Height/Weight: 6-2/242
| Birthdate: 05/05/1986
| Birthplace: Riverside, CA, USA
| Team: New York
| College: Southern California
| NFL Experience: 4
| Owned/Started%: 0/0
News: The Giants traded for linebacker Keith Rivers, giving the Bengals a fifth-round pick in exchange. A wrist injury kept him sidelined for all of 2011.
Analysis: Rivers is a good, hard working outside linebacker but not a strong Fantasy option. We wouldn't use him in Fantasy play.
News: Cincinnati LB Keith Rivers will miss the rest of the season because he hasn’t fully recovered from surgery on his right wrist. The former first-round draft pick had surgery last July and started the season on an injury list. The Bengals got a three-week roster exemption that allowed him to work out with the team. The exemption ended on Tuesday, and Cincinnati decided to leave him on the injury list, ruling out a return this season.
Analysis: Rivers was the ninth overall pick in 2008. He broke his jaw on a hit by Pittsburgh WR Hines Ward during the seventh game of his rookie season and didn’t return. He missed three games in 2009 with a calf injury. He played in 15 games last season despite a foot injury. Fantasy owners should continue to ignore him in all formats as his season is officially over.
News: Bengals LB Keith Rivers (wrist) has been activated to practice with the team under the three-week exemption. He has been on the PUP all season. That means the team has three weeks to make a decision on if he will be activated.
Analysis: The Bengals are going to see how quickly Rivers can get into game shape before making a decision on his roster status. He could be activated for Week 10, but leave him on Fantasy waivers until he proves healthy and productive.
News: The Bengals kept LB Keith Rivers on the NFI list on Saturday, meaning that he will miss at least the team's first six games. Beginning the week following Week 6 NFL play, he will be eligible to return to practice under a roster exemption. Upon returning to practice, he may work during a 21-day period, the end of which serves as a deadline for his roster exemption, with his status moving forward to be determined. The Bengals have a bye in Week 7, so the soonest he could play is Week 8 at Seattle.
Analysis: Rivers' talent is immense but his career has been marred by strange injuries. e shouldn't be on any Fantasy rosters.
News: Word on LB Keith Rivers is he decided to have an offseason procedure on his wrist. It is unknown if it was due to an injury sustained in the offseason or how long he will be sidelined, but he's been placed on the Non-Football Injury list. He could come off at any time this preseason but might get moved to the PUP list if he's not ready for the start of the season.
Analysis: Rivers was once a high-potential Fantasy LB but injuries have taken a toll on him. Fantasy owners shouldn't spend a pick on him.
News: Bengals LB Keith Rivers (probable, foot) was not listed among the inactives for Week 10 at Indianapolis.
Analysis: The Bengals have a very good core of linebackers in Rivers, Dhani Jones and Rey Maualuga. Therefore, they are all vying for the same tackles, so they all cut into each other's production. Rivers is a good NFL LB, but he is more of a low-end Fantasy option.
News: Bengals LB Keith Rivers (foot) is listed as probable for Week 10 at Indianapolis. Rivers was limited in practice Wednesday and Thursday before practicing in full on Friday. He has not missed a game since sitting out Week 2 with a foot injury.
Analysis: The Bengals have a very good core of linebackers in Rivers, Dhani Jones and Rey Maualuga. Therefore, they are all vying for the same tackles, so they all cut into each other's production. Rivers is a good NFL LB, but he is more of a low-end Fantasy option.
News: Bengals LB Keith Rivers (foot) is probable for the Week 8 game against the Dolphins. He saw limited action on Wednesday and Thursday and was able to go full speed on Friday.
Analysis: Rivers has 35 tackles in five games this season to go along with a sack. He is still developing as an NFL LB, but the tackles are there and he may be worth a flier in Fantasy play.
News: Bengals LB Keith Rivers (foot) was active for Week 3 at Carolina, as expected. He had been listed as probable on the injury report.
Analysis: Rivers did not play in Week 2 against Baltimore after suffering an injury in Week 1. In that game, he had 10 tackles and a pass defensed, indicating he could have some sleeper value this year in deeper IDP leagues when healthy.
