft in your Fantasy Football teams this year?  Who's got the most value as a sleeper and who's the most likely to be in the top 10 in fantasy points?  Who's the most likely Bengal that will make a fantasy splash that nobody has ever heard of?

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