Three speedy receivers the Cincinnati Bengals need to keep an eye on

Bengals speedy receiver targets: Chatarius Atwell, Louisville

Chatarius Atwell. A guy Sports Illustrated refers to as lightning in a bottle. His 2019 stat line of 1,272 receiving yards, 11 touchdowns, and 18.4 yards per catch certainly back up that title.

It’s undeniable that his number one attribute is exactly what the Bengals need, speed. Flip on his tape, and it becomes evident very quickly that you would be hard-pressed to find a defensive back capable of beating him in a foot race, even at the professional level.

Opposing defensive coordinators would have no choice but to gameplan for the speedster. Imagining a guy like Atwell drawing the attention of a safety to open things up for Higgins should be something every Bengals fans dreams of.

Atwell doesn’t come without his drawbacks, however. He does line up in the slot sometimes, which brings questions to the table about how to utilize both he and Boyd. The offensive coaching staff should get creative, though, if they want to acquire his rare speed.

Another question mark is his size. At 5’9, 170-pounds, can he hold up in the NFL?

Cincinnati, at the very least, has to give him a look. He’s electric in the deep passing game and a nuisance to cover on jet sweeps, a play that is becoming a staple in Zac Taylor’s offense. Not to mention, at just 21 years old, he’s only going to get better.