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Bengals at Browns
By: Jay Pounds (@jaypoundsnfl)
Dynasty Owners, we have football on Halloween night! The game may be lacking star power, but expect some wild things to happen as the universe just won’t be able to control itself. A black cat strolling on the field? Maybe. We’ll just have to wait and see.
What to Watch For
In tonight’s game, there will be several things that I will have my eye on. The first being Kareem Hunt ($6,000,000). Will he see the field? Will he be traded before, or even better during tonight’s game? My bet is he will be moved early Tuesday morning. The next big factor in tonight’s game is the fact that Joe Burrow ($9,047,534) does not have his best friend, Ja’Marr Chase ($7,704,910), on the field with him for the first time in a couple years. It will be interesting to see how Burrow handles it and we will find out later tonight. I am expecting Burrow to be fine with Cleveland’s defense not exactly being a tough task to handle this season. The last thing I will be keeping a close eye on tonight is the Cleveland coaching staff and play calling in particular. The Browns have a top 3 running back in Nick Chubb ($12,200,000) and they have failed to utilize him enough all season long. If the Browns want any chance to win this game, they will need a big-time performance from Nick Chubb. Somehow the Browns coaching staff has failed to realize that Jacoby Brissett averaging nearly 35 pass attempts per game is a bad idea.
Jay’s Monday Night Prediction
| 38 | 27 | |||
| Cincinnati Bengals | Cleveland Browns |
I am going with the Bengals tonight despite the struggles they had with the Browns in 2021. Nick Chubb will do enough to keep the game close most of the way, if Cleveland coaching actually gives him the ball. In the end, Joe Burrow will be too much to handle for Cleveland.
Over/Under Projections – Bengals
| Player | Position | Salary | Projected Points | Over/Under |
| Joe Burrow | QB | $9,047,534 | 23.6 | Over |
The back-to-back Dynasty Owner Player of the Week will look to stay atop his throne on Halloween night. Burrow will have plenty of tricks and treats in store for the Browns’ defense and will hit the Over easily.
| Player | Position | Salary | Projected Points | Over/Under |
| Joe Mixon | RB | $12,000,000 | 16.5 | Under |
I am not expecting Mixon to hit the Over this week, but I do expect him to have a decent game. Look for Mixon to finish in the 12.0 to 15.0 Dynasty Owner fantasy point range tonight.
| Player | Position | Salary | Projected Points | Over/Under |
| Tee Higgins | WR | $2,171,696 | 17.9 | Over |
If Burrow wants to have a shot at a Dynasty Owner Player of the Week award, Higgins must step up. Over for Higgins in a big game.
| Player | Position | Salary | Projected Points | Over/Under |
| Tyler Boyd | WR | $10,750,000 | 14.1 | Over |
Tyler Boyd has thrived in a number 2 role many times throughout his career, and I see no reason that changes now. Over for Boyd.
| Player | Position | Salary | Projected Points | Over/Under |
| Hayden Hurst | TE | $3,500,000 | 10.0 | Over |
Will it be a big game for all of the main Bengals ‘pass catchers? I believe so. Over for Hayden Hurst who is quietly having a good season.
Over/Under Projections – Browns
| Player | Position | Salary | Projected Points | Over/Under |
| Jacoby Brissett | QB | $4,650,000 | 17.9 | Under |
Brissett is averaging almost 35 pass attempts per game (33.3) and that will help him come close to hitting the Over. Unfortunately for Browns fans, I am expecting a couple turnovers for Brissett that will lower his Dynasty Owner fantasy point total for tonight.
| Player | Position | Salary | Projected Points | Over/Under |
| Nick Chubb | RB | $12,200,000 | 15.4 | Over |
The rare running back who doesn’t need to catch passes to have a big Dynasty Owner fantasy point day. Nick Chubb is a beast and is an easy Over.
