If the Cincinnati Bengals have any hope of making the playoffs, it starts with Sunday night’s tilt versus the Los Angeles Chargers. Cincinnati has gotten off to an underwhelming 4-6 start to the season, but it still remains within striking distance of a Wild Card berth. The Bengals are just two wins shy of the 6-4 Chargers, but they can cut that lead in half with a pivotal win in Week 12. As they have been all season, the Chargers will be up to the challenge. Jim Harbaugh has leveled up Los Angeles’ defense this season, and it will need to be at its best if the Chargers hope to contain a surging Bengals offense.
This article will discuss two or more of my favorite NFL pick’ems from Sleeper Fantasy, where you can use Sleeper promo code LABS1 for a $1,500 deposit match.
Sleeper Fantasy Picks for Bengals vs. Chargers
Mike Gesicki More 2.5 Receptions
Injuries have been a factor in the Bengals’ struggles this season. Tee Higgins has spent a lot of time on the shelf, appearing in just five games. That’s necessitated involvement from other players in the passing game, including Mike Gesicki. Cincinnati’s tight end has emerged as a preferred target for Joe Burrow. Even with Higgins expected to be back in the lineup, we like Gesicki’s outlook against the Chargers.
While Ja’Marr Chase gets the lion’s share of adoration in Cincinnati, it’s time to start paying attention to Gesicki. The former second-round pick has been a reliable pass-catcher with or without Higgins in the lineup. Gesicki’s 45 targets, 36 receptions, and 383 receiving yards are the second-best marks on the team. Moreover, he’s been on an incredible run of late.
Over his last three games, Gesicki has totaled 16 catches on 23 targets while surpassing four receptions in all three of those contests. His latest effort was by far his worst of the season, implying that Gesicki is a positive regression candidate on Sunday Night Football. He caught just four of nine targets last time out against the Baltimore Ravens, accounting for five of his 11 missed catches this season. His 44.4% catch rate was over 30 points below his season average of 75.6%, setting up tonight’s contest as an ideal bounceback spot.
Gesicki might not be able to step outside Chase and Higgins’ shadow, but he should start to get more respect as he sustains his production. He’s built chemistry with Burrow and has proven to be an integral part of the Bengals’ passing game. Gesicki’s reception total has taken a hit with Higgins expected back, but we don’t expect his workload or usage to suffer. The Bengals tight end should have no problem surpassing 2.5 receptions against the Chargers.
J.K. Dobbins More 2.5 Receptions
This past offseason, the Los Angeles Chargers gutted their receiver corps. They jettisoned Keenan Allen and Mike Williams, their top two wide receivers from the past few seasons. It took some time, but Justin Herbert has started to find his rhythm in Jim Harbaugh’s system, and that’s included more involvement from J.K. Dobbins in the passing game.
Previously with the Baltimore Ravens, Dobbins was deployed primarily in the ground game. However, he’s flashed his versatility since joining the Chargers. The 25-year-old has already set new career highs in targets and receptions, and he is poised to set a new benchmark in receiving yards against the Bengals. His sustained workload supports that his receptions prop is set too low in Week 12.
Dobbins has at least three receptions in six of his nine games this season, flashing some of the most reliable pass-catching hands on the team. So far, he’s hauled in 24 of 28 passes for a noteworthy 85.7% catch rate. We’ve seen the best he has to offer more recently, with Dobbins bringing down five straight receptions across his previous two outings while also posting a 100% catch rate in all but two games this season.
Additionally, the Bengals have been one of the worst teams at containing opposing running backs in the passing game. Last Thursday, Derrick Henry and Justice Hill brought down all three of their targets, as did Ameer Abdullah the week prior. Dating back to Week 7, opposing running backs have posted a 100% catch rate against the Bengals, underscoring Dobbins’ outlook Sunday night.
Without a top wide receiver on offense, Herbert has looked Dobbins’ way more frequently this year. More importantly, the Chargers running back has responded with a career-best performance. That ascent continues in Week 12. Dobbins is projected to eclipse his modest receptions total against the Bengals.