News: Bears LB Keith Rivers didn't practice Wednesday with a foot injury he sustained against New England in Week 1. He returned to practice Thursday, but his status for Sunday's game against Baltimore is up in the air.
Analysis: Keep an eye on Rivers and hope he can play against the Ravens. He had 10 tackles to lead the team Sunday at New England. When healthy, Rivers is a low-end No. 3 LB in IDP leagues for Week 2 against Baltimore.
News: Bengals LB Keith Rivers had 10 tackles to lead the team Sunday at New England. He left the game with an apparent foot injury but was able to return.
Analysis: Rivers is worth keeping an eye on with his ability to be a playmaker for the Bengals this year. If Rivers continues to rack up tackle totals like this then consider adding him off the waiver wire in all IDP formats. Don't plan on starting him in Week 2 against Baltimore.
News: Bengals LB Dhani Jones (eight tackles), DB Johnathan Joseph (seven tackles), LB Keith Rivers (six tackles), DB Chinedum Ndukwe (four tackles, interception), DB Leon Hall (four tackles, interception) and DL Michael Johnson (sack) all had nice stat line in a Week 16 win over the Chiefs.
Analysis: Hall and Joseph have the most Fantasy value in this group and can be used in deeper leagues for Week 17 at the Jets. Jones also has some value in super-deep formats.
News: Bengals LB Keith Rivers is expected back in Week 13 against the Lions after missing three games with a calf injury. He practiced in full all week and is listed as probable.
Analysis: Rivers has spent a lot of time fighting off injuries since joining the NFL last season. But when he has been on the field, he has been a tackling machine. Rivers is a low-end Fantasy start when healthy.
News: The Bengals listed the following players as inactive for Week 12 against Cleveland: QB Jordan Palmer, RB Cedric Benson, LB Keith Rivers, TE Chase Coffman, WR Jerome Simpson, RB Fui Vakapuna, DL Orien Harris.
Analysis: Aside from Benson, none of the players listed here have any real Fantasy appeal. Leave them unowned in all Fantasy leagues until further notice.
News: Bengals RB Cedric Benson, WR Jerome Simpson, RB Fui Vakapuna, TE Chase Coffman, LB Keith Rivers and QB J.T. O'Sullivan have all been listed as inactive for the team's Week 11 game at Oakland.
Analysis: With the exception of Benson, none of these players have much Fantasy value and can continue to be ignored in all formats.
News: The Bengals have listed the following players as inactive for Week 10 at Pittsburgh: QB Jordan Palmer (3rd QB), RB Fui Vakapuna, LB Keith Rivers, TE Chase Coffman, WR Jerome Simpson and DL Orien Harris.
Analysis: Rivers has 43 tackles on the season for the Bengals and is a low-end Fantasy option for IDP leagues, when healthy. He has little Fantasy value and the rest of the players listed above have none at this time.
News: Bengals LB Keith Rivers strained his right calf in the second half of the Week 9 win over Baltimore and was on crutches after the game. He'll go for tests to determine the severity. He had four tackles at the time of his injury.
Analysis: Rivers has 43 tackles on the season for the Bengals and is a low-end Fantasy option for IDP leagues. He's really not worth using Week 10 at Pittsburgh regardless of health.
News: Bengals LB Keith Rivers left the Week 9 game against Baltimore with a right calf injury. He had four tackles at the time of his injury.
Analysis: Rivers has 43 tackles on the season for the Bengals and is a low-end Fantasy option for IDP leagues. He's really not worth using Week 10 at Pittsburgh regardless of health.
News: Bengals rookie LB Ray Maualuga had four tackles, a sack and forced fumble Sunday at Green Bay. He was one of several Bengals defenders to play well in Week 2, along with DB Leon Hall (two tackles), DB Roy Williams (seven tackles), LB Dhani Jones (eight tackles) and LB Keith Rivers (six tackles).
Analysis: Maualuga, Rivers and Jones should be considered No. 3 LB option in IDP leagues for Week 3 against the Steelers. Hall is a No. 3 DB, and Williams is a good stop-gap option.
