2023 season recap
Record: 9-8
Points For: 366
Points Against: 384
Off-season Roster Recap
Added:
OT Trent Brown, DT Sheldon Rankins, S, Vonn Bell, RB Zack Moss, S Geno Stone and TE Mike Gesicki
Lost:
RB Joe Mixon, WR Tyler Boyd, TE Irv Smith, OT Jonah Williams, DT D.J. Reader, CB Chidobe Awuzie, S Nick Scott.
Draft Recap
OT Amarius Mims, DT Kris Jenkins, WR Jermaine Burton, NT McKinnley Jackson, TE Erick All, CB Josh Newton
2024 Outlook
Overview
The Bengals began last season slowly because of Joe Burrow’s calf injury, but they picked up steam as the year progressed. By the midway point of the season, the Bengals looked like the best team in the NFL when they destroyed the Bills in a Sunday night affair. Even without Joey B for more than half the season, they still finished 9-8. Now the hopes of a healthy Joe Burrow and a Super Bowl run are at the forefront of the 2024 season. Is it now or never for Burrow and the Bengals?
Passing
Begins and ends with Joe Burrow and his health. He has to get through a full training camp and season healthy so that we know what he is. 2021 was his best statistical season and if he can get back there, everyone will be happy. He should be good for over 4500 yards and 35 TDs.
Rushing
The team traded fan favorite and longtime veteran Joe Mixon to Houston. They brought in Zack Moss from Indianapolis. Moss is regarded a very good pass blocker, which was an area that Mixon struggled in. Moss projects as a early down, between the tackles runner. 2nd year back Chase Brown, didn’t really see the field last season until Burrow went out, but he showed flashes of speed and ability in a simpler offense ran by Jake Browning. Unproven at the pro-level running between the tackles, his speed and burst make him a threat on the outside as a pass catcher. Moss and Brown should make for a very dynamic one-two punch.
Receiving
The Bengals lost slot WR Tyler Boyd but retained Tee Higgins for one more season on the franchise tag. Paired with Ja’Marr Chase, you have one of top duos in the league. They also spent a 3rd round pick on Jermaine Burton, who comes in looking like a Higgins replacement, and they still have Andrei Losivas who had 5 TDs last year. They don’t have a true slot receiver to replace Boyd, but they did sign TE Mike Gesicki, who is athletic enough and skilled enough to play the slot. He should remind Bengals fans of Tyler Eifert. They will probably move guys around a lot and use the different WRs and RBs in that slot roll. Confusing defenses and giving them an advantage.
Defense
The defense has been “bend, don’t break” and stuff the redzone for as long as I remember. Bring in cheap free agents and get the most out of them. Last season, they struggled to get pressure on the QB, and could only stop the run if DJ Reeder was there and healthy, which wasn’t much of the time. Now Reeder is gone, and they brought in Sheldon Rankins and drafted Kris Jenkins to try to replace Reeder. They also struggled at Safety, so they brought back Vonn Bell and signed Geno Stone. CB might be their biggest downfall, with the loss of Chidobe Awuzie and the only real impactful veteran on the team being Mike Hilton. I would expect them to sign a veteran after cuts are made. This defense maybe a decent streaming defense, but not one I would lean on week to week..
Fantasy Impact
If Burrow can stay healthy, if the offensive line is improved, this should be a pass-first, pass-often offense. You should see QB1 numbers from Burrow, WR1 numbers from Chase, WR2 numbers from Higgins, inconsistent TE1 numbers from Gesicki and Flex numbers from Moss/Brown. If the line doesn’t hold-up and/or Burrow goes down, then this all goes in the tank. Stash and hope: Jermaine Burton. Chase and Higgins have both missed games in their careers, Burton is an injury away from being a big play plug into your lineups.
Schedule
Week 1 vs New England Patriots
Week 2 @ Kansas City Chiefs
Week 3 vs Washington Commanders
Week 4 @ Carolina Panthers
Week 5 vs Baltimore Ravens
Week 6 @ New York Giants
Week 7 @ Cleveland Browns
Week 8 vs Philadelphia Eagles
Week 9 vs Las Vegas Raiders
Week 10 @ Baltimore Ravens
Week 11 @ Los Angeles Chargers
Week 12 BYE
Week 13 vs Pittsburgh Steelers
Week 14 @ Dallas Cowboys
Week 15 @ Tennessee Titans
Week 16 vs Cleveland Browns
Week 17 vs Denver Broncos
Week 18 @ Pittsburgh Steelers
Strength of Schedule: .502 (T16th)
DraftKings win projection: 10.5
#AgentJO’s Projection 11 wins 6 losses
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