By Chet Gresham – @ChetGresham
Follow @walterfootball for updates.
Each offseason brings change to NFL rosters, and those changes often have fantasy implications. Below, I lay out the changes at the skill positions and how those moves impact the fantasy status of the new roster.
2017
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QB: Andy Dalton, A.J. McCarron
RB: Joe Mixon, Giovani Bernard, Jeremy Hill, Brian Hill
WR: A.J. Green, Brandon LaFell, John Ross, Josh Malone
TE: Tyler Kroft
2018
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QB: Andy Dalton, Matt Barkley, Logan Woodside
RB: Joe Mixon, Giovani Bernard, Mark Walton, Brian Hill
WR: A.J. Green, Brandon LaFell, John Ross, Josh Malone, Auden Tate
TE: Tyler Eifert, Tyler Kroft
Pre-Draft Offseason:
The Bengals let Jeremy Hill walk, but he was barely a part of their offense last season, so it isn’t a big change. Joe Mixon will get the lead-back duties, and the Bengals director of player personnel said that Mixon would be their bell-cow back this season. That will keep Gio Bernard in relief duty instead of in a stronger role as the third-down back. He will have those opportunities, but Mixon appears like he will as well. The current depth chart does give Bernard a pretty nice backup gig though, as he would be the main beneficiary if Mixon were to miss time. When Mixon was out for three games last season, Bernard averaged 103 yards, five receptions and scored two touchdowns in three games. Bernard likely wouldn’t keep that up for 16 games, but he has the ability and should remain a good bench player, while Mixon will get his shot, and that means Mixon has a chance to be a strong fantasy play this season.
The wide receiver position hasn’t changed, which probably isn’t a good thing. A.J. Green remains one of the best in the league, but he can’t do it by himself, and with Andy Dalton throwing him the ball, there is not much upside to push him back into being a top-five fantasy wide receiver. He has that ability of course, but he hasn’t been a top-five wideout since 2013. Injuries haven’t helped, but I’d be hard pressed to push him back into the elite fantasy range under his current circumstances.
Marvin Lewis looks to have stunted John Ross’s development, plus I don’t think Dalton is the best quarterback for Ross. He still has potential, but I’m very much waiting to see more with him in an offense that would rather run the ball.
We’ve seen Andy Dalton play into fantasy relevancy in the past, and it usually coincides with a healthy offense, both on the line and pass catchers. Tyler Eifert has been a big boost to Dalton’s numbers in the past, but injuries have kept Eifert off the field in three of his five seasons. The Bengals have kept Eifert around, however, and will give him another shot this season. He’ll need to produce if Dalton is to have much fantasy upside this season.
Post-Draft Update
The Bengals did end up upgrading their offensive line and defense early in the 2018 NFL Draft. It wasn’t until the fourth round that they picked an offensive player, running back Mark Walton. Walton has good potential, but he is in the Giovani Bernard mold and likely will be third on the depth chart and not see much work with Joe Mixon leading the way.
The Bengals added quarterback Logan Woodside and wide receiver Auden Tate very late in the draft. Both players have ability and could make a training camp splash, but aren’t likely to see any playing time this season.
With upgrades to the defense and offensive line, we could see the Bengals’ average defense improve enough to get Joe Mixon more work in closer games, as Gio Bernard will be used in come-from-behind scenarios.
2018 Fantasy Outlook:
Stud: A.J. Green
Solid: Joe Mixon
Sleeper: Andy Dalton, Tyler Eifert
For more recommendations, check out WalterFootball.com’s Fantasy Football Rankings.
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Fantasy Football Rankings
2018 Fantasy Football Rankings:
2018 Fantasy Football Rankings: Quarterbacks - 9/5 (Walt)
Chet Gresham's Fantasy Football Quarterback Rankings - 8/29 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Rankings: Running Backs - 9/5 (Walt)
Chet Gresham's Fantasy Football Running Back Rankings - 8/29 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Rankings: Wide Receivers - 9/5 (Walt)
Chet Gresham's Fantasy Football Wide Receiver Rankings - 8/29 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Rankings: Tight Ends - 9/5 (Walt)
Chet Gresham's Fantasy Football Tight End Rankings - 8/29 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Rankings: Kickers - 8/21 (Walt)
2018 Fantasy Football Rankings: Defenses - 8/21 (Walt)
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Fantasy Football Rookie Rankings: Dynasty - 5/18 (Chet)
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Fantasy Football Mock Draft - 9/1 (Walt)
Fantasy Football Mock Draft - 8/30 (Walt)
Fantasy Football Mock Draft - 8/27 (Walt)
Fantasy Football PPR Mock Draft - 8/23 (Walt)
Fantasy Football Mock Draft - 8/22 (Walt)
Fantasy Football Mock Draft - 8/16 (Walt)
Fantasy Football PPR Mock Draft - 8/9 (Walt)
Fantasy Football Mock Draft - 8/2 (Walt)
Fantasy Football PPR Mock Draft - 8/1 (Chet)
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2018 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet: Top 250 - 9/5 (Walt)
2018 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet: Top 250 PPR - 9/5 (Walt)
2018 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet: Top 250 2-QB - 9/5 (Walt)
2018 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet: Top 250 Touchdown League - 9/5 (Walt)
2018 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet: Custom - 9/5 (Walt)
2018 Fantasy Football: Dynasty Rankings - 9/5 (Walt)
2018 Fantasy Football Spreadsheets - 9/5 (Walt)
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2018 Fantasy Football Sleepers - 9/5 (Walt)
2018 Fantasy Football Busts - 9/5 (Walt)
2018 Fantasy Football Mid-Round Values - 9/5 (Walt)
2018 NFL Preseason Game Recaps - 8/31 (Walt)
2018 Fantasy Football Stock Report: Preseason Games - 8/31 (Walt)
2018 Fantasy Football Notes - 8/31 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Quarterback Preseason Targets Tracker - 8/30 (Walt)
2018 Fantasy Football D/ST Drafting - 8/28 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football ADP Values: Running Backs - 8/16 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Round-by-Round Strategy Guide - 8/15 (Walt)
2018 Fantasy Football ADP Values: Quarterbacks - 8/15 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Tight Ends to Target - 8/9 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football - PPR Draft Strategy: Rounds 1 and 2 - 7/27 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football: Doug Baldwin's Value - 7/25 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football: Chris Hogan's Value - 7/18 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football: Alvin Kamara's Value - 7/16 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Strength of Schedule: Tight Ends - 7/11 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Strength of Schedule: Wide Receivers - 7/6 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Strength of Schedule: Running Backs - 7/5 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Strength of Schedule: Quarterbacks - 7/4 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Tight Ends Better Than ADP - 6/29 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Wide Receivers Better Than ADP - 6/28 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Target Shares - 6/22 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Wide Receiver Points Per Game - 6/13 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Mock Draft Simulator - 6/2
2018 Fantasy Football Value Players - 5/25 (Chet)
2017 Fantasy Football Quarterback Look-Back - 1/28 (Walt)
2018 Fantasy Football: Running Backs with the Most Carries - 1/28 (Walt)
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2025 NFL Mock Draft - Nov. 13
NFL Power Rankings - Nov. 12
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