Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver AJ Green is hoping to play on Sunday against the Titans and fantasy football owners are feeling the same way after the WR injured his toe in the win over the Atlanta Falcons and there is a chance he will start for Week 3, but for any FF players worried about him missing the matchup, Mohamed Sanu is the best free agent pickup for the Bengals.
Green is one of the best receivers in the league and he was also one of the top fantasy football players last season and he left the game on Sunday after just six plays and did not return. According to ESPN.com, Green said that he will play based on how the toe feels and that means he could be a game time decision for the Bengals. Fantasy owners should keep an eye on the injury report coming out later in the week and on Sunday morning, but if prudent owners want to grab someone, Mohamed Sanu should be the pick over Brandon Tate or Marvin Jones, who is also banged up.
Green previously injured the toe in the opening week game against the Baltimore Ravens and he aggravated the injury against the Falcons in the first quarter of the game. Green may sit out practice after doing that last week to rest the toe and that may enable him to start on Sunday. The Bengals have the benefit of the bye in Week 4 and that has some in the media thinking that the Bengals will rest Green and that means fantasy football owners should at least have a backup plan if he sits.
Green opened the season with a strong game and ended up with six catches for 131 yards and a touchdown as the Bengals won over Baltimore and he did not register a catch last week. Sanu replaced Green as the top receiver for the Bengals in the game and he made the most of it, catching three balls for over 80 yards and a touchdown. Green has had a stellar start to his career and he likely was a first round pick for many fantasy owners and they are hoping he can stay healthy.
Green had 98 catches last season for a career best 1426 yards and 11 touchdowns and he did not miss a game and has only missed one game in three seasons in the NFL. Sanu was targeted four times in the game on Sunday and also completed a 50-yard pass and he has seven catches for 120 yards this season. Last year Sanu was a very solid option in deeper leagues, catching 47 passes for 455 yards and two touchdowns and now he could step up this week.
The Bengals have a tough stretch coming up with the New England Patriots and Indianapolis Colts on the road along with the Carolina Panthers at home. The team will want Green healthy for Andy Dalton in those games and they likely will use the bye week to their advantage. Green is one of the best receivers in the league and if he is healthy and playing, fantasy football owners should not be afraid to start him.