Jerome

Simpson

Simpson piled up 84 of those yards when he split the seam and broke some arm tackles in a Champ Bailey-less secondary. His arrow is pointing up with Andy Dalton showing well, but Simpson will be a boom-or-bust play most weeks. A.J. Green is the more consistent target hog in Cincinnati.

“We’re still taking to people and figuring out what the best thing is for Jerome,” Lewis said. It sounds like Simpson will essentially be a game-time decision after getting caught with 8.5 pounds of marijuana on Tuesday. If he does play, he won’t be in for a full complement of snaps after missing the Bengals’ past two practices. He was targeted 18 times in Cincinnati’s first two games.

This despite the fact that Simpson has been absent from practice since Wednesday after cops busted him with 8.5 pounds of marijuana. Simpson was targeted 18 times in Cincinnati’s first two games, but we can’t imagine he sees a full set of snaps in Week 3. Then again, these are the Bengals we’re talking about. Most teams would keep a player of Simpson’s legal status on the bench, so considering they’re letting him take the field, anything’s possible. A.J. Green’s ranking for Week 3 takes a small hit if Simpson is active.

Simpson is looking at a limited role after missing so much practice time following the police’s discovery of marijuana at his home. The Bengals’ official inactives are S Taylor Mays, WR Andrew Hawkins, S Robert Sands, LB Dontay Moch, G Otis Hudson, TE Colin Cochart, and DE Robert Geathers.

Simpson was targeted seven times, with his best play coming on a 17-yard slant. Managing to top 50 yards just once in five games, Simpson won’t be a fantasy option in Week 6 against the Colts.

Simpson is considerably more talented than Michael Jenkins at this point in their careers, while the Vikings didn’t draft a receiver before the fourth round. Simpson is maddeningly inconsistent, but coming off a 50/725/4 campaign, he’ll be worth a flier as a WR4/5 even though he’ll be playing catch-up after his ban.

The plea agreement -- Simpson was originally charged with trafficking marijuana -- includes a 60-day jail sentence as recommended by prosecutors. Per Joe Reedy of the Cincinnati Enquirer, Simpson would be suspended “a minimum of four games” under the NFL’s drug policy if the judge enacts the 60-day punishment. Simpson’s free agent market has gone right in the gutter.

It will be Simpson’s first known visit of free agency. The 26-year-old, four-year veteran will be sentenced in his felony drug case on Thursday. He’s facing a maximum of 60 days in jail, but it’s the four-game suspension (at minimum) that’s expected to follow that’s chilled his market to a freeze. Coach Marvin Lewis recently hinted Simpson could end up back in Cincinnati.

Coming off a visit with the Vikings that went “incredibly well,” Simpson has gotten incredibly good news, as he seemed all but certain to draw at least a four-game ban after having two pounds of marijuana shipped to his home last September. As it is, he’ll miss less than a quarter of the season and spend only 15 days in jail. Simpson has visited the Rams and Vikings, and is reportedly weighing “several” offers. With his status resolved, he could find a new home before the draft.

Typically, any player convicted of a felony is slapped with at least a four-game ban, but Simpson’s lack of previous run-ins with the league compelled commissioner Roger Goodell to show atypical mercy in handing down a three-game suspension. With each game being 6.25 percent of the season, even one extra contest should boost Simpson’s value on the open market.