I'm worried about the Bengals this year. By worried I mean I think they could have some early struggles. Yes, they added a couple of first-round offensive talents in the draft. But free-agency departures and a couple of injury questions could have the team in trouble in the first part of the season.
Cincinnati added John Ross and Joe Mixon with top 50 picks, and those guys look like great talents -- possible immediate starters. Then again, Ross is coming off shoulder surgery, and according to this report probably won't get on the field until early August or so. It's never a given that rookie receivers can pick up an offense quickly, and it seems like Ross will definitely be behind the eight ball. Cincinnati doesn't need to rush him with viable if unexciting options like Brandon LaFell and Tyler Boyd available.
At running back, the ideal backfield would probably have Mixon as the starter with Jeremy Hill as a change-of-pace and Giovani Bernard in passing situations. But Bernard, coming off a torn ACL, sounds iffy for the start of the season. Mixon is an excellent receiver and can fill that pass catching role, but pass protection is critical, and not a given for a rookie. Which brings us to the major area of concern -- the offensive line.
Andrew Whitworth and Kevin Zeitler left in free agency, and those weren't only the team's two best linemen but two of the league's best at their positions. Cincinnati will try to fill the gaps with some combination of Jake Fisher, Cedric Ogbuehi and Andre Smith. It looks like Ogbuehi will get first shot at left tackle, after struggling on the right side last year. Smith is working at guard, but that's a concern; he's always been a tackle. Poor season for Minnesota last year, too.
The early-season schedule doesn't look awful. Cincinnati plays its first two at home, albeit against respected defenses (Baltimore and Houston). Then it travels to Green Bay before a pair of favorable matchups (Browns on the road, Bills at home). A 3-2 type start is possible, after which everyone should be healthy and perhaps they'll have fully sorted out the offensive line issues.
But will be nice to see the line playing well and Ross getting plenty of reps in the exhibition games. How they fare could determine how Cincinnati starts the season, and how much fantasy appeal there is in the roster.
--Andy Richardson