Fantasy Stock Up, Stock Down: Cincinnati Bengals

Welcome back to the “Fantasy Stock Up, Stock Down” series (offseason edition). I know that we have four teams still fighting for a Super Bowl (including the Bengals!), but as a dynasty manager, you need to start preparing for the next fantasy season right now. A lot can change before next season, and we don’t know how final rosters will look come next September. The “offseason edition” of this series is an early look at whose stock is up and whose stock is down going into the offseason. We will break down each NFL team. Today is all about the Cincinnati Bengals. 

STOCK UP – CHRIS EVANS

Evans was used sparingly in his debut season with Cincinnati. He only received 32 offensive touches in 14 games, as he served as the third back on the depth chart behind Samaje Perine and Joe Mixon. Mixon put together a career season, accumulating 1,519 scrimmage yards and 16 total touchdowns. There’s no doubt that he is the workhorse back for this Bengals team. 

Perine, on the other hand, was used a ton as a receiver out of the backfield this season. He earned a 6.1 percent target share for the Bengals, whereas Mixon received a 9.4 percent share. So it’s fair to say that Perine carved out a decent role as a pass-catcher out of the backfield. Evans’ stock is rising because Perine is set to hit free agency this offseason. Considering that he is 26 years old, and coming off his most productive season as a pro since his rookie season (2017), he’ll likely be offered more money to play elsewhere. 

In comes Evans, who hauled in 15 receptions for 151 yards and two touchdowns this season. Expect those numbers to go up as he fills in the role that Perine had in 2021. You should also expect Mixon’s touches to go down a bit. With the heavy load he carried this season and with a history of injuries, Mixon should see a decrease in production next year. Don’t be surprised if Evans receives 100 touches in 2022. However, if Mixon were to miss time, Evans could serve as a streaming option right away. There’s a reason why the Bengals drafted him in the sixth round in last year’s draft, and it isn’t because they wanted him to serve as the RB3 for their team for the foreseeable future. He’s almost a “must-roster” player for deep dynasty leagues today. 

Other Notables: Ja’Marr Chase, Joe Burrow

STOCK DOWN – TYLER BOYD

I hate writing this, but Boyd is a player you should consider trading in Dynasty leagues at some point. His story is great, and he’s played exceptionally well given his circumstances. But he’s a 27-year-old slot receiver who eats up a $10.1M salary cap for the 2022 season. Yes, Tee Higgins and Ja’Marr Chase are cheap receivers who are on rookie deals, but they are easily the top-two pass-catchers on the team. It wouldn’t be surprising to see the Bengals move on from Boyd after next season. 

Next season, Boyd should continue his career as a Bengal, and his fantasy numbers should stay around the same as this season. Joe Burrow looks like a top-tier quarterback already, and his pass-catchers will see heavy production from here on out. Because Boyd lacks game-by-game consistency with Chase and Higgins on the field, it should be easy for you to move on from Boyd in Dynasty leagues. Someone will pay to trade for Boyd, and you should benefit from that this offseason while you can. 

Let’s say Cincinnati decides to let Boyd ride out the rest of his contract. That means he will continue to be the third-best pass-catcher on the Bengals until the end of the 2024 season. His stock certainly won’t rise barring injuries to others. So why be optimistic for his future? The best thing for Boyd manager’s would be for him to be traded this offseason to a team in need of a slot receiver that’s not surrounded by a ton of talent in the receiving room. Cincinnati isn’t paying much for Burrow, Higgins, or Chase right now, so Boyd is likely to stick around at least for next season. 

Other Notables: C.J. Uzomah, Samaje Perine

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