Five Biggest Questions
1. Is Joe Burrow a top-14 QB?
2. Will Joe Mixon be an RB1?
3. Can Ja'Marr Chase be a WR2?
4. Will Tee Higgins compete for the #1 wideout role?
5. Is Tyler Boyd streamable?
In his injury-shortened rookie campaign, Joe Burrow gave Cincinnati fans everything they'd hoped for after long enduring the low-ceiling Andy Dalton Era. Now the question is whether he'll pick up this season where he left off last year--and if he'll indeed be 100% healthy. I would be cautious about his QB-13 ADP, not because he lacks the talent and opportunity (he clearly has both), but because he'd need to be exceptionally better than last year to hit that mark. In addition to six games against excellent intra-divisional opponents--including Baltimore's and Pittsburgh's stellar defenses--Joe Mixon is back and ready to roll. In Mixon's six games last year, Burrow had eight TDs and six turnovers. When forced to do more after Mixon got hurt, Burrow had seven TDs and three turnovers in only four games before getting hurt himself. Burrow has a future as a QB1, but it won't happen in 2021.
Back to Mixon. Wow, do I want Mixon on my team. His RB-14 ADP doesn't do him justice. Neither does his sub-4.0 YPC production across the last two seasons. With longtime Bengal Gio Bernard gone, there is almost nothing (outside of injuries) stopping Mixon from hitting 850/6 with 40 receptions. Kareem Hunt was the #10 fantasy RB with almost identical numbers last season. Mixon easily could hit 1,100/7 with 45 catches, in line with his 2018 breakout. He's one of the biggest top-40 RB bargains out there.
Cincy drafted Ja'Marr Chase with the #5 overall pick, and he'll immediately slot in as the co-#1 wideout with Tee Higgins. Chase (WR-27) and Higgins (WR-29) are huge talents. Both could exceed expectations even if Burrow is middling from a fantasy perspective. Tyler Boyd (WR-37) is the wild card. Despite enjoying back-to-back 1,000-yard campaigns in 2018 and 2019 and faring surprisingly well last season, the gap between him and his higher-upside teammates might be too wide. Boyd could become a 60/600/4 option, making him undraftable in most leagues. I like him more as a WR4/5 than as a WR3/4.
Finally, C.J. Uzomah (TE-43) is the gift that keeps on not giving. The team's offensive coordinator recently suggested Uzomah could catch 50 balls this year. Yes, perhaps. In practice. As painful as it might be, the team probably would be better off running with 2019 second-rounder Drew Sample. He might not be better, but he isn't worse. Either way, the lack of talent at tight end is a boon for a top-heavy offense led by Mixon, Chase, and Higgins.