4 years agoWe can't get fooled again, right? Right? Joe Mixon has all the talent in the world, but as we know the NFL, talent doesn't matter if the volume and offensive line aren't there. The Mixon ascension into the upper echelon of fantasy running backs has been on the docket for each of the past two seasons. After last year's disappointment and then Mixon's season ending foot injury, I, like many of you, swore off Mixon. Now, I, like many of you, am sitting here wondering if I'm about to get suckered back in. Mixon averaged 16.9 ppg in 2020 over his six games played. If we assume that number holds over a full season, he would've finished as the RB9. That number is a bit misleading, though, as roughly 40% of his total fantasy points came in his 42.1 point Week 4 effort against the Jaguars. There are a number of things contributing to a potential resurgence in the Mixon love. He's talented. Giovani Bernard is gone. OC Brian Callahan said Mixon "should be on the field every down." The Bengals drafted Ja'Marr Chase, which should only help open up the run game. They went on to address offensive line in the second, fourth, and sixth rounds. Joe Burrow is on track to play Week 1. The Bengals are an ascending team and Mixon's volume sure looks like it will be there. Mixon's ADP is going to creep into the middle or early part of the second round. The upside is a top five running back. The downside is the past three seasons. If you can stomach being wrong again, he's probably worth the risk.--Jason Katz