Week 12 vs. New York Giants
The Bengals' offense was delivered a huge blow when rookie QB Joe Burrow was lost for the season. It will hurt all the fantasy standing of Cincy skill players including Giovani Bernard. Bernard will still continue to get touches as starting running back Joe Mixon is still out. The touches for Bernard should remain somewhere between 12 and 18 per game.
Bernard faces the Giants who are 27th in aFPA to running backs. With the favorable matchup, we expect good numbers for him based on volume alone.
Start Benard as a low-end RB2 in PPR leagues and an RB3 flex in standard leagues. Someone still has to get the touches in Cincinnati and Bernard is the best bet to continue with the value he has exhibited in recent weeks without Mixon.
Week 11 at Washington
Joe Mixon sat out again and might not play this week, so Giovani Bernard stays in the No. 1 running back spot for another week. He had 12 touches against Pittsburgh that produced 47 yards, however, his three-game touchdown streak was broken. Keep an eye on the injury list in case Mixon gets activated.
Bernard faces Washington who is ranked 16th in aFPA to running backs. Don't be fooled that Bernard's touches were cut by a third last week. The Bengals were playing from behind so he wasn't as involved.
Start Bernard as a solid RB2 for Week 11. We expect him to get back up to the 15-18 touch range and he has put up good numbers where he has had the touches. The Washington defense has been average this season so it is a good opportunity.
Week 10 at Pittsburgh
Giovani Bernard has had 18 touches in each of the last two weeks with RB Joe Mixon out with injury. The results have been good with about 88 total yards per game. Mixon could return this week and if he does, Bernard will be relegated to his backup role where he has minimal value.
The Steelers are the opponent and are ranked 12th in aFPA to running backs. If Mixon sits, Bernard moves to a low-end RB2 status and will get at least 15 touches. If Mixon comes back, Bernard should go on your bench for Week 10.
Week 8 vs. Tennessee
With Joe Mixon out, Giovani Bernard stepped in and earned 18 touches that produced 96 total yards from scrimmage and a receiving touchdown. Bernard is much stronger in the passing game than the running game so his value is much higher in PPR leagues. He had five catches last Sunday.
Bernard will face the Titans who are 24th in aFPA to running backs. The touches are key here as we expect Bernard to repeat his usage from last week and have 18 or more touches. He was on the field for 74% of the offensive snaps.
Start Bernard in standard leagues as a high-end RB2 and in PPR leagues as a low-end RB1. Cincinnati's offense is very capable of putting good numbers up any week and now Bernard is smack in the middle of the gameplan. He can help you if he is still available in your league.
Week 17 vs Cleveland
Giovani Bernard only had four touches last week although he did play on 57% of the snaps. It was the most snaps he played since Week 1 so it won't be a surprise to see him on the field for Week 17.
Even with a very favorable matchup against the Browns who are 28th in aFPA to running backs and playing more than 50% of the snaps, we don't expect significant fantasy numbers Keep Bernard on the bench.
Week 12 vs Pittsburgh
The good news for anyone who owns Giovani Bernard is he was on the field for more than 50% of the snaps last game, the first time he has eclipsed that mark since Week 6. The bad news is he still only got four touches,
Bernard faces the Steelers who are 6th in aFPA to running backs. He only had five touches back in Week 4 against the Steelers.
Bernard has very little fantasy value unless something happens to Joe Mixon so keep him on the waiver wire as you just won't get touches from him.
Week 11 at Oakland
Giovani Bernard has not had double-digit touches this season and not more than five since Week 2. Bernard is still playing on passing downs at times and has at least one reception in every game. But Joe Mixon is the workhorse and that means Bernard has very little fantasy value.
He will face the Raiders who are 17th in aFPA to running backs. Keep Bernard on the bench. He just doesn't get enough touches this season.
Week 10 vs Baltimore
The Bengals offense has struggled and now they will start a rookie quarterback. Giovani Bernard is only getting five or six touches per game so his value is very low. At this point, he shouldn't even be on your roster.
Week 8 at Los Angeles Rams
Giovani Bernard has had 27 carries for 49 yards. That's not a very good average - less than two yards per carry. So, you can see why he has struggled along with the Bengals offense.
It won't get any easier this week as Bernard against a good Rams run defense. Bernard is probably not even worth having on your roster anymore. Even with the minimal touches he is getting, the results have been bad.
Week 7 vs Jacksonville
The Bengals offense hasn't been very good and that has carried over to the running backs. Giovani Bernard is not getting many touches. He has only been averaging about five per game so that means no results either.
Even with a favorable matchup this Sunday against Jacksonville, Bernard doesn't rank high enough to be in your starting lineup. Keep him on the bench for Week 7.
