TB RB Giovani Bernard - Week 10 Fantasy Football Outlook

Week 10 @ Washington Football Team

Giovani Bernard scored a touchdown in Week 8, and surprisingly led the Bucs in rushing with 30 yards on the ground. He also out-snapped Ronald Jones (13 to 9). But Bernard is averaging fewer than five touches per game. He's got three touchdowns on the year, but the other production isn't there. He's not a viable fantasy option.

Friday, November 12, 2021 - 1:18pm
TB RB Giovani Bernard - Week 6 Fantasy Football Outlook

Week 6 at Philadelphia Eagles

Giovani Bernard somewhat surprisingly returned from injury last week and had an OK role. He played more snaps than Ronald Jones, and nearly matched him in carries (5 vs. 4). But Bernard didn't do much as a receiver outside of catching a goal-line touchdown. He saw just one other target all game, finishing with two catches for 14 yards. We expected Bernard to be much more involved as a receiver, but the Bucs clearly trust Leonard Fournette as a pass-catcher this season. Bernard is off the fantasy radar, even in PPR formats.

Wednesday, October 13, 2021 - 2:10pm
TB RB Giovani Bernard - Week 2 Fantasy Football Outlook

Week 2 vs. Atlanta Falcons

Giovani Bernard was, according to Bruce Arians, "going to be a major part of the offense." Turns out that was a lie. Bernard only played 17 snaps (26%), and that was with Ronald Jones being benched nearly the entire game. As far as touches, Bernard finished with no carries and had three targets, catching two passes for 12 yards. Bernard can probably be safely placed in free agency in your fantasy leagues.

Friday, September 17, 2021 - 3:11pm
TB RB Giovani Bernard - Week 1 Fantasy Football Outlook

Week 1 vs. Dallas Cowboys

The Bucs added Giovani Bernard to a crowded backfield featuring Ronald Jones and Leonard Fournette. The good news for Bernard, though, is he has a defined role. He'll be the third-down/pass-catching back in this offense. In August, coach Bruce Arians said Bernard is "going to be a major part of the offense." While we like Arians' enthusiasm, we'll believe it when we see it. Bernard is worth a roster spot in deeper PPR leagues, but he'll be a somewhat risky Week 1 play. 1) We haven't seen this three-headed backfield split up duties yet and 2) Bernard has been dealing with an ankle injury, although he is expected to play. Bernard is a low-end RB3, near RB4 in PPR leagues this week.

Wednesday, September 8, 2021 - 12:04pm
TB RB Giovani Bernard - 2021 Fantasy Football Outlook

Fantasy Upside
Giovani Bernard joins a Bucs offense that lacked a receiving threat at running back a year ago. Ronald Jones, Leonard Fournette and LeSean McCoy combined for 79 total receptions last season, so there’s certainly production to be had in this role. Bernard has been a receiving threat for Cincinnati since 2013 and had a productive season in 2020 with 771 scrimmage yards.

Fantasy Downside
Bernard is not only joining a crowded backfield with Jones and Fournette but a crowded offense in general. He’s playing alongside Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, Antonio Brown, Rob Gronkowski, O.J. Howard and more. It’ll be tough for him to find a role large enough to make him a consistent producer every week.

2021 Bottom Line
When the Bucs brought Bernard on, he gained a lot of James White comparisons. But don’t expect that kind of production from Bernard. White saw 218 targets in his last two seasons with Brady. There’s no way Bernard gets 100+ targets in this Bucs offense. Bernard will offer little as an actual runner, so he’s really only valuable in PPR or half-PPR formats. And even then, he’s barely in the top 50. He’ll have more appeal if there’s an injury, but for now, he’s a really low-end RB3.

Sunday, July 18, 2021 - 10:50am
CIN RB Giovani Bernard - Week 17 Fantasy Football Outlook

Week 17 vs. Baltimore
Giovani Bernard has now recorded 20+ touches in two straight games. Last Sunday, he had 131 yards from scrimmage. He has been the offensive workhorse over the past two weeks which has produced two wins for Cincinnati.

Bernard will face the Ravens who are 20th in aFPA to running backs. He wasn't a factor in the first meeting with Baltimore with only one touch. The Ravens are playing for a playoff spot so they will have all hands on deck defensively.

Bernard has been getting the touches and we expect more of the same for Week 17. Start him as a high-end RB3 or flex in standard leagues and a low-end RB2 in PPR leagues as the Bengals try to play spoiler.

Friday, January 1, 2021 - 11:07am
CIN RB Giovani Bernard - Week 16 Fantasy Football Outlook

Week 16 at Houston
Giovani Bernard had a season-high 25 carries which were 10 more than any game this season, He rushed for 83 yards, which was also season-high, and a touchdown and also had one catch which produced another touchdown. It was his best fantasy outing of the season.

Bernard will face the Texans who are 31st in aFPA to running backs. We don't expect 25 carries again, but the running game was the focus for the offense so he should be a big part of the game plan again.

Start Bernard as a high-end RB3 or flex for Week 16. The Bengals still have major offensive problems, but the Texans have had issues stopping the run, and Bernard's volume should be enough to help your fantasy team.

Friday, December 25, 2020 - 10:30am
CIN RB Giovani Bernard - Week 15 Fantasy Football Outlook

Week 15 vs. Pittsburgh
After seven straight weeks of double-digit touches, Giovani Bernard only recorded six last Sunday for 11 total yards from scrimmage. The Bengals offense continues to struggle with QB Joe Burrow. We expect the touches to go back up this week for Bernard, but that probably won't help his numbers too much.

Bernard faces the Steelers who are ranked sixth in aFPA to running backs. Although Pittsburgh has lost two straight, they should get some key defenders back who missed the Buffalo game.

In the first meeting this season, Bernard had 12 touches for 47 total yards. Expect similar numbers this week which keeps him on your bench for Week 15 in all leagues and formats.

Friday, December 18, 2020 - 11:08am
CIN RB Giovani Bernard - Week 14 Fantasy Football Outlook

Week 14 vs. Dallas
Giovanni Bernard continues to post double-digit touches with RB Joe Mixon still out, but the fantasy results have been sketchy. He had 29 total yards from scrimmage last Sunday and hasn't scored a touchdown since November 1st. But a lot of this can be attributed to a shaky quarterback situation. The Bengals' offense is one of the league's worst without QB Joe Burrow.

The good news is Bernard has a great matchup against the Cowboys who are ranked 29th in aFPA to running backs, As long as he gets the touches, we expect Bernard to be able to contribute in Week 14.

Start Bernard as an RB2 on Sunday for all leagues and formats. The favorable matchup pushes him up the running back rankings this week.

Friday, December 11, 2020 - 2:14pm
CIN RB Giovani Bernard - Week 13 Fantasy Football Outlook

Week 13 at Miami
Giovani Bernard has been consistent with double-digit touches since RB Joe Mixon went down with an injury. However, the overall fantasy numbers have not been great. Now with QB Joe Burrow out for the season, the offense will struggle more.

Cincinnati faces the Dolphins who are 24th in aFPA to running backs. The matchup is favorable and Bernard will still get his touches. That's enough to rank him as a high-end RB3 or flex for Week 13. But don't expect much from the Bengals the rest of the season.

Friday, December 4, 2020 - 1:26pm

Pages