Week 16 at Miami
It has been back-to-back monster games for Joe Mixon with 54 touches and 342 total yards, including back-to-back 100+ rushing yard games. This is what we expected at the beginning of the season and you have to wonder why Mixon hasn't put those types of numbers up on a weekly basis.
Mixon will face the Dolphins who are 26th in aFPA to running backs. With the numbers he has been putting up and a highly favorable matchup, Mixon is a great play on Sunday.
Start Mixon in all leagues and formats as a top-five fantasy running back. He should be over 100 yards again as long as the Bengals keep getting him the ball.
Week 15 vs New England
Joe Mixon had his best game of the season as he ended up with 26 touches for 186 total yards from scrimmage. This is what most people envisioned Mixon being when they drafted him. But the Bengals struggling offense is the main reason he only recorded his second 100+ yard rushing game of the season.
Mixon has a really tough matchup against the Patriots who are ranked 7th in aFPA to running backs. As long as he gets 20 touches, he has good value for Week 15. Start him as a solid RB2 in all leagues and formats.
Week 14 at Cleveland
Joe Mixon had 23 touches last week in the Bengals first win, but it only produced 70 total yards. He did score a touchdown to help us fantasy day, but the real good news is the touches. They gave Mixon the ball and won. Owners hope that the Bengals realize the two are related.
Mixon faces the Browns who are 15th in aFPA to running backs. In the two meetings last season against Cleveland, Mixon rushed for 157 yards. so expect similar numbers in this game.
Start Mixon as a solid RB2 for Week 14 and hope he continues to get the 20+ touches each game.
Week 13 vs New York Jets
Joe Mixon had 18 carries for 79 yards last week and continues to be the best offensive option for the Bengals. He still isn't getting enough touches so we will see Cincy realizes that down the stretch.
Mixon faces the Jets who are 12th in aFPA to running backs. Expect Mixon to get between 15-20 touches this week and put up decent numbers.
Start him as an RB2 for Week 13 as the return of Andy Dalton at quarterback might actually help him.
Week 12 vs Pittsburgh
Joe Mixon had been getting touches, at least 20 the previous two weeks until last week when it dropped to 16. That's still a good number, but considering he is their best source of offense productivity, you would think the Bengals would want to get over that 20 touch mark every week.
Mixon will face the Steelers this week who are sixth in aFPA to running backs. He had 19 touches for 63 yards in the first meeting between the teams earlier this season.
We expect him to be back around 20 but the matchup will keep his ranking to an RB2 for Week 12. Mixon will have probably have similar numbers as he did the first time the teams played.
Week 11 at Oakland
Despite the blowout loss, the Bengals did turn to Joe Mixon who ended up with 30 carries for 114 yards and 151 total yards. Even with a winless team, Mixon does put up good numbers when he gets the ball. He had 21 touches the previous week which makes season-high touches back-to-back weeks.
Mixon will face the Raiders who are 17th in aFPA to running backs. Oakland has been better against the run than the pass, but we expect the Raiders to focus on Mixon.
But we have seen the touches the last two weeks and that's enough to believe the Bengals figured it out to get the ball to their best offensive player. Start Mixon in all leagues and formats as a high-end RB2 for Week 11.
Week 10 vs Baltimore
Joe Mixon has been limited at times because of an ineffective offense and a team that finds itself behind a lot this season. His touches before the bye week were up and down, but mostly down. He did not eclipse the 100-yard mark in rushing or even total yards from scrimmage. With a rookie quarterback starting this week, you would think Mixon will be asked to carry the load.
The Ravens are 17th in aFPA to running backs, so if Mixon gets the ball he can have some success, Start him as an RB3 or flex for Week 10 in all formats. The Bengals will be conservative but that should be good for Mixon and the running game.
Week 8 at Los Angeles Rams
Joe Mixon is being held back by a poor Bengals offense. He has 18 carries for 12 yards over the last two weeks plus only three receptions for 31 yards. In short, Cincinnati is not getting their best player the ball enough. The ironic part is they have lost the last three games by a combined 19 points so they have been in games.
Mixon will face the Rams who are seventh in aFPA to running backs. The numbers have been really bad the last two weeks and it seems the Bengals aren't trying to get Mixon more involved at this point.
With a touch matchup on the road and an impotent offense, Mixon is only ranked an RB3 or flex for Week 8. We need to see Mixon get back to 20 touches a game.
Week 7 vs Jacksonville
Joe Mixon had his worst game since Week 1, rushing for only 10 yards. He did manage 29 receiving yards, but the most alarming part of last week was Mixon only getting 10 touches. Mixon had 20 touches in the previous game.
The Bengals will face the Jags who are 22nd in aFPA to running backs. Cincinnati needs to find a way to get Mixon the ball more. We know Mixon has the potential, but the Bengals offense might be holding him back even more.
Start Mixon for Week 7 as a low-end RB2 against Jacksonville. Even with a favorable matchup, there are still concerns about his usage.
Week 6 at Baltimore
Joe Mixon had his best game of the season last week with a season-high 20 touches and 109 yards from scrimmage. With him healthy, we should expect similar touches every week as the Bengals want to showcase him as a featured back.
Mixon has had mixed results against division rival Baltimore. He rushed for 84 yards in the first meeting last season but only 14 yards in the second meeting. The Ravens are 28th in aFPA to running backs.
For Week 6, Mixon ranks an RB2. He should get the carries against Baltimore , but we don't expect a big day.
