2010 Fantasy Player Profile: Terrell Owens 

After flirtation of signing with the Cincinnati Bengals over two months ago, Terrell Owens and the Bengals have both reportedly come full circle, agreeing on a one-yeard, $2 million dollar deal.

Welcome to the T.O. Show…in Cincy.

The news breaks after rumors sprung that new number two receiver Antonio Bryant was having continued issues with his knee, something that hampered him nearly the enter season in Tampa Bay in 2009.

Regardless, Chad Ochocino has his “Batman”, which would make him “Robin”, and immediately creates a tandem that would have been elite 2-3 years ago, but has to be (at least for now) considered comical.

Yeah, we thought that was a pretty good pun, too. No? Alas, we digress.

Owens landing in Cincy might be the best possible situation he could end up in, as Bryant is a strong candidate to start the season on the PUP list, and probably wouldn’t beat-out Owens for the number two job, anyways.

Then again, according to Ochocinco, Owens would technically be the new number one, and Ochocinco would slide into a “side-kick” role.

But when you figure Ochocinco’s status with the team and his chemistry with Carson Palmer, we’re not biting on this superhero hype talk.

In our eyes, Ochocino is still the top guy, and the addition of Owens makes the Bengals already vastly improved receiving corps a whole lot better.

Is Owens a lock to get 1,000 yards and 10 touchdowns? Of course not.

However, there’s no question that he’s on a better team, with a better quarterback, and in a better situation than he was in Buffao.

Another thing to consider is that he will no longer be going up against the New York Jets and Darrelle Revis twice  a season, and instead will be facing strong run defenses (save for the Cleveland Browns) in the AFC North.

While we’re not about to call the Steelers and Ravens slouches in the pass defense department, they are certainly more “beatable” in the passing game than the Jets appear to be (on paper).

Still, all the analysis and guesses in the world can’t quite prepare us for an uncertain fantasy future, one that is likely to see the Bengals pass more than they did in 2009, and one that hopes to see Carson Palmer and co. return to past year’s form.

One thing is for certain; if T.O. is still the popcorn show that he was in Dallas, Cincy is going to be a tough offense to stop, and Owens will quickly return to WR2 status.

However, even without seeing what he’s got in Cincy with pads on, we’re still ready to claim him as a fantasy sleeper and a quality WR3 option. After all, an upgrade from any Buffalo Bills passer to Carson Palmer has to earn you some type of trust, right?

Well, we think so.

Here’s the skinny (yes, even after all of that): Dude is old (Owens will be 37), isn’t officially a starter in Cincy, and has a quarterback who had a weak 2009 throwing him passes.

True, true, and truer? Yes to all of the above, but Owens is ripped, still has speed, will not be a role player, and will make Palmer be good again.

This could be Buffalo all over again and blow up in everyone’s face that’s involved, but we just can’t see the two guys with the most ridiculous reality TV series disappointing the NFL world. Can you?

About the author: Kevin Roberts

Kevin Roberts owns and operates NFL Soup and heads the fantasy football division of the site. Roberts also finished 2nd in the Wide Receiver position in Fantasy Pros expert fantasy football rankings in 2010 and 3rd in the Quarterback position in 2011. In addition to running the fantasy football section of the site, Roberts contributes to NFL Soup's NFL Draft coverage and breaking news reporting. Follow Kevin on Twitter @NFLSoupKevin