The Worksheet, a comprehensive fantasy football preview by Rich Hribar, breaks down everything you need to know about the Week 11 matchup between the Steelers and Bengals.
Find a breakdown of every Week 11 NFL game in our Worksheet Hub.
| Cincinnati | Rank | @ | Pittsburgh | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5.5 | Spread | -5.5 | ||
| 22.0 | Implied Total | 27.5 | ||
| 24.0 | 13 | Points/Gm | 23.6 | 16 |
| 33.3 | 32 | Points All./Gm | 24.4 | 20 |
| 58.2 | 23 | Plays/Gm | 55.0 | 32 |
| 66.7 | 31 | Opp. Plays/Gm | 69.1 | 32 |
| 5.3 | 19 | Off. Yards/Play | 5.1 | 24 |
| 6.4 | 32 | Def. Yards/Play | 5.4 | 20 |
| 32.25% | 32 | Rush% | 40.61% | 23 |
| 67.75% | 1 | Pass% | 59.39% | 10 |
| 46.67% | 23 | Opp. Rush % | 37.46% | 5 |
| 53.33% | 10 | Opp. Pass % | 62.54% | 28 |
- The Bengals have allowed 77 more points than their opponent's implied team total, the most in the league. The next-closest team (Cowboys) has allowed 53.5 points over expectation.
- Cincinnati has allowed at least 24 points in 8 straight games, the longest active streak in the league and one short of their franchise record over the 1998 and 1999 seasons.
- The Bengals have a league-worst 48.4% success rate against passing plays and are 31st in success rate defending rushing plays (52.5%).
- 79.2% (19 of 24) of Cincinnati's touchdowns have been via passing, the highest rate in the league.
- 78.3% (18 of 23) of Pittsburgh's touchdowns have been via passing, 4th in the league.
- The Steelers are averaging 2.6 plays per game of 20 or more yards, ahead of only the Browns (2.3) and Saints (2.1).
- The Bengals allow 4.9 plays of 20 or more yards per game, 31st in the league.
- The Bengals lead the NFL in offensive EPA since acquiring Joe Flacco (56.3).
- Cincinnati has a league-best 51.9% rushing success rate over that span after a league-worst 28.3% success rate prior.
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Trust = spike production for that player
Quarterback
Joe Flacco: Since Flacco has joined the Bengals, he has been the QB13 (18.8 points), QB6 (26 points), QB5 (24.3 points), and QB9 (30.7 points).
Over his time under center, Flacco has the third-fastest time to throw (2.46 seconds), while 54.2% of his throws have come within 2.5 seconds (4th).
As a byproduct, Flacco has only been pressured on 27.4% of his dropbacks since joining the Bengals, the third-lowest rate in the league.
It feels as if we are on borrowed time with Flacco producing at his lofty levels.
The books are signaling that this is a spot on the road where this offense can be slowed down.
But the Bengals really have only played one way, given the state of their defense.
This team gave up 39 points to the Jets.
Even factoring in that this is Flacco’s first road game with the Bengals since his debut, and the Pittsburgh defense has moved some chairs around since these teams last played, we have a good inkling that Cincinnati is going to allow points and throw the ball around a ton.
That alone keeps Flacco in play as a volume-based option who has upside throwing to these pass catchers.
In Flacco’s four starts with the Bengals, he has thrown the ball 45, 47, 34, and 47 times.
The Bengals have a pass rate 5% over expectations over the stretch.
When these teams played in Week 7, Flacco was 31 of 47 for 342 yards and 3 touchdowns.
The Steelers blitzed Flacco only 24.5% of the time that night (their second-lowest rate of the season) but played man coverage on 38.9% of their snaps (their third-highest rate of the season).
When they did pressure Flacco that night, he was 7 of 15 (46.7%) for 95 yards (6.3 Y/A) with 0 touchdowns.
Kept clean, he was 24 of 32 (75%) for 247 yards and 3 scores.
