Is Cedric Benson a 'must start' every week? (1 Viewer)

[JAA]

C. Benson 27/120/1 2/16 @Bal

Well, I was a huge buy low on Benson this year. I will admit that I benched him in all leagues against Bal this week. I got to watch just a bit of this game and he seems to have found a spark for himself and for this team. Thinking back to the days of the over-achieving Rudi Johnson, is it possible that Cin has turned back around their running game? Is this creating a perfect storm for Benson to be a 'must start' every week?

 

[SleeperPix]

C. Benson 27/120/1 2/16 @BalWell, I was a huge buy low on Benson this year. I will admit that I benched him in all leagues against Bal this week. I got to watch just a bit of this game and he seems to have found a spark for himself and for this team. Thinking back to the days of the over-achieving Rudi Johnson, is it possible that Cin has turned back around their running game? Is this creating a perfect storm for Benson to be a 'must start' every week?

How can he not be? Those numbers against Baltimore.....what other defense would scare you now?(ETA: Of course watch him now go out and put up a stinker against Houston.)

 

[sparkky]

it's hard not to start him now, he's been more consistent than many "studs" this years SO FAR.

I've marveled at his numbers on my bench all year. no more.

he's a starter for me until he burns me a few times like everyone else seems to have.

Palmer seems to have found a passing game again and the defense is playing well enough to keep them in games where they can run for more than the first half.

I don't follow Cincy but they must have improved their Oline play for both run and pass to work better.

 

[BoulderBob]

He is running as hard as he did during his first two years at Texas(when he probably could have contributed to an NFL team). Who knows what the source of this motivation is(because he looks nothing like the bum we saw in Chicago), but whatever it is, it's working. He is running like an elite, top-end RB. Some scouts said he had this talent in him, and finally, after 5 years, we are getting a glimpse of what Texas high-school fans were raving about 8 years ago...

 

[Jason Wood]

It's unbelievable. But at this point, how can he not be? One of the most valuable fantasy players of the year so far.

 

[Avery]

It's unbelievable. But at this point, how can he not be? One of the most valuable fantasy players of the year so far.

I'm shocked by it but you can't argue with number.I am still picturing the guy who runs looking at the ground and was convinced so much in his lack of talent that his production up to this week was due to simply getting the ball so damn much. After putting up more than solid number against Baltimore, it's hard to argue with his production.Wish I didn't trade him away this off-season for what amounted to a 3rd round rookie pick.

 

[finito]

I think he's officially a top 10 RB going forward. The sample size is big enough at this point and against decent enough competition to show the guy is playing very, very well.

 

[Jewell]

Well, I was a huge buy low on Benson this year. I will admit that I benched him in all leagues against Bal this week.

A guy in my league picked up Mewelde Moore on Sunday morning and started him over Benson. What the? This isn't the vaunted Ravens D of yesteryear, and Benson has been as reliable and consistent as any back this year.It sounds like he's taking his craft more seriously now. Some guys just mature later than others.

 

[3 hour lunch]

Unless you have unbelivable options, I don't think you can bench him after that effort yesterday. Amazning it's the same guy who looked so bad for the Bears a couple of years ago.

 

[DoubleG]

Yes. I benched him this week (as many did) - but apparently he is approaching "stud-startability" - at least for 2009.

 

[Resident A]

I think unless you have 2 other top-12 options for a given week, Benson should start regardless of opponent.

 

[senor peso 2006]

The reason why I benched him is because of his performance against Cle. It was okay but you assume that if that's what we get against the Browns how can he do well against the Ravens.

 

[glock]

Benched for who started alongside Moreno...

:sigh:

Certainly looking like a starter for me now til Gore gets back.

 

[The Mooreticians]

I've gotta say he's a must-start now. I benched him for Harrison (groan) knowing that Benson might come up strong against the Baltimore D. I will start him without reservation along with Grant and Westy(when healthy) every wee for the rest of the season.

 

[Sweetness_34]

I just do not know what to do with this guy

Benched him against Pittsburgh....of course he had a TD

Benched him against Balt....of course he had a TD

Started him against the Browns....and he laid an egg and Bernard Scott actually looked good in that game.

He is a curse to my team right now....and I could have won every one of those weeks if I had made the correct decision every time....just when you think you have this FF thing figured out.

 

[Childress]

Bengals+healthy Carson Palmer=Productive Running game

How is Benson looking compared to Rudi Johnson when the Bengals also had a good offense? Better/worse/same?

 

[finito]

I just do not know what to do with this guy

Benched him against Pittsburgh....of course he had a TD

Benched him against Balt....of course he had a TD

Started him against the Browns....and he laid an egg and Bernard Scott actually looked good in that game.

He is a curse to my team right now....and I could have won every one of those weeks if I had made the correct decision every time....just when you think you have this FF thing figured out.

He had 86 total yards against the Browns. Not a great game by any stretch but I wouldn't say he laid an egg.

 

[NoCheese]

The good part about Benson now is that he got the first matchup w/ Balt & Pitt out of the way (still has to play them each one more time) and he still scored in both games. You figure him for very little production and he surprises in both games. In a TD heavy league (minimal receiving bonus points) he's a Top 10 RB without question. There's only about 6-7 RB's I'd rather have in that format (TD heavy)

 

[FantasyMan]

Never bench your studs. Benson is a top 5 back from this point on. He's shown it against both the Steelers and the Ravens. He's involved in the passing game, he's young, he runs hard and the Bengals love him. He's top 5 in both redraft and dynasty.

 

[frogpond11]

I looooove me some Benson this year! I got him in about 11th round of my draft!!! What a STEAL!! I will admit, I benched him this week and started MJD, Barber, and Westy...but he outperformed all three by a huge margin. He'll be starting for me the rest of the year. He plays Houston this week...I'm expecting big things

 

[Copeman]

He posted very solid numbers last year after the Bengals signed him. Cinci now has a healthy Palmer. He is one of a handful of backs in the NFL that is the sole carrier (not a RBBC). I would have thought most people would have figured he would have been a must start from the start, especially for those in bigger leagues. I know I did and I am reaping the benefits. I rule.

 

[GroveDiesel]

I'll be starting him over DeAngelo Williams going forward at this point. Carolina's o-line and passing game are so bad that Williams just has no chance to do much. Benson is a must start until proven otherwise at this point.

 

[Jambi]

Many of the sharks saw this developing......

in 2005

 

[Deuceman]

Sat him for Barber this week........I'm sure others, like me, thought it was no way he would post those numbers vs BAL. Needless to say he is a mainstay in my lineup now.

 

[Rushmore]

How is Benson looking compared to Rudi Johnson when the Bengals also had a good offense? Better/worse/same?

Benson is a better back in terms of both skill and talent than Rudi was.