Start Buccaneers D/ST over Bengals D/ST — Week 1 Start/Sit Verdict

Start the Buccaneers — the lineup-share and opponent giveaway edges are too wide to ignore.

Buccaneers D/ST is started in more leagues (started rank 16 to 26) and faces the more giveaway-prone offense (2.1 sacks and 1.4 turnovers allowed per game to 2.4 and 0.9). the Bengals's edge is the opponent total, 23.5 to 27.0 opponent implied points. The gap is comfortable.

Bengals D/ST

D/STCINvs TB

4.44.44.4 Projected Points

Toss-Up

Buccaneers D/ST

D/STTBvs CIN

4.54.54.5 Projected Points

Sit

Why Bengals D/ST

Toss-Up

Toss-up — a middling defensive matchup (No. 21 this week): at home, and 4.4 pts projected vs TB.

TB's offense gives up 2.4 sacks and 0.9 turnovers a game (2025), near league average.
Vegas has TB at 23.5 points as 3.5-point dogs.
Under-started: only 1% of leagues have them in, 26th among defenses, against a No. 21 matchup.

Why Buccaneers D/ST

Sit

Sit — a bottom-tier defensive matchup this week (No. 20): Vegas has CIN at 27 points, and 4.5 pts projected vs CIN.

CIN's offense gives up 2.1 sacks and 1.4 turnovers a game (2025), near league average.
Vegas has CIN at 27 points as 3.5-point favorites.
Over-started: 9% of leagues have them in, 16th among defenses, against a No. 20 matchup.

Head-to-head stats

Metric	Bengals D/ST	Buccaneers D/ST
Projected points	4.44.44.4	4.54.54.5
Projection rank	Proj.DST21	Proj.DST20
Started in	1% of leagues	9% of leagues
Opponent sacks allowed / game	2.4(2025)	2.1(2025)
Opponent turnovers / game	0.9(2025)	1.4(2025)
Opponent implied total	23.5	27.0
Home / away	Home	Away