Giovani Bernard bust on to the NFL scene last year with a 1,209 yard, 8 TD rookie season. He is due for an increased workload this year, but how much can he handle and how much goes to new rookie Jeremy Hill? Photo: Icon Sportswire

Data as of June 26 | Current Cheatsheets | Current Projections

NR = Not ranked

QB Andy Dalton

If there is one Bengals player that figures to see his fantasy value suffer as a result of offensive coordinator Jay Gruden leaving town, that player is Andy Dalton. After recording career highs in passing yards with 4,296 and passing touchdowns with 33, Dalton finished as the 3rd ranked fantasy quarterback in 2013. However, with Hue Jackson taking over as the team’s offensive coordinator, most expect the Bengals will lean more heavily on the run in 2014. That doesn’t bode well for Dalton. And, being honest, 33 touchdowns for Dalton may end up being a career high when he hangs up his cleats. Despite the foregoing, we still think he rates as a fantasy starter this season, just not one who will approach Top 5 status. With A.J. Green as his leading wide receiver, a pair of solid pass catching tight ends in Tyler Eifert and Jermaine Gresham, a game breaker at running back in Giovani Bernard and the up and coming Marvin Jones, the beating Dalton is taking amongst fantasy pundits is a little harsh. Did we mention the offensive line is pretty solid? This one has bargain written all over it.

RB Giovani Bernard

Is the sky the limit for Bernard? Or will the Bengals limit his use to the 14.1 touches per game he averaged as a rookie in 2013? As is usually the case, the answer likely lies in the grey area between those two extremes. The North Carolina product produced some big plays last season while accumulating 1,209 total yards and eight touchdowns. His big play ability earned him more touches as the season wore on with Bernard reaching double digit carries during the last eight games of the season, a stretch where he averaged 16.4 touches after averaging 12.3 during the first half of the season. Unfortunately, that extra workload coupled with the additional games played in the NFL schedule compared to college caused him to slow down a bit as he averaged just 3.6 yards per carry over the last half of the season. He also only found the end zone twice during that stretch after scoring six times during the first eight games of the season. For 2014, we expect that Bernard will see a bigger role in the Bengals offense and for his production to remain steady over the course of the season as he adjusts to a 16 game schedule. While there might be some concern elsewhere that the presence of rookie 2nd round pick Jeremy Hill hurts Bernard’s fantasy value, we don’t share those same concerns. Bernard is a big time playmaker who deserves to have the ball in his hands. Consider him a mid to lower tier RB1.

RB Jeremy Hill

Not satisfied with the plodding running style of BenJarvus Green-Ellis, the Bengals once again used a 2nd round pick to upgrade the running back position, this time selecting LSU’s Jeremy Hill. While Giovani Bernard, taken in the 2nd round last season, is an explosive playmaker, Hill figures to fulfill the big back role on the Bengals roster given his 6’1”, 235 pound frame. The only issue is whether Hill will play well enough to keep Green-Ellis planted firmly on the bench or if they end up sharing the role behind Bernard. While we expect Green-Ellis will siphon some touches from Hill, the rookie has the potential to emerge as a low end flex option as well as a solid handcuff. He rates as a mid-tier dynasty prospect.

RB BenJarvus Green-Ellis

During the last four years (two in Cincinnati and two in New England), Law Firm has had a surprisingly solid run for a player with his limited ability, amassing 3,523 rushing yards and 37 touchdowns. In 2014, it looks like his run of success will come to a grinding halt with the Bengals having used 2nd round picks in successive drafts to acquire Giovani Bernard and Jeremy Hill. It is Hill’s addition that will likely kill any remaining fantasy value for Green-Ellis. In fact, if new offensive coordinator Hue Jackson had not brought his more run based approach to the team, there is a solid chance that Green-Ellis would be looking for work. However, with Jackson in tow, the Bengals place more value on depth at the running back position and that will likely allow Green-Ellis to remain in Cincinnati for one more year. Unless Bernard or Hill suffer injuries or Hill develops a case of fumblitis, Law Firm won’t hold any fantasy appeal.

