The first two weeks of the season were some of the worst of Andy Dalton’s career. Through two games, he tallied only 394 yards with zero touchdowns and four interceptions. The Bengals fired their offensive coordinator after the second game and promoted Bill Lazor to run the offense. Since then, Dalton has 498 yards and six touchdowns without a pick in two games. He was one of my streaming quarterbacks last week, and my quarterback start last week. This week, unfortunately, is a different story.
This week, the Cincinnati Bengals take on a Buffalo Bills squad that has done nothing but stifle opposing quarterbacks this season. Their first two weeks were questionably mirage-like, as they stopped Josh McCown and a struggling Cam Newton. Week three brought their first real test. The Denver Broncos were humming, and their quarterback, Trevor Siemian was coming off a huge performance. Siemian had thrown for four touchdowns and a pick (231 yards) as the Broncos crushed the Cowboys. They held Siemian to 259 yards, picked off two of his passes and didn’t allow him to score.
Then came the reigning MVP, Matt Ryan. While losing his top two options did not help Atlanta, they held Ryan to just 10.48 fantasy points last week. It was the latest in a string of dominant performances for the Bills. They’ve allowed just one passing touchdown on the season while intercepting six passes in four games. The Bills wreck opposing quarterbacks, and given Dalton’s susceptibility to opposing defenses, it’s extremely likely he becomes Buffalo’s next victim.
Andy Dalton started off the season stumbling about as hard as a quarterback can start. Savvy owners who picked him up after his first two games enjoyed two weeks of highly productive fantasy football QB production. Unfortunately for those Dalton owners, the new-look Cincy Offense will falter in its first real test under Bill Lazor. The Bills defensive buzzsaw will be too much for the Bengals to overcome. Andy Dalton is a firm sit in all fantasy football leagues this weekend.