News: Bengals rookie linebacker Keith Rivers was scheduled for surgery Monday to set his broken jaw, an injury that will end his season. Rivers was hurt when Steelers receiver Hines Ward leveled him with a straight-up block during Pittsburgh's 38-10 victory on Sunday. The first-round draft pick walked off the field without assistance and went for tests that detected the fracture. After watching a video of the play on Monday, Bengals coach Marvin Lewis didn't take issue with the rattling block. "There was not a foul," Lewis said. "There were no flags thrown."
Analysis: The rookie had been useful in deeper IDP formats, but will now likely be useless the rest of this season. He's only worth hanging on to in keeper formats at this point.
News: Bengals rookie linebacker Keith Rivers broke his jaw during Sunday's 38-10 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers and will likely miss the rest of the season. sustained the injury in the first quarter on a block by Steelers receiver Hines Ward.
Analysis: Rivers left the game immediately after the hit and did not return. Ward was not flagged on the play. The rookie had been useful in deeper IDP formats, but will now likely be useless the rest of this season. He's only worth hanging on to in keeper formats.
News: Bengals LB Keith Rivers was the defensive star for Cincinnati against the Cowboys in Week 5. Rivers intercepted Tony Romo for 39 yards and totaled three tackles. He also forced a fumble.
Analysis: Rivers is a solid No. 3 LB in IDP leagues and is worth using in Week 6 in New York against the Jets.
News: Bengals LB Keith Rivers had eight tackles Sunday against the Browns.
Analysis: Rivers is a solid No. 3 LB in IDP leagues and is worth using in Week 5 at Dallas.
News: Bengals LB Keith Rivers had just two assists on tackles in Week 3 at the N.Y. Giants.
Analysis: Rivers is a decent starting LB in all IDP Fantasy formats despite this slow performance. He was coming off a game with eight tackles in Week 2.
News: Bengals LB Dhani Jones led the way for the Cincinnati defense with 10 tackles in a loss to the Titans in Week 2. Also contributing with nice outings were DB Marvin White (eight tackles), LB Keith Rivers (eight tackles), DL Domata Peko (eight tackles) and DB Kyries Hebert (fumble recovery).
Analysis: Rivers is a decent starting LB in all IDP Fantasy formats, while Jones has minimal value. The other three guys have zero value.
News: Bengals rookie LB Keith Rivers lead the team Week 1 with nine solo tackles and ended up tying for a team-high 10 total takedowns.
Analysis: The Bengals drafted Rivers in the first round of the 2008 draft to help their defense and he has already proven his worth Week 1. He is expected to have a long career in the NFL and could soon turn into a must-start Fantasy LB. Consider him a decent No. 2 Fantasy LB heading into Week 2 against the Titans.
News:The Sports Xchange notes, Bengals LB Keith Rivers will start at an outside linebacker spot at Baltimore on Sunday in Week 1 and has caught up quickly from a 10-day contract holdout.
Analysis: Rivers has the chance to be this year's Patrick Willis and could end up being a 100-plus total tackler. With his improved knowledge of the Bengals defense, he should be a low-end No. 2 LB in IDP leagues and deserves a start in deeper formats for Week 1.
News: Bengals rookie LB Keith Rivers led Cincinnati in tackles on Saturday against the Saints, the second time in three preseason games that Rivers has led in the category. He piled up eight stops and he also registered a sack.
Analysis: Rivers should end up being this season's Patrick Willis, being a 100-total-tackler in a defense that's good, not great. He'll end up as a low-end No. 2/top-end No. 3 Fantasy LB in 2008, making him a middle- to late-round pick in seasonal drafts and a top-20 pick in rookie-only drafts this summer. Obviously, the upside is huge.
News:The Sports Xchange notes that Keith Rivers led the Bengals with seven tackles, all unassisted, in the team's preseason victory at Green Bay. "I didn't feel like I was as sharp as I should have been," Rivers said of his debut, which came six nights after he signed his rookie contract and with only five practices under his belt. "I should do better. I don't like to get yelled at. I try to do my job the best I can."
