Bengals Fantasy Football Preview: No. 1 pick Joe Burrow could be a difference maker from Day 1

Joe Burrow is landing in a pretty good spot as the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL Draft, with plenty of talent in the receiving game and one of the better backs in the league around to help make his transition as smooth as possible. If Burrow hits the ground running, this could be one of the more interesting teams in the league for Fantasy purposes.

2019 Review

Record: 2-14 (32nd in NFL)
PPG: 17.4 (30)
YPG: 323.1 (26)
Pass YPG: 228.3 (19)
Rush YPG: 94.8 (25)
PAPG: 38.5 (6)
RAPG: 24.1 (25)

2019 Fantasy finishes

QB: Andy Dalton* QB26
RB: Joe Mixon RB13; Giovani Bernard RB60
WR: Tyler Boyd WR18; Auden Tate WR68; John Ross WR75
TE: Tyler Eifert* TE19; C.J. Uzomah TE40
* No longer on the team

Number to know: 6.9

Since the start of 2018, Tyler Boyd averaged a touchdown every 9.8 receptions in eight games with A.J. Green, and one every 16.7 receptions in 22 games without Green, a difference of 6.9 receptions. It sure seems like Boyd needs Green on the field to keep double-teams off him, especially in the red zone.

2020 Offseason

Draft Picks

1. (1) Joe Burrow, QB
2. (33) Tee Higgins, WR
3. (65) Logan Wilson, LB
4. (107) Akeem Davis-Gaither, LB
5. (147) Khalid Kareem, DE
6. (180) Hakeem Adeniji, OT
7. (215) Markus Bailey, LB

Additions

DL D.J. Reader; CB Trae Waynes and Mackensie Alexander; DB Vonn Bell; LB Josh Bynes; OG Xavier Su'a-Filo

Key Departures

QB Andy Dalton; TE Tyler Eifert;

Available Opportunity

0 carries, 0 RB targets, 0 WR targets, 63 TE targets

Rankings and Projections

Player	Jamey Eisenberg	Dave Richard	Heath Cummings
Joe Burrow	QB17	QB25	QB18
Joe Mixon	RB6	RB7	RB11
Giovani Bernard	N/R	N/R	N/R
A.J. Green	WR25	WR27	WR21
Tyler Boyd	WR29	WR29	WR32
Tee Higgins	N/R	N/R	N/R
C.J. Uzomah	N/R	N/R	TE28
Bengals DST	DST31	DST25	DST32

	Heath Cummings' projections
QB	Joe Burrow	4,218 YD, 26 TD, 18 INT; 206 Rush YD, 2 TD
RB	Joe Mixon	1,199 YD, 7 TD; 38 REC, 308 YD, 1 TD
RB	Giovani Bernard	191 YD, 1 TD; 30 REC, 243 YD, 1 TD
WR	A.J. Green	125 TAR, 74 REC, 1,075 YD, 7 TD
WR	Tyler Boyd	119 TAR, 77 REC, 927 YD, 6 TD
WR	John Ross	77 TAR, 39 REC, 564 YD, 3 TD
WR	Tee Higgins	77 TAR, 39 REC, 541 YD, 3 TD
TE	C.J. Uzomah	59 TAR, 40 REC, 370 YD, 3 TD

Biggest Question

How good can Joe Burrow be as a rookie?

"Burrow will be drafted as a No. 2 quarterback for Fantasy, but he averaged 378 passing yards and four touchdowns per game in his record-breaking 2019 season. It's up to Zac Taylor to devise an offense where Burrow can achieve even a fraction of that statistical success. But if Burrow can quickly gel with the considerable weaponry around him in Cincinnati, he could raise the Fantasy profiles of everyone on the roster." - Ben Gretch

One sleeper, one breakout, and one bust

Sleeper

Joe Burrow QB

CIN Cincinnati • #9
Age: 26 • Experience: 4 yrs.

Prospect Profile
2020 NFL Draft 1st overall (Round 1)	Height 6-4	Weight 221

The bad news is that the Bengals are bogged down by a tough schedule. The good news is they've got a fantastic quarterback prospect who should make everyone around him better, even if it takes a little while. Burrow shined at LSU thanks to his coolness in the pocket and excellent accuracy on his throws. Given the receivers around him, he should be in position to put up some numbers, but it could take him a little while to get acclimated to the pro game.

Breakout

Joe Mixon RB

CIN Cincinnati • #28
Age: 27 • Experience: 7 yrs.

2019 Stats
RUYDS 1137	REC 35	REYDS 287	TD 8	FPTS/G 14

After a slow start, Mixon finished 2019 playing to expectations, averaging over 15 non-PPR points and over 17 PPR points over his final eight. The difference was a simple scheme change made by his coaching staff that played to his strengths as a patient runner. That he did this with a sub-standard quarterback and a meandering offensive line made it all the more impressive. Both of those factors should improve given the Bengals' offseason. A difficult schedule could hurt Mixon some, but his role as a workhorse in their improved offense should pay off with the best numbers he's had in his career, and that's saying something since he's amassed 1,400 total yards in each of his past two seasons.

A.J. Green WR

ARI Arizona • #18
Age: 35 • Experience: 12 yrs.

2019 Stats
REC 0	TAR 0	REYDS 0	TD 0	FPTS/G 0

Quick! Name the last 32-year-old wideout who came back from an ankle sprain and prolonged recovery to finish as a top-12 receiver? How about one that's managed to play 16 games once in his past five seasons? And what about a wide receiver who's delivered five 100-yard outings in his past two seasons? Okay, fine, Green's talent is undeniable when he's on his game, but there's no telling how often that'll happen given his recent track record. Tack on a rookie quarterback, even a gifted one like Burrow, and there are sure to be some unimpressive games. Getting Green to serve as a decent No. 2 Fantasy wide receiver is fine. Expecting him to be a stud contributor isn't.