The 37th overall pick of the 2013 draft, Giovani Bernard spent eight seasons in Cincinnati before being handed his walking papers Wednesday. 30 later this year (in November), Bernard was entering the final year of his contract, one that was paying him like a No. 1 back rather than the pass-catching and blocking specialist No. 2 that he was for the Bengals. He was due to make $3.7 million in 2021, and the release saved the Bengals $4.1 million against the cap. There were rumors teams were calling the Bengals about Bernard’s availability last month, but that was obviously false and an attempt to drum up interest. The Bengals got nothing for him and resorted to saving the money and freeing Bernard up to seek another job.
In Cincinnati, the release of Bernard is a potentially huge move for Joe Mixon and his every-down ability. In the six games Mixon was healthy for in 2020, he averaged 23.3 touches per contest, and that included a pair of 30-touch outings. Coach Zac Taylor had really committed to Mixon as his bell cow dating back to the middle of the 2019 season. Mixon’s season-ending foot issue could obviously change the way Taylor thinks about his running back moving forward, but the Bengals did pay Mixon $12 million per year with a new extension ahead of last year. They obviously view him as a clear-cut No. 1 back capable of shouldering an offense. By all accounts, Mixon should be ready for a normal 2021. With Joe Burrow back from his torn ACL and Cincinnati adding RT Riley Reiff to gel with previous starting combo LT Jonah Williams-LG Michael Jordan-C Trey Hopkins-RG Quinton Spain, this offense has the ability to take off, and Mixon should be a huge part of it. He has top-six RB1 upside if health cooperates.
It's all about which snaps Mixon loses out on. Gio was a huge pain in 2019, basically stealing all the 3rd down work and capping Mixon's reception ceiling. Mixon got more work in the passing game last year, but as @menobrown pointed out, Gio still took a lot of 3rd down snaps. Gio's always been a plus guy in receiving. So even if they add a more talented runner than Gio to the backfield, it's probably better than Gio sticking around and taking all those high value passing game snaps on 3rd down.Why would releasing Gio improve Mixon's vaue? Were people worried that Gio was going to steal an abnormal amount of touches this year? If anything, it means they are probably going to draft a rookie RB.
Bengals OC Brian Callahan said he "doesn't want Joe Mixon to leave the field" on third downs.
"...and I think he's up for that challenge," Callahan added at the end. No running back in the league had more touches (140) than Mixon before he suffered a season-ending foot injury in Week 6, but that didn't stop fantasy players from complaining every time he came off the field for Giovani Bernard on passing downs. With the latter gone to Tampa Bay, though, it sounds as if Zac Taylor and Callahan are fully committed to keeping Mixon on the field for every down as long as his body holds up. He remains underrated even as a low-end RB1 in Best-Ball leagues.
SOURCE: Ben Baby on Twitter
May 1, 2021, 7:56 PM ET
Would need to hear it from Zac Taylor's mouth before I believe he is healthy.In case anyone was still wondering if his foot had healed he was present and on the field for OTA's.
NFL Beat Writers RetweetedWould need to hear it from Zac Taylor's mouth before I believe he is healthy.
It was a joke since zac Taylor said Mixon would be ready next week each week for 8 weeks last year.NFL Beat Writers Retweeted
Marisa Contipelli
@BengalsMarisa
Joe Mixon is "full-go" per Zac Taylor.
12:57 PM · May 25, 2021·TweetDeck
But, was he dancing?In case anyone was still wondering if his foot had healed he was present and on the field for OTA's.
"Check's in the mail."It was a joke since zac Taylor said Mixon would be ready next week each week for 8 weeks last year.
Take a breath man, it's only fantasy footballwhere's the Charlie Brown emoji which means 'good grief'? another love letter thread for Joe Mixon? uggh. I feel like we've been waiting for him to 'develop' since the invention of color TV. seems like it's the same ole' thing, death taxes, and 'this is joe mixon's year to break out'.
sometimes you just have to realize that the gate's down, the lights are on, but the train ain't comin'. he's a never has-been that never will be. just another brick in the wall. any phrase you wanna add just throw it up here. dude sucks. he just does.time to let it go, Zac Taylor is one of the 5 worst coaches in the NFL, well, 4 now that Adam Gase is gone..and y'all think Urban Meyer is a bad coach?!?!?! really?!!!! cmon now. were the Bengals any better last season than in the 10 previous seasons??? I sure didn't see it. they look like the same train wreck to me. To think that some of you view him as a bell-cow, top 15 RB is difficult to understand. this guy is lesser RB. has been since he entered the league.guess what, 'potential' is a cute way of saying 'never having done it'. mixon is LOADED with potential. and then some.
let some other sucker in your league take him. draft someone else, there's plenty of fish in the RB ocean.
