Bengals OC: Benjarvus Green-Ellis Still the “Bellcow” in Cincinnati, Bernard a “Change of Pace”
Alex Dunlap, Rosterwatch.com

Photo via Green-Ellis Twitter

While joining The Blitz on Sirius XM radio Thursday, Bengals OC Jay Gruden said second-year Bengal and veteran RB Benjarvus Green-Ellis will remain the team’s “bellcow” running back while dynamic rookie Gio Bernard will serve as a “change-of-pace.”

Gruden mentioned that Green-Ellis never puts the ball on the ground and is coming off a 1,000-yard season. With the addition of star rookie TE Tyler Eifert to the receiving corps, and with the growth Eifert has shown in the blocking realm, the obvious hope is to get matched up with nickel packages which account for Eifert as a receiving weapon that spread the defense out to be gutted with the run.

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Gruden said the reason for drafting Bernard, and what he brings to the Bengals is the speed and burst to beat a weakside linebacker to the outside and get upfield. Gruden said you’ll see some two and three yard runs like that, but it’s only a matter of time before Bernard will break something big if given the opportunity.

From everything Gruden said, it is safe to assume the team will have a few wrinkles in the game plan designed to get Bernard open in free space both as a rushing and a receiving weapon, notably on third downs.

You should have already downloaded the cheat sheet. It’s free and there are just two rules to follow. Just in case you don’t though, foolishly, remember this: Gio Bernard is not a safe pick at the end of the fourth round, (4.11) which is his current ADP. He has electrifying skills in space but so does Jacquizz Rodgers and so does LaMichael James.

Draft one of those guys if you need a little bit of shiftiness and flash on your fantasy squad.

Fantasy teams are built on numbers, not skills, and fantasy owners need starting RB snap numbers out of all three of their RB positions. Benjarvus Green-Ellis in the 8th round, however, represents terrific value, and it is very likely fantasy players will see both players’ ADPs correct somewhat as the season draws closer.