DON’T DRAFT: A.J. Green
Returning from injury in 2020, many expect that Bengals’ legend A.J. Green will return to form as the top receiver in Cincinnati. However, due to injury concerns and a lack of recent playing time, Green’s future is less certain than some suspect.
For one, fans shouldn’t expect Green to make it through a full season completely healthy. If he does, it will likely be because he played in a limited capacity, instead of playing every snap on a weekly basis.
Additionally, it’s no sure thing that Green will come back to be the player he once was. He has not played football in a season and a half, and he’s getting up there in terms of age. For all we know, Green’s play will hit a sharp decline and he will not be the star many expect him to be. It’s a sad truth, but we may have seen the last of Adrial Jeremiah’s days as a truly elite wide receiver.
For these reasons, it would be smart for fans to pass on Green in their 2020 Fantasy Drafts. He could very well prove doubters wrong and be great and healthy, but the risk is too high.
DRAFT: Tyler Boyd
While you should pass on A.J. Green, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take a Bengals’ wide receiver. Tyler Boyd has developed into a very strong slot receiver in Green’s absence, and should only get better as the offense improves.
Over the past two seasons, Boyd has produced multiple 1,000+ yard campaigns despite being the only healthy receiver of note for much of that time. The former Pitt receiver has often had to face double teams, yet he has still found a way to produce good numbers.
With the return of Green and addition of Tee Higgins, coverage should be drawn away from Boyd and he will only get better chances in the passing game. With stronger weapons on the boundary, he should be able to dominate in the slot.
New quarterback Joe Burrow is a perfect fit for Boyd’s play too. Burrow had an elite connection with slot receiver Justin Jefferson during his Heisman campaign in 2019 and Boyd should be able to fill that role in the pros.
Boyd should not be drafted as your WR1, but could be a very solid WR2 with WR1 upside, depending on just how dynamic the Bengals’ offense is in 2020.