Cincinnati Bengals running back Giovani Bernard sat out Wednesday’s practice while nursing hip and clavicle injuries. Bernard has been banged up in three straight weeks, though it doesn’t appear he has sustained any type of serious injury. Still, rookie Jeremy Hill needs to be owned in all fantasy football leagues.
Bengals offensive coordinator Hue Jackson loves to run the ball, which has led to some solid games for Hill this year even with Bernard playing the role of a true feature back. The former LSU star has scored six or more fantasy points in five of seven games this year.
Cincinnati faces a very weak opponent at home this week in the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Bengals then have a quick turnaround for what could be an important AFC North showdown against the Cleveland Browns next Thursday. If Bernard’s hip and shoulder injuries are bothering him even a little bit, it would make sense to rest him in Week 9. Hip injuries can be especially troublesome for running backs.
If Bernard does miss Sunday’s game, Hill should be more than capable of handling the load against Jacksonville. He’d instantly become a must-start in fantasy.
