The Cincinnati Bengals had an uncharacteristically busy offseason in 2020. Some of their biggest moves are still coming, thought. What moves they make tomorrow night in the 2020 NFL draft will determine what will happen with two franchise cornerstones. The Bengals do hold the first pick in each round of the draft, but that’s it.

For a team bereft of talent all over the field, one pick in each round doesn’t feel like enough. Could this compel the Bengals to make some moves and pick up extra capital Thursday night? If things stand pat, what is the fantasy outlook? The Belly Up Fantasy Sports 2020 NFL Draft coverage continues, as we take a deep dive into the offseason in Cincinnati.

Traded/Released by the organization:

TE Tyler Eifert
LT Cordy Glenn
CB Dre Kirkpatrick
CB Darqueze Dennard
S Clayton Fejedelem
G John Miller
LB Nick Vigil
LB LaRoy Reynolds
CB Tony McRae

Acquired/Signed by the organization:

DT D.J. Reader
CB Trae Waynes
S Vonn Bell
G Xavier Su’a-Filo
CB Mackensie Alexander
CB LeShaun Sims
LB Josh Bynes

Draft needs:

The Bengals need help just about everywhere. The offense will get an overhaul with whoever ends up being the quarterback next year. The addition of Su’a-Filo and last year’s first round pick tackle Jonah Williams will help a weak line, but they desperately lack depth. Eifert has lost the majority of his career to injuries, so his loss doesn’t feel like much. This still leaves the underwhelming C.J. Uzomah as the only real receiving threat in the tight end room. Joe Burrow bullied the Bengals into franchise tagging WR A.J. Green, but him staying healthy is a huge “if.” WR Tyler Boyd has had two solid seasons as the de-facto number one option, but John Ross has yet to produce at the NFL level.

The defense has some solid talent, especially in the revamped secondary, but age is becoming a factor. Aside from the newly acquired Reader, the best players along the defensive line are Carlos Dunlap, 31, and Geno Atkins, 32. If Carl Lawson can stay healthy and progress, he could be the next edge rushing star in Cincinnati, but beyond him and Reader there isn’t much promise.

I’m not going to do a list of targets, because we all know who the target is at one. Beyond that, the Bengals can’t make a wrong pick, as long as the player pans out. With the amount of desperate needs the Bengals have, they will truly just be drafting the best player available with each pick.

Fantasy Implications:

Who starts the season under center will have a major impact on the fantasy outlook for the Bengals. Andy Dalton is technically still on the roster, but almost certainly a rookie will be coming in to lead the Bengals into the future next year. Having Joe Mixon and Giovanni Bernard will help relieve some pressure from the rookie, but a weak offensive line and fragile receiving corp could spell trouble for the offense as a whole.

Quarterback:

LSU standout and Heisman Trophy winner Joe Burrow is the likeliest to be the signal-caller day one next year, but until the 2020 NFL draft and the Dalton situations play out, we won’t know for sure. If the Red Rocket winds up back for one more ride, he could be a sneaky streaming option against weak defenses, but not likely a season-long starter.

Running Back:

Mixon will be in for a lot of touches with a rookie QB running the offense this year. If healthy he will once again get over 1,000 yards from scrimmage. The question there is the opportunity for touchdowns in this offense. Bernard isn’t much of a fantasy factor at this point, even in PPR leagues, as Mixon matched his reception numbers last year.

Wide Receiver:

If he is healthy, Green is a must-start every week, but will he be healthy? It has been a long time since fantasy owners could feel comfortable relying on Green as their WR1 for an entire season. After eight games in two years, that doesn’t change no matter who is throwing the ball. Boyd is a solid option again because of the lack of targets in Cincinnati. Ross will continue to frustrate people who take a flier on him.

Conclusion:

Normally, I would feel like this is disingenuous advice because we don’t know so may things about this offense for certain, but avoid. Boyd and Mixon are the only guys on this team I would pick comfortably. Burrow might be able to help make the offense a little more explosive, but there will be mistakes and growing pains. Couple that with some questionable coaching and a mediocre, thin offensive line, and there just isn’t much promise in southwest Ohio fantasy-wise.

How about northeast Ohio? Stay tuned to Belly Up Fantasy Sports to see my Cleveland Browns 2020 NFL Draft Analysis next as I work my way through the AFC North. Follow me on Twitter to find out as soon as it drops. Check out Chris Pinto‘s analysis of the AFC South and some of the great articles at Belly Up Sports while you wait!