FANTASY FOOTBALL NFL PLAYERS

Posted: 12/28/2008 8:35pm et

The Associated Press reports Cincinnati Bengals RB Cedric Benson rushed for 111 yards and one touchdown on 25 carries in the team's Week 17 game.

The Huddle Take: Benson has virtually come out of nowhere to lead a Bengals rushing attack during the final weeks of the season. He has run strong and with determination and is becoming what the Bears envisioned when they spent a first round pick on him in 2005.

Posted: 12/21/2008 11:37pm et

The Associated Press reports Cincinnati Bengals RB Cedric Benson rushed for a career-high 171 yards on 38 carries in the team's Week 16 game.

The Huddle Take: What a turn-around for the former first-round draft pick of the Chicago Bears who was released earlier in the season by the Bears. Benson has established himself as a solid starting option for the Bengals heading into 2009 and should be considered a No. 3 running back for fantasy teams at the present time. The Bengals play the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 17 so expect some nice numbers once again from Benson.

Posted: 12/12/2008 12:24pm et

The Chicago Sun-Times reports Cincinnati Bengals RB Cedric Benson, formerly a first-round pick of the Chicago Bears, chimed in about how Bears rookie RB Matt Forte has done this year. "He is having a great year, but when I see the highlights, I see holes," Benson said to Cincinnati reporters. "I see them using him in the slot, something they didn't do with me. If I was there right now with the holes I see, I'd probably have 1,800 yards right now. I definitely would have 1,500 by now. I congratulate him on all of his success. He is taking advantage."

The Huddle Take: Wow, Ced; can you make some more whine with those sour grapes? Benson has 1,985 career rushing yards; when given the chance to be the Bears' feature back he rushed for 3.4 yards per carry behind the same line that consistently produced four-plus yards per carry for both Forte and Thomas Jones. But his well wishes for Forte certainly seem sincere.

Posted: 12/5/2008 12:34pm et

Bengals.com reports Cincinnati Bengals RB Cedric Benson said he is open to returning with the team in 2009, even if the Bengals select a running back high in this year's NFL Draft. "Competition is always fine," Benson said Thursday, Dec. 4.

The Huddle Take: The Bengals have plenty of needs to address, so if the price is right Benson might make a nice bridge while they fill other holes in their roster. He still has at least some talent, and it's not as if Cincy is on the cusp of a Super Bowl.

Posted: 11/13/2008 5:01pm et

The Cincinnati Enquirer reports Cincinnati Bengals RB Cedric Benson (back) did not participate in practice Thursday, Nov. 13.

The Huddle Take: Chris Perry took all the first-team snaps in practice today. If Benson can't go this week, Perry will start in a tough matchup against Philadelphia.

Posted: 11/2/2008 6:09pm et

The Associated Press reports Cincinnati Bengals RB Cedric Benson rushed for 104 yards and one touchdown on 24 carries in the team's Week 9 game. It was the Bengals first 100-yard rusher of the season.

The Huddle Take: It looked like his career was over, however, Benson has found new life with the Bengals. He has singlehandedely made it appear that the team can still perform on offense. Benson gives the team a solid ball carrier that, if he can stay out of trouble, is more than they've had this year.

Posted: 10/21/2008 9:08pm et

Bengals.com reports Cincinnati Bengals RB Cedric Benson is expected to start in the team's Week 8 game.

The Huddle Take: For what it is worth Benson is again a starter. Cincinnati is a team in turmoil so his options are likely to be limited, though in the NFL a starter is a starter when it comes to running backs. He's worth owning for that fact alone, but expectations should be low.

Posted: 9/30/2008 7:44pm et

The Cincinnati Bengals have announced they have signed free-agent RB Cedric Benson. Terms of the contract were not disclosed.

The Huddle Take: I guess when you are 30th in the NFL in both rushing YPG and YPC you figure any help is good help. We'll see. At a minimum Benson brings a "big back" style to the table that compliments starter Chris Perry. Also, the team needed some additional depth at the position since backups Dorsey and Watson are both out with hamstring injuries.

Posted: 6/9/2008 8:44pm et

According to the Chicago Tribune, the Chicago Bears have waived running back Cedric Benson after his latest arrest on charges of driving under the influence. Benson was also arrested less than five weeks ago on other alcohol related charges. "Cedric displayed a pattern of behavior we will not tolerate," general manager Jerry Angelo said. "As I said this past weekend, you have to protect your job. Everyone in this organization is held accountable for their actions. When individual priorities overshadow team goals, we suffer the consequences as a team. Those who fail to understand the importance of 'team' will not play for the Chicago Bears."

The Huddle Take: Benson, drafted fourth overall by the Bears, has never lived up to his lofty pick. He has underachieved on the field as well as off the field since coming into the league and his latest altercation with the law was obviously the last straw for the Bears. Chicago drafted rookie running back Matt Forte in this years draft and as expected he could play a vital role in the Bears running game now. Fantasy owners should look at Adrian Peterson (Bears version) and Matt Forte to be the primary ball carriers unless Chicago picks up another back somewhere else.

Posted: 5/5/2008 10:08am et

The Bears former first-round pick of the 2005 NFL draft was charged with being intoxicated while boating over the weekend and also for resisting arrest. "I was not intoxicated," Benson said. "There was alcohol on the boat and others were enjoying themselves, but I wasn't drunk." "They gave me a field sobriety test, told me to say my ABCs and told me to count from 1 to 4 up and down," Benson told the Chicago Tribune. "I'm thinking, I passed all the tests, did everything right. Then the officer told me we needed to go to land to take more tests. I politely asked him why we needed to go to land to take more tests when I took every test. Then he sprayed me with mace, on his boat. "I'm not handcuffed. I'm not under arrest. I'm not threatening him. I'm not pushing him. I'm not touching him. And he sprays me right in my eye."

The Huddle Take: Regardless of what happened in this incident this is very alarming for the Chicago Bears and Benson's status with the team. Benson has underachieved in his stint with Chicago and this could signal the end of his stay in the Windy City if he is found guilty of the charges. The Bears drafted RB Matt Forte from Tulane in the second round of this years draft and expects him to give Benson a run for the starters job in the offseason. Fantasy owners should stay away from Benson until his status with the team becomes more clear.