| Player | Position | Salary | Projected Points | Over/Under |
| Amari Cooper | WR | $20,000,000 | 12.6 | Over |
I have Cooper hitting the Over, but it would not surprise me if he came out and had a 5.0 Dynasty Owner fantasy point outing or less. Cooper has had many disappearing acts throughout his career that make him tough to predict on a single game basis.
| Player | Position | Salary | Projected Points | Over/Under |
| Donovan Peoples-Jones | WR | $870,402 | 9.2 | Over |
Despite fumbling issues, Peoples-Jones has started coming into his own the past few weeks. I am expecting a good game from the young receiver.
| Player | Position | Salary | Projected Points | Over/Under |
| Harrison Bryant | TE | $1,016,007 | 7.9 | Under |
The Browns faithful have loved Bryant since drafting him and he has looked good in spots during his career. That said, I don’t think Brissett trusts him all that much and that keeps him from hitting the Over this week.
Dynasty Owner Games of the Week
Every week, I will pick at least one Dynasty Owner game that is close in score and will be decided during Monday Night Football. If you happen to find yourself in this situation on Sunday night, please get ahold of me on Twitter (@jaypoundsnfl) and I will gladly feature your game here.
Game 1 – League #31822
Dynasty|Trade|School (D|T|S) – No one left in Starting lineup or Bench left to play
juan blanco – Nick Chubb in Starting lineup left to play
Here we have the first of two tightly contested matchups. Both of these Dynasty Owners are in the top 10 in the Chase for the Ring standings, but not in this league. Dynasty|Trade|School (D|T|S) and juan blanco are projected to finish just 1.21 Dynasty Owner fantasy points apart. Unfortunately for my friend Dynasty|Trade|School (D|T|S), I do not see him being able to pull out the win with no players left to play and Nick Chubb still to go for his opponent. I am in leagues with both of these Dynasty Owners and like both of them so I’m really hoping for a tie somehow. Sadly, I must pick one. In the end, my pal Dynasty|Trade|School (D|T|S) just won’t be able to handle Chubb and will come up just short.
Game 2 – League #30539
Michael’s Bulldogs – Joe Burrow in Starting lineup left to play
Burrows before hoes – Demetric Felton on Bench left to play
In our second matchup this week, we have another close projected finish with the difference down to just 2.23 Dynasty Owner fantasy points. I find it ironic that the week I put team Burrows before hoes in one of my articles they are going to get beat by the man who inspired their team’s name, Joe Burrow. Michaels’s Bulldogs is down big heading into tonight, but they have to be feeling confident with their star young signal caller left to play. Sorry Burrows before hoes, I see Michael’s Bulldogs pulling out the win.
Value of the Game Recap
Last week, I had several options to choose from for Value of the Game, but I decided to go with the hot hand in Rhamondre Stevenson ($1,057,264). It paid off, putting me above .500 and getting over the whole Mike Boone ($1,925,000) debacle.
| Week 7 | Rushing Attempts | Receptions | Total Yards | TDs | DOFP | Salary | DD/PT |
| Projection | 18 | 4 | 134 | 1 | 25.4 | $1,057,264 | $41,625 |
| Actual – Winner | 11 | 8 | 98 | 1 | 23.8 | $1,057,264 | $44,423 |
Overall Record: 4-3
Value of the Game
Week 8 Winner – Donovan Peoples-Jones
| Week 8 Projected | Receptions | Receiving Yards | Return Yards | TDs | DOFP |
| Donovan Peoples-Jones | 4 | 63 | 22 | 1 | 16.85 |
I had a very tough time with this week’s pick. It came down to Tee Higgins and Donovan Peoples-Jones. I am confident Higgins will have a good game, but he needs to more than double the total of Peoples-Jones. Because of that, I must go with the Browns player. Yuck!
Peoples-Jones has done well over the past few weeks, and I see no reason that changes with the Browns likely playing from behind most of the day.
Be sure to check out all our upcoming content this season. We will have several articles, podcasts, and the Livestream on Wednesday for everyone each week. Thank you all for reading and I hope your teams killed it this week. Stay safe out there and good luck on your 2022 Chase for the Ring!