WR A.J. Green

Three years into his career, Green has already amassed 3,833 receiving yards and 29 touchdowns. While that production is superlative, many Bengals observers question how much more Green would have produced with a better deep ball thrower at quarterback than Andy Dalton. With Dalton back for another go round in 2014 (and we’ll make the prediction that it ends up being a lot longer than that), Green should once again approach 1,300-1,400 yards and double digit touchdowns. There is a small risk with Green in that there is a new offensive coordinator running the Cincinnati offense, with Hue Jackson taking over for the departed Jay Gruden. However, that risk is pretty miniscule since Green is a player that should get between 160 and 180 targets no matter what, given the huge discrepancy between his talents and those of the other wide receivers on the Bengals roster. Consider Green a lock to be a top five wide receiver in 2014 and a candidate to finish 1st overall at the position.

WR Marvin Jones

Be wary of the player whose fantasy production relies to a large extent on them finding the end zone. That could be the story with Jones, who found the end zone 10 times last season despite catching just 51 passes. He finished the year with 712 receiving yards but it was anyone’s guess when to use him as he tallied 36.2 of his 137.7 fantasy points in one game and had seven games with seven points or less. Moving to the positive side, it’s worth noting that Jones has plenty of room to grow as the former 4th round pick enters his 3rd year in the league. He also figures to benefit from the departure of Andrew Hawkins to the Browns. The bottom line: while we like Jones’ talent level, there are a pair of big dogs in the Bengals offense in A.J. Green and Giovani Bernard who are going to be force fed the ball and that limits Jones’ upside. Consider him a WR5.

WR Mohamed Sanu

After finishing his rookie season in 2012 with four touchdowns in his final three games before going on injured reserve with a stress fracture suffered in Week 12, there was some thought that Sanu would emerge as a more consistent threat in 2013. You just didn’t read that here. A former 3rd round pick, Sanu is a solid possession receiver with good hands and very little playmaking ability due to his lack of speed and ability to make tacklers miss, as evidenced by his sub 10.0 yards per reception during each of his two years in the league. Last year, he was surpassed on the depth chart by Marvin Jones and there is pretty much no chance that he will wind up in the starting line up. The only saving grace for Sanu is that slot receiver Andrew Hawkins signed with the Browns in the offseason. Of course, the Bengals have a pair of pass catching tight ends in Jermaine Gresham and Tyler Eifert that will compete for targets out of the slot. In short, look for Sanu to once again produce about 400 yards and a few touchdowns. Avoid him in all formats.

TE Tyler Eifert

Taken in the 1st round of the 2013 draft, Eifert put together a solid, if not spectacular rookie season, finishing the year with 39 receptions for 445 yards and a pair of touchdowns. While the Notre Dame product has the size and speed to establish himself as a solid TE1 for fantasy purposes, that is unlikely to happen in 2014 as he will once again share the tight end position with Jermaine Gresham. Since Eifert is signed long term, Gresham is entering the final year of his rookie contract and there was very little difference in their performance last season, we expect the Bengals to lean on Eifert a little more this season but not enough for him to warrant TE1 status. Consider him a low end TE2 in redraft formats and a good but not great prospect in dynasty leagues.

TE Jermaine Gresham

With the Bengals having added Tyler Eifert with a 1st round draft pick last season, Gresham saw his role reduced and he posted career lows in targets with 68, receptions with 46 and receiving yards with 458 while matching his career low in touchdown receptions with four. Gresham will be motivated to have a big year in 2013 since he is entering the final year of his rookie contract, but look for the Bengals to keep him in a timeshare with Eifert, effectively depressing the fantasy value of both players. Dynasty leaguers may want to grab him on the cheap in the hope that he ends up in a more stable situation in 2015.