Sixth in a series

The Bengals shocked me. I was not a fan entering the season, but the great play as a rookie by QB Andy Dalton and the skill and talent of WR A.J. Green showed they can become a powerful fantasy duo. The team has needs at wide receiver and running back. Their best move so far was locking up offensive coordinator Jay Gruden, who will be able to keep continuity, which will create a stronger offense for fantasy owners to choose from.

Can Andy Dalton become a viable fantasy quarterback? 

Gruden will pay immediate dividends with Dalton and his growth. Remember, there's a full offseason for Gruden and company to work on the nuances of the West Coast offense with the young signalcaller, who should remain a No. 2 fantasy QB. Dalton ended the season with an average of 212.4 yards and 1.3 TDs with 0.8 interceptions in 16 games. Those numbers clearly make him a lower-end fantasy QB, but he had six games with multiple touchdowns, including three in Week Nine. Dynasty-league owners should make him a long-term keeper.

What does 2012 hold for RBs Cedric Benson and Bernard Scott?

There's talk of Benson not being happy and the team looking to go in another direction. Using a high draft pick on a running back is one way — the Bengals have two first-round picks — or they could go with a free agent. Benson's poor hands always have been a burden on fantasy owners because he's one-dimensional; now it hampers his role with the team. He ended the season with 18.2 attempts for 71.1 yards and 0.4 TDs per game and in an offense that excels with pass-receiving backs, he only had 15-82-0 receiving on 22 targets. His overall production isn't enough.