After coming off an injury in 2020, Joe Mixon will be looking to get back into his All-Pro form for the Cincinnati Bengals, who need Mixon to be every bit his pre-injury self if the offense is going to fully click this year.
Even with an abundance of talent at wide receiver, Cincinnati will need to keep defenses guessing with a good rushing attack. Luckily, Mixon is one of the best in the business, as evidenced by his top-10 Madden rating.
Things are always difficult to predict for NFL players, but especially for a running back coming off a significant injury. While all signs point to Mixon being ready for Week 1, there is still some concern about him getting his game legs back under him and finding the explosiveness that he showed for the first three seasons of his career.
In addition to coming off an injury, Mixon is also joining a different offense than the one he played his last full season with. Joe Burrow at quarterback with wide receiver talent all over the field seems to point to the Bengals using a higher passing attack than ever before.
Where does that leave Mixon?
Here are three bold predictions for the Cincinnati running back for the 2021 season.
Cincinnati Bengals rely more on passing than rushing with Joe Mixon
When Mixon has started at least 13 games he has rushed for over 1,100 yards. In his rookie season, he was in and out and did not hit the mark, as well as last season when injury cut his year short.
Even last year, however, he was on track to eclipse the 1,100-yard mark before he went down with an injury. In 2021, Mixon will start every game, but not hit the 1,100-yard mark.
This is nothing against Mixon as a running back, but more on where it seems like the Bengals are taking their offense.
Burrow will need plenty of passing attempts to give Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, and Tyler Boyd enough looks to keep them happy. Needing to throw the ball more means Cincinnati could rely less on rushing the ball. While Zac Taylor will need to include running the ball, Mixon may see fewer carriers than in previous seasons.
Even with a 17 game season, Mixon could realistically rush for around 900 rushing yards total. Rather than around 17 carries per game, Mixon might get closer to 13 to account for the bevy of wide receivers. With less production, however, Mixon will still be a key factor in the Bengals success.
Joe Mixon breaks his career receiving best for Cincinnati Bengals
While Mixon may not get as many carries as he has seen in previous season, the Bengals running back should be in line to play a bigger role in the passing game. Opposing defenses are going to have their hands full trying to coral Chase, Higgins, and Boyd, which could leave some favorable matchups for Mixon.
Last year in his limited action, Mixon was setting his career-best for receiving yards per game an that trend should be expected to continue into 2021. Having never broken 300 receiving yards in a season, Mixon could still very well break the 500-yard mark in 2021.
A 17-game season will help increase his numbers here, but so too will the help at the skill positions. With 500 receiving yards to go along with his 900 rushing yards, Mixon will be looking at the same level of production as previous years, but the mix of how he gets the yardage could look different.
An extra game plus an offense that’s shifting more to airing out the pigskin should result in Mixon’s best year as a pass-catcher.
Cincinnati Bengals rely on Mixon in the red zone to give him a career-high in touchdowns
So far the best Mixon has down in a season is finding the end zone nine different times. This has been in a combination of rushing and receiving touchdowns, but he has never found the end zone double-digit times.
That will change in 2021.
Again, an additional game will help most players’ stats go up this year, but Mixon will get to the double-digit mark by Game 16.
When the Bengals get to the red zone this year, there are going to be some big-bodied wide receivers that will become obvious candidates. Add in an increasing threat from the tight end position and Mixon should be able to find plenty of holes near the end zone.
This would be a huge accomplishment for the young running back and prove that he has the ability to be one of the best rushers in the league.
With the addition of Ja’Marr Chase and the recovery of Joe Burrow, a lot of focus has been placed on how good the Bengals will be at throwing the ball this season. Part of that success is only possible because Joe Mixon is such a threat.
Mixon is going to have a career year as he looks to prove himself after his injury and Zac Taylor gets the offense humming all season long.
Will the Bengals running back be able to accomplish all three of these bold predictions?