:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/69299583/1288909249.0.jpg)
The Cincinnati Bengals’ 2020 season was forgettable, as they went 4-10-1 while the rest of the AFC North won 11 or more games each. But, they have to feel good about the poise rookie Joe Burrow showed before getting injured, as well as the production out of rookie wide receiver Tee Higgins. They are in a tough division and expecting a big turnaround this year may be asking too much, but if they can stay healthy, fans should expect a much more competitive team in 2021.
Quarterback
- Joe Burrow
- Brandon Allen
- Kyle Shurmur
- Eric Dungey
Running back
- Joe Mixon
- Samaje Perine
- Chris Evans
- Trayveon Williams
Wide receiver
- Tyler Boyd
- Tee Higgins
- Ja’Marr Chase
- Trent Taylor
- Auden Tate
- Mike Thomas
Tight end
- Drew Sample
- C.J. Uzomah
- Thadeus Moss
Biggest offseason changes
Biggest changes from last season will be getting a healthy Joe Burrow and Joe Mixon back. Cincinnati also let their long time third-down back Gio Bernard go and drafted wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase with the No. 4 pick.
They’ll also get tight end C.J. Uzomah back from injury, but Drew Sample may end up taking over the TE1 spot. Neither have shown enough to take over and become a strong fantasy play and they could still trade for another tight end before the season starts.
Biggest questions for fantasy football
Joe Mixon looks to have secured more usage as a receiver with Bernard gone. He should be a three-down back in 2021 and have fantasy value if he can stay healthy. They have three strong, young receivers who should all command targets. Chase figures to be the No. 1 receiver at some point, but Higgins made a good case for plenty of work while Chase gets up to speed and I’m sure they’d prefer to have three No. 1 receivers splitting targets evenly if they could. It makes for tough fantasy projections, especially this season, but Burrow should have plenty of opportunity to put up Top 12 quarterback numbers this year.