Two seasons of over 1100 yards rushingwhere's the Charlie Brown emoji which means 'good grief'? another love letter thread for Joe Mixon? uggh. I feel like we've been waiting for him to 'develop' since the invention of color TV. seems like it's the same ole' thing, death taxes, and 'this is joe mixon's year to break out'.
sometimes you just have to realize that the gate's down, the lights are on, but the train ain't comin'. he's a never has-been that never will be. just another brick in the wall. any phrase you wanna add just throw it up here. dude sucks. he just does.time to let it go, Zac Taylor is one of the 5 worst coaches in the NFL, well, 4 now that Adam Gase is gone..and y'all think Urban Meyer is a bad coach?!?!?! really?!!!! cmon now. were the Bengals any better last season than in the 10 previous seasons??? I sure didn't see it. they look like the same train wreck to me. To think that some of you view him as a bell-cow, top 15 RB is difficult to understand. this guy is lesser RB. has been since he entered the league.guess what, 'potential' is a cute way of saying 'never having done it'. mixon is LOADED with potential. and then some.
let some other sucker in your league take him. draft someone else, there's plenty of fish in the RB ocean.
What happens if you took over an orphan and are trying to trade him? Your post just knocked me into late first round for Mixon. kinda not joking though and of course asking for a friend!where's the Charlie Brown emoji which means 'good grief'? another love letter thread for Joe Mixon? uggh. I feel like we've been waiting for him to 'develop' since the invention of color TV. seems like it's the same ole' thing, death taxes, and 'this is joe mixon's year to break out'.
sometimes you just have to realize that the gate's down, the lights are on, but the train ain't comin'. he's a never has-been that never will be. just another brick in the wall. any phrase you wanna add just throw it up here. dude sucks. he just does.time to let it go, Zac Taylor is one of the 5 worst coaches in the NFL, well, 4 now that Adam Gase is gone..and y'all think Urban Meyer is a bad coach?!?!?! really?!!!! cmon now. were the Bengals any better last season than in the 10 previous seasons??? I sure didn't see it. they look like the same train wreck to me. To think that some of you view him as a bell-cow, top 15 RB is difficult to understand. this guy is lesser RB. has been since he entered the league.guess what, 'potential' is a cute way of saying 'never having done it'. mixon is LOADED with potential. and then some.
let some other sucker in your league take him. draft someone else, there's plenty of fish in the RB ocean.
He's already done that, twice if going on per game average.. To think that some of you view him as a bell-cow, top 15 RB is difficult to understand.
Bengals coach Zac Taylor said Joe Mixon will share third-down snaps this season.
"Having Joe Mixon on the field makes us better. At the same time, you don’t need him on the field for 75 snaps," Taylor said at Bengals OTAs. Cincinnati moved on from Giovani Bernard but gave Samaje Perine a two-year, $3.3 million extension this offseason. Splitting pass game snaps wouldn't change much for Mixon, who still projects as a workhorse coming off last year's mid-foot sprain. The Bengals also have Trayveon Williams, Chris Evans, and Pooka Williams on their 90-man roster.
SOURCE: ESPN
Jun 13, 2021, 12:25 PM ET
Y1 he was an RB4 and he finished 2018-2019 as RB9/RB11. Last year he was RB10 on a PPG basis (albeit 6 games.) He’s priced as a high end RB2 though low end RB1 seems like the most likely outcome. Perception is the arbitrage of redraft FFI kind of feel burnt by him the last 2 seasons. I keep waiting for him to make that leap into being an elite RB. It's nice that Gio is gone, but will he stay healthy? Is he going to make that leap? There are some really sexy WR's going around the same range, and it's hard to turn them down given what I've gotten from Mixon the last 2 years.
The Athletic's Paul Dehner believes Bengals RB Joe Mixon will handle "the largest workload" of his career.
"Tag an extra 15-20 receptions to [Mixon's] previous totals by virtue of Giovani Bernard being gone," Dehner writes. "You will see Semaje Perine give him a breather for maybe a series or two a game. I’d expect Chris Evans to earn a portion of the pass situation plays as the year progresses. But for the most part, this will be all about him." It's in line with OC Brian Callahan's wishes that Mixon doesn't "leave the field" on third downs, though coach Zac Taylor did suggest the 24-year-old would "share" that role, saying the team doesn't need Mixon on the field for "75 snaps" — a number reached by a single running back (Dalvin Cook, Week 13) just once last year. All signs point to Mixon being correctly valued as a workhorse low-end RB1 for fantasy over the summer.
SOURCE: The Athletic
Jun 28, 2021, 2:42 PM ET
I'd take Gibson and Najee over him. There's no doubt that Mixon could have a huge season but I'm not willing to invest an end of Round 1/beginning of Round 2 pick in him. I like him more at the end of round 2. I actually think Samaje Perine is an interesting end-of-draft flyer.I've got Mixon as RB12 right now, but he's an interesting guy to rank. He's kinda of a tier all his own to me. I think he's clearly behind guys like Akers and Ekeler, but clearly above guys like Najee and Gibson.
