The Cincinnati Bengals seemed on track to be a perennial Super Bowl threat after their appearance in 2022. Unfortunately, the injury bug had other plans.
At the center of this is quarterback Joe Burrow. The 2020 1st overall pick has played all 16 games in just two of his four seasons in the NFL and has dealt with some serious injuries. Most recently, he has been recovering from a torn wrist ligament that has featured a unique recovery process. Fortunately, positive reports coming out of training camp indicate that Burrow is expected to be a full go right away this year.
The holdout from Ja’Marr Chase has been another storyline hanging over the organization. His return to training camp is a positive sign. While there are plenty of variables hanging over the franchise, the Bengals still have the level of talent to get back to the Super Bowl if things go their way.
Overall, the Bengals hold the 5th-best odds to win it all at +1300 on DraftKings Sportsbook. They trail only the Chiefs, 49ers, Ravens, and Lions respectively. Cincinnati has the third-best odds to win the AFC at +700. They also hold +145 odds to win the AFC North and are -260 to make the playoffs outright. The Bengals’ season-long win total sits at 10.5 games with the over favored by -125 odds.
Cincinnati Bengals to score 1+ TD in Every Regular Season Game (-110)
If the Bengals want to succeed this season, their offense needs to hum.
Cincinnati produced the 7th-best scoring offense in the NFL in the past two seasons before regressing to the 16th-ranked offense last year. Even before his injury, Joe Burrow had taken a step back last year. In the 10 games he did play, Burrow tallied just 2,309 yards passing and 15 touchdowns.
In 2021, Burrow led the league in completion percentage and yards gained per pass attempt while winning Comeback Player of the Year. He finished with 4,611 passing yards and 34 touchdowns. In 2022, Burrow had similar production and tallied 4,475 passing yards and 35 touchdowns. As a team, the Bengals scored at least one touchdown per game in both of these seasons.
Last season, the Bengals took a step back going 9-8 after winning double-digit games the past two years. Their offensive struggles were at the heart of this regression. They had two games last season in which they failed to register a touchdown.
The injury concerns are more than just a footnote for Burrow. Despite this, he has shown the ability to bounce back from significant injuries before and signs have been positive in training camp. Expect Cincinnati to be back on track and in the mix for true contenders this season.
Zack Moss Over 700.5 Rushing Yards (-115)
Zack Moss will be a more familiar name to casual football fans after this season. He will also likely be a common name on many winning fantasy football teams as a player primed to produce above expectations this year.
The 26-year-old is coming off a career season with the Buffalo Bills and is ready for more opportunities with Cincinnati.
It should be noted that Chase Brown will also be in the mix for carries. Brown was a 5th-round pick last year and is an intriguing talent whose explosiveness will likely be leaned on more than Moss in the passing game. However, he is a young running back who is still finding his way. The Cincinnati coaching staff has been non-committal on what exactly the roles of each player will look like. They are likely not sure themselves.
Moss is coming off a season with the Colts in which he tallied 784 rushing yards and five touchdowns in the 14 games he played. This also includes eight games in which he was not the starter and received eight or fewer carries. The Bengals handed him a two-year, $8 million contract this offseason and he should be expected to get the first crack at the backfield touches this season in Cincinatti.
The 700.5 rushing yard total is set too low for Moss this season, especially considering the opportunity he will receive. Assuming he can stay healthy and continue to be handed regular carries, Moss should have no issues clearing this margin. He is an adequate NFL running back who will receive plenty of opportunities and is in a position where he can have a career-best year.
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