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Fantasy Football: Breakout player at each position

By Mark Morales-Smith

BALTIMORE, MD - DECEMBER 31: Running Back Joe Mixon #28 of the Cincinnati Bengals carries the ball in the first quarter against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium on December 31, 2017 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Todd Olszewski/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MD - DECEMBER 31: Running Back Joe Mixon #28 of the Cincinnati Bengals carries the ball in the first quarter against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium on December 31, 2017 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Todd Olszewski/Getty Images) /
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JACKSONVILLE, FL – NOVEMBER 05: Joe Mixon #28 of the Cincinnati Bengals runs for a 7-yard touchdown against the Jacksonville Jaguars in the first half of their game at EverBank Field on November 5, 2017 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)
JACKSONVILLE, FL – NOVEMBER 05: Joe Mixon #28 of the Cincinnati Bengals runs for a 7-yard touchdown against the Jacksonville Jaguars in the first half of their game at EverBank Field on November 5, 2017 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images) /

RB Joe Mixon, Cincinnati Bengals

I really couldn’t be much higher on Mixon. I loved him coming out of college and believe he was the second most talented running back in 2017 NFL Draft behind only Dalvin Cook which we are going to see in 2018. He was a victim of circumstance last season, but that all changes this year and Fantasy owners are going to reap the massive benefits.

Last year Mixon started off behind the eight ball right off the bat because Marvin Lewis doesn’t particularly like utilizing rookies. He started the season behind Jeremy Hill and Gio Bernard. Hill is now in New England for at least a few more weeks and while Gio is still there he’ll be transitioning out of the offense.

The team already drafted his replacement in Mark Walton from “The U” and Bernard is a niche pass-catcher while Mixon will be the workhorse. The Bengals also ran the fewest amount of plays last year and seemingly never had the ball because no one had it less.

I’ll go as far to say that Mixon will produce as a clear-cut RB1 this year. He’ll be a breath of fresh air for Bengals fans and Fantasy owners who had been relying on Hill, who has the same skill set as a hippo on roller skates, falling into the end zone in past years. Mixon is a flat out stud with unbelievable talent and he’s only going to get better. I expect the volume, yards, receptions, and touchdowns this season. The only thing that may be holding him back a bit is a cap on his PPR value thanks to the lingering presence of Bernard who is a gifted back in his own right.

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