I do think Bernard leaving is a very underrated move. He played a large percentage of the snaps, even if it didn't result in a bunch of touches.
I like Mixon in the middle of round 2.
Chris Evans is the flyer here imoI'd take Gibson and Najee over him. There's no doubt that Mixon could have a huge season but I'm not willing to invest an end of Round 1/beginning of Round 2 pick in him. I like him more at the end of round 2. I actually think Samaje Perine is an interesting end-of-draft flyer.
Don't you think Perine has had his opportunity to show what he can do at the NFL level by now?I'd take Gibson and Najee over him. There's no doubt that Mixon could have a huge season but I'm not willing to invest an end of Round 1/beginning of Round 2 pick in him. I like him more at the end of round 2. I actually think Samaje Perine is an interesting end-of-draft flyer.
I don't know - he was admittedly bad with Washington but he was surprisingly good last year:Biabreakable said:Don't you think Perine has had his opportunity to show what he can do at the NFL level by now?
It is funny that these two ended up on the same team again. Its been a long time since I incorrectly thought Perine might be similarly good as Mixon. Perine is an example of a player who maxed out early in his career (in college) then declined.
and a potentially better O-lineWhile I'm more optimistic than the above poster, his ADP of #12RB seems about right. The positives would be Joe Burrow being healthy and Gio being bye bye.
It's possible. Reiff was a solid signing and they have to hope the 2nd rounder hits. I still think they should have taken Sewell in the 1st but I know that's been debated endlessly and will continue to be for years.and a potentially better O-line
For tiers I think the drop off is more after Aaron Jones on your list and that Gibson and Harris should not be in this tier of more proven players who still have upside like your next tier of players kind of is.TS Garp said:In thinking it through, I definitely feel comfortable with this group above Mixon:
CMC
Cook
Henry
Kamara
Saquon
Zeke
Chubb
Ekeler
Taylor
Gibson
Jones
Harris
I rate Mixon pretty evenly with Akers, CEH, and Sanders. He's right in that mini tier for me, and I'll have to think more about how I rank them. I think there's a drop off after that to Swift, Dobbins, Carson, and Montgomery.
I think he's just an ok talent, but I love that he's a 3 down RB, who has no real weaknesses to his game. He's set up for the biggest workload of his career, especially as a receiver with Bernard gone, in arguably the best offense of his career, and he had back to back top-12 finishes before last season.Mixon is a guy I don't know what to do with. On one hand, I have loved his talent since he was drafted. On the other it seems like it's been a few years and he still has never quite put it all together like we hoped. Now, I have also never had him on a team either so maybe I'm less jaded than most. What are we doing with him?
Make a case
I think (as many people have stated) that it all comes down to health. If he can stay healthy a low RB1 finish seems fairly likely given volume and some improvements in the offense. I'm not so sure it'll be all systems go with Burrow this year after his injury. But the offense seems mostly positive.Mixon is a guy I don't know what to do with. On one hand, I have loved his talent since he was drafted. On the other it seems like it's been a few years and he still has never quite put it all together like we hoped. Now, I have also never had him on a team either so maybe I'm less jaded than most. What are we doing with him?
Make a case
In 0.5 point PPR, his ADP is 17. I don't see any mocks where he lasts until the 3rd round.IMixon is probably my favorite of the round 3 RBs. He's an ideal RB2, who is probably a passable RB1, if you start with 2 WR's or Kelce/WR.
I have one share, in a dynasty league where I inherited him on orphan team. I have tried to trade him but unable to without getting reasonable return. I have no choice but to hold. I have not drafted him otherwise, ever. I am not a fan. However they are claiming he could get more pass catching now, so I can only hope. I won’t make a case and will likely avoid unless he slips and I can’t avoid drafting him.Mixon is a guy I don't know what to do with. On one hand, I have loved his talent since he was drafted. On the other it seems like it's been a few years and he still has never quite put it all together like we hoped. Now, I have also never had him on a team either so maybe I'm less jaded than most. What are we doing with him?
Make a case
I think he's just an ok talent, but I love that he's a 3 down RB, who has no real weaknesses to his game. He's set up for the biggest workload of his career, especially as a receiver with Bernard gone, in arguably the best offense of his career, and he had back to back top-12 finishes before last season.
Mixon is probably my favorite of the round 3 RBs. He's an ideal RB2, who is probably a passable RB1, if you start with 2 WR's or Kelce/WR.
Fell to me at 2.12/3.01I have done a lot of mock drafts of 12 team non-PPR in the last 3 weeks. I have not seen Mixon last until the 3rd round. I know I've been burned before by him as have others but I don't think you'll get him later than around pick 16-18. It irks me that drafting 12th he might be the smart choice for me. I'd rather not and might choose to get Najee H instead. Unproven rookie but at least if he burns me it will be the first time. LOL