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Samaje Perine 2021 Outlook: Closer to Relevance Than You Think
4 years agoIt feels like a lifetime ago that Samaje Perine was getting a crack at the Football Team's starting RB job. Now entering his fifth NFL season, Perine is still just 26 years old. More importantly, with Giovani Bernard in Tampa Bay, Perine is the unquestioned primary backup to the oft injured Joe Mixon. We saw a glimpse of Perine's absolute ceiling in Week 16 last season when he put up 29.6 fantasy points with 136 total yards and two touchdowns. We've also seen Bernard be a rock solid RB2 filling in for Mixon. The Bengals will likely go into the 2021 season with four running backs. It's possible that Trayveon Williams or Chris Evans can ascend the depth chart. It's also possible, if not likely, that in the event of a Mixon absence, Perine splits carries with one or both. However, one thing is certain: Perine will get the first crack at the lead role if Mixon goes down. Right now, Perine is pretty much free in fantasy drafts. He's not someone you need to take, but he's a name to monitor and draft in deeper leagues as he's an injury away from at least some value.