Analysis: Rivers should end up being this season's Patrick Willis, being a 100-total-tackler in a defense that's good, not great. He'll end up as a low-end No. 2/top-end No. 3 Fantasy LB in 2008, making him a middle- to late-round pick in seasonal drafts and a top-20 pick in rookie-only drafts this summer. Obviously, the upside is huge.
News: LB Keith Rivers joined the Cincinnati Bengals at training camp Wednesday after ending a 10-day holdout. The team's top pick promptly made a rookie mistake. Rivers did the wrong exercise - jumping jacks - at the end of calisthenics, drawing a round of boos from teammates. "It shows I haven't been here for a while," said Rivers, who participated in a mandatory minicamp in June. "I forgot how that rolls. Hopefully, next time I'll get that right." Rivers, who signed a five-year contract Tuesday night, has some other catching up to do. He missed 12 practices, including the club's intra-squad scrimmage, besides meetings and film sessions. "He looked like he did last time I saw him," coach Marvin Lewis said. "We'll see how we go through the week and see whether we play him, or how much. Unless I can find something major, I expect him to play some."
Analysis: Rivers is worth drafting as a low-end No. 2/top-end No. 3 Fantasy LB in 2008. He has the chance to make plays and is worth a late-round pick in IDP leagues.
News: Linebacker Keith Rivers ended his contract holdout with the Cincinnati Bengals late Tuesday night, ending an impasse that made him to miss nine days of training camp. Rivers was one of only two first-round draft picks still unsigned. The linebacker from Southern California showed up at the team's training facility on Tuesday night and signed the deal. Terms of the deal weren't disclosed. Rivers was expected to join the Bengals for a practice on Wednesday morning.
Analysis: The Bengals had projected Rivers as a starter for the regular season, but dropped him on the depth chart because he missed so much time. "He's behind, but we'll work to get him up to speed, and we know he's the kind of player who will get himself caught up," coach Marvin Lewis said. "Right from the start, through the draft and minicamps, he has shown us things that are innate to successful NFL linebackers." Rivers was the ninth overall pick in the draft. The Bengals are hoping that he helps fix their problems on defense, which have dragged them down for years. Rivers should end up being this season's Patrick Willis, being a 100-total-tackler in a defense that's good, not great. He'll end up as a low-end No. 2/top-end No. 3 Fantasy LB in 2008. The Bengals DST remains a low-end Fantasy option until they showed mark improvement during the season.
News: Linebacker Keith Rivers was the only Bengals rookie who hadn't reached a contract agreement Sunday. Rivers was the ninth pick in the draft.
Analysis: Rivers should end up being this season's Patrick Willis, being a 100-total-tackler in a defense that's good, not great. He'll end up as a low-end No. 2/top-end No. 3 Fantasy LB in 2008, making him a middle- to late-round pick in seasonal drafts and a top-20 pick in rookie-only drafts this summer. Obviously, the upside is huge. He should sign a contract before too long.
News: Linebacker Odell Thurman was released by the Bengals on Monday, one month after he was reinstated by the NFL from a two-year suspension. Thurman failed to attend the team's three voluntary workouts last week, when he was in Georgia following the death of his grandmother. The Bengals are installing a new defense, and wanted him to participate. That likely means that Keith Rivers is expected to land his spot as a starter in the Bengals' defense, possibly in the middle.
Analysis: Rivers should end up being this season's Patrick Willis, being a 100-total-tackler in a defense that's good, not great. He'll end up as a low-end No. 2/top-end No. 3 Fantasy LB in 2008, making him a middle- to late-round pick in seasonal drafts and a top-20 pick in rookie-only drafts this summer. Obviously, the upside is huge.
News: The Bengals took Keith Rivers, a stud inside LB from USC, with the ninth overall pick in the 2008 NFL Draft. Rivers is expected to bring his hard-hitting, sideline-to-sideline style to Cincy and help a very undermanned linebacking corps.
Analysis: Rivers should end up being this season's Patrick Willis, being a 100-total-tackler in a defense that's good, not great. Rivers should end up as a top-end No. 3 Fantasy LB in 2008, making him a middle- to late-round pick in seasonal drafts and a top-20 pick in rookie-only drafts this summer.