When Flacco got rid of the ball with 2.5 seconds that night, he was 22 of 34 for 259 yards with all 3 touchdowns.
Since that matchup, the Steelers have acquired Kyle Dugger and have moved Jalen Ramsey to safety.
Pittsburgh has looked better on defense these past two weeks against the Colts and Chargers, allowing 6.8 yards per attempt to Daniel Jones and 6.7 to Justin Herbert.
That said, on the drives they have not gotten a turnover, the Steelers have allowed a scoring drive on 50% (9 of 18) of possessions in those games.
Injuries at cornerback may force their hand to move him around again, as Darius Slay is in concussion protocol.
Without Slay, the Steelers could be forced to rely on Brandin Echols and James Pierre.
The Chargers only targeted Joey Porter Jr. twice on Sunday night, but they went after Echols (8 catches for 125 yards and a touchdown) in Slay’s place.
The team signed Asante Samuel on Tuesday, who is returning from back surgery, but his availability for Sunday should not affect this week.
When these teams played in Week 7, Slay allowed 6 catches for 80 yards and a touchdown in coverage.
Ramsey allowed 5 catches for 62 yards and a touchdown.
The Bengals did throw 7 times at Porter, who allowed 4 catches for 37 yards.
Aaron Rodgers (TRUST): Rodgers has come back down these past two weeks, throwing for 5.8 and 5.2 yards per pass attempt.
On Sunday night, he completed a season-low 51.6% of his passes with 2 interceptions.
Rodgers has shown no interest in pushing the ball downfield this season.
Only 44.2% of his passes have been five or more yards downfield, the lowest rate in the league (the league rate is 54.9%).
24.5% of his passes have been 10 or more yards downfield, ahead of only Justin Fields (24.2%).
When he has attempted passes 10 or more yards downfield, Rodgers has only completed 40.3% (27 of 67), which is 29th out of 33 qualifiers.
The good news is that his defense is the elixir that solves any offensive ailment.
When these teams played in Week 7, Rodgers averaged a season-high 9.1 air yards per attempt.
He threw 3 passing touchdowns (also 2 interceptions) on throws 10-plus yards downfield that night, his most in a game this season.
Rodgers has one QB1 scoring week over his past eight games, and it was against this defense.
He was QB10 (22.6 points) that night, throwing for a season-high 249 yards (really, that is his high this season) and 4 touchdowns.
The Bengals only pressured Rodgers 7 times that night (the lowest rate in the league in Week 7), and they are still expected to be without Trey Hendrickson coming out of their bye.
Cincinnati is allowing 18.0 passing points per game, 30th in the league.
They have allowed a QB1 scorer in six of their past seven games, which includes Carson Wentz (15.3 points), Bo Nix (25.7 points), Justin Fields (20.9 points), Caleb Williams (38.7 points), and Rodgers himself.
Running Back
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Learn MoreMore Week 11 Fantasy Breakdowns From The Worksheet:
| Matchup | Time |
|---|---|
| Jets @ Patriots | Thursday Night Football |
| Commanders @ Dolphins | Sunday -- 9:30 a.m. ET |
| Panthers @ Falcons | Sunday -- 1 p.m. ET |
| Bucs @ Bills | Sunday -- 1 p.m. ET |
| Texans @ Titans | Sunday -- 1 p.m. ET |
| Bears @ Vikings | Sunday -- 1 p.m. ET |
| Packers @ Giants | Sunday -- 1 p.m. ET |
| Bengals @ Steelers | Sunday -- 1 p.m. ET |
| Chargers @ Jaguars | Sunday -- 1 p.m. ET |
| Seahawks @ Rams | Sunday -- 4:05 p.m. ET |
| 49ers @ Cardinals | Sunday -- 4:05 p.m. ET |
| Ravens @ Browns | Sunday -- 4:25 p.m. ET |
| Chiefs @ Broncos | Sunday -- 4:25 p.m. ET |
| Lions @ Eagles | Sunday Night Football |
| Cowboys @ Raiders | Monday Night Football |