One player can change the course of a fantasy football season. Especially a running back. Which Bengals back should you draft?
With the Bengals preseason in full swing, the running back battle is heating up. With three decent backs to choose from, it’s looking more and more likely that they may have a backfield by committee. Yes, that’s right, the most dreaded words in fantasy football have been uttered. With that being said, which members of the Bengals backfield should you take in this year’s draft?
Meet The Backfield
For years the Bengals have been in search of a lead back who can do it all. On the roster currently, they have Giovani Bernard, Jeremy Hill, and rookie Joe Mixon. Bernard was taken in the draft four years ago, and while providing some change of pace, hasn’t shown the necessary tools to be an every down back. In addition, he is still recovering from a torn ACL. Jeremy Hill was drafted three years ago but also hasn’t shown more than average running ability. He has had a few decent seasons with the Bengals but struggled last year to get much going. Mixon, the second round pick from Oklahoma is the next hope for the franchise’s running game. But is he ready to take over the backfield this season? That has yet to be seen.
Running Back Resumes
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Week 1 of the 2017 preseason ushered in a promising reform to the running game. Rookie back Joe Mixon was impressive in early action rushing for 31 yards on six carries. That 5.2 yards per carry average is enough to make any fantasy drafter’s eyes light up. Unfortunately, the second preseason game against the Chiefs yielded vastly different results. Against Kansas City, Mixon once again ran six times, but only for 16 yards and a 2.7 average. He did have one reception for 15 yards, but overall, it was not the powerful performance of a week ago.
Hill, on the other hand, had an opposite experience. In Week 1, he carried seven times for 26 yards (3.7 average). He didn’t have a terrible night; it just wasn’t as solid as Mixon’s. In Week 2, Hill stretched his yards per carry average to 4.7 and looked the part of top-back.
Giovani Bernard has not played yet this preseason after an injury sidelined him for much of 2016.
What’s The Situation?
Based on mock drafts, Mixon’s average draft position is well above Hill’s. Depending on league size, look for Mixon to go somewhere in the third to fourth round range. Hill is slated to go somewhere later than round ten. Realistically, there has been no indication that Mixon will be the number one running back. In fact, looking at the Bengals depth chart, he is listed behind both Hill and Bernard. Even Cedric Peerman is in front of Mixon on the depth chart. Why then is he getting so much love in the fantasy game? Because of his upside. The season that Ezekiel Elliott had last year is fresh in expert’s minds. When they look at Mixon and see a player who could be a very reliable starting running back.
Look for Mixon to start in a running back by committee. However, if he shows playmaking ability, it wouldn’t be surprising to see him start getting more than 50 percent of the carries midway through the season.
Expect Mixon to be a possible sleeper pick for running back number two and Hill to be a low-end RB two who will probably see diminishing use over the course of the year. Bernard is unfortunately not a fantasy factor at this point considering the crowded backfield and his uncertain health.
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Fantasy football drafts are looming and a sneaky Bengals backfield pick could return dividends. The backfield will get plenty of carries this year, it’s just a matter of choosing the right guy.