Cincinnati Bengals

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Cincinnati has been a very good pass and run-blocking team over the last few seasons, yet it’s continued to stay active in the NFL Draft, as well as free agency.

The team re-signed starting OG Clint Boling, and back up OT Eric Winston in the offseason while using early draft picks on two highly acclaimed rookie offensive tackles. Cedric Ogbuehi (6’5″ 306) was a first round pick, and Jake Fisher (6’6″ 306) was a second rounder.

NFL Draft expert Mike Loyko says “Ogbuehi decided to return to school for his senior season and everything that could go wrong, did go wrong. He moved to Left Tackle, but he looked uncomfortable and his play dropped off dramatically. As if his drop in play wasn’t bad enough, Ogbuehi tore his ACL in his final college game. He’s a great athlete playing on the offensive line, but he’s not very powerful.”

While Ogbuehi was an investment in the future, Round 2 pick Jake Fisher is a commodity who may pay immediate dividends. Loyko says, “Fisher is a prospect who can step into an NFL offense and contribute as a rookie. He has starting experience at both Right and Left Tackle. He’s a very good athlete with an attractive combination of mobility and technical ability. He has enough functional strength to knock defenders off balance and gain the leverage advantage. What scouts have to like about Fisher is the way he battles throughout the entire play.”

Projected Starting Lineup

Andrew Whitworth, LT 6’7″ 330 pounds- A Top 10 OT last several years, turned in a top shelf LT performance in 2014, excels in all areas

Clint Boling, LG 6’5″ 305 pounds- Round 4 pick in 2011, an average OG over the last three seasons but certainly a serviceable starter, respectable in run and pass protection, signed 5-year deal in the offseason, two years removed from ACL injury

Russell Bodine, C 6’3″ 308 pounds Round 4 pick 2014, a below average performer as rookie in 2014, was a highly regarded NFL Draft prospect, coaches believe his ceiling is high, possesses immense strength and phone-booth power

Kevin Zeitler, RD 6’4″ 315 pounds- Bengals exercised their fifth-year option on Zeitler, has been a very effective RG since entering the league in 2012, a Top 10-ish option in 2014, good run and pass blocker

Andre Smith, RT 6’4″ 325 pounds- Missed the final five games of 2014 with a torn triceps, a former highly touted, Round 1 pick in 2009, somewhat of an up-and-down career, was especially good in 2012 and 2013, regressed in 2014, talent has never been his problem but weight and motor have, it’s a contract year in 2015 so he should be motivated

Notes-

Cincy is preparing for life after Andre Smith and/or Andrew Whitworth. For now, they are just incredibly deep and talented at the offensive tackle position (Smith, Whitworth, Winston, Fisher, Ogbuehi).

This is a Grade-A group. The primary question mark revolves around the interior depth of this unit. TJ Johnson a Round 7 pick in 2013 has only taken six regular-season NFL snaps, and former Texas Longhorn Trey Hopkins (who is the best offensive lineman Texas has put on the football field in at least three seasons) was lost early in his UDFA rookie campaign to an injury during training camp.

Depth issues aside, this kind of pass protection is going to benefit Andy Dalton, whose arsenal is loaded for 2015. Dalton will certainly garner consideration as a weekly matchup play during the regular season, and may well be a sneaky option to begin the season – on the road at Oakland and then at home against San Diego who looks to be horrible on defense. Dalton has a late-round ADP and for those who run into QB trouble during their fantasy drafts, he’s a solid desperation play. For those who prefer a waiver-wire QB strategy, he’ll be respectable in-season option. No matter how you slice it, Andy Dalton is surrounded by the best skill players of his career, both of his running backs are great pass catchers, and his offensive line is very good. He’s an interesting option in 2015 who may very well be poised for his best season.

It’s no secret how much we’ve loved Jeremy Hill since attending LSU’s 2014 Pro Day.

Behind this front five, Hill’s setting up as a high-upside RB1 who you can draft at the end of Round 2 currently. Hill averaged the most fantasy points of all running backs in the league over the final 8 games of the 2014 season.

As for Giovani Bernard– he was a very effective fantasy option in his first year-and-a-half with the team. Once he went down with hip in jury last October, it opened the door for Hill to take the lead role and Bernard to slide into a more natural role as a complementary back. However, we believe a healthy Bernard will be extremely effective in that role, and is fully capable to carry the load in stints if necessary. He’s a must-own handcuff for Hill owners, and a great option in PPR leagues. His ADP of RB29 has become absurdly low in redraft formats, where he now offers excellent value. The change in roles has caused an overreaction to his draft stock. Bernard is a solid flex option in his own right.

Everything – including the quality of this offensive line – sets up for a bounce-back season by A.J. Green. However, through little fault of his own, he just doesn’t have quite the same ceiling as some of the elite options he used to be equated with. But, at a current late-Round 2 ADP, Green offers terrific low-end WR1 value. He’d make a nice pairing with a couple of other high-upside, mid-round receiving options.

Marvin Jones is certainly an intriguing option after breaking out in 2013 and being lost to injury last season. He’ll be a nice late-round flier, as will tight end Tyler Eifert. This is a make-or-break season for Eifert and he’s going to have to show he can stay on the field as a blocker with Jermaine Gresham now out of the picture. If Eifert can increase his snap counts, we may finally get to see his receiving prowess manifest. There’s room for a 750-yard, 7 touchdown tight end on this roster, meaning, Eifert has low-end TE1 upside.

As much as people criticize Mohamed Sanu, it’s not arguable that he was WR2 for half the season in 2014. While much of that could be attributed to Green and Jones’s injury struggles, Sanu is a guy to keep on your waiver wire watch list as this passing offense is setting up to be a good one.