This article is part of our NFL Observations series.
What a wonderful backdoor cover, with fourth-down conversions, to boot. No game goes perfectly, but when you can get off to an undeserved 1-0 ATS and have Nick Chubb and Odell Beckham deliver for your fantasy teams, I consider it a win.
- Baker Mayfield was sharp most of the game, but he had so much more time to throw than Joe Burrow. He also threw a senseless pick with the game largely in hand (which made the backdoor cover possible) and took a bad intentional grounding penalty. He's okay, but probably not good enough to overcome the frequent mental lapses. Think Jameis Winston.
- Nick Chubb (22-124-2, one catch for nine yards) is a bulldozer, as good a power runner as anyone in the league. But Kareem Hunt (10-86-1, 2-2-15-1), also scored twice and looked awfully smooth doing so. This split is here for good.
- Odell Beckham (6-4-74-1) led the receivers and should have drawn a long PI with the defender holding onto his jersey. He looks healthy again and should have huge games when the game flow is more favorable. Jarvis Landry (3-3-46) was a minor factor in a run-heavy game.
- I sat Joe Burrow for Carson Wentz against the advice of Jeff Erickson, and chances are I'll regret it. Burrow threw for 316 yards and three touchdowns, while running for 19 more. He looked poised and moved well, but his accuracy was hit and miss, his efficiency poor, and he was usually under pressure and had to get rid of the ball too quickly.
- Joe Mixon ran hard and broke tackles, but the blocking wasn't there. He caught some passes early, but for some reason, the team went away from it in the second half. Gio Bernard had six targets (five catches, one drop), while Mixon went 4-4-40 as a receiver.
- A.J. Green looks off to me. He got a whopping 13 targets, a couple of which were in the end zone, but hauled in only three catches for 29 yards. Part of it was Burrow having to rush off-target throws, but Green doesn't seem to have the spring or burst from earlier in his career. The opportunity stats look good, but I'm selling if someone is buying.
- Tyler Boyd (8-7-72-1) is the one Bengal I trust. He'll get his catches and targets, even if Burrow is hurried all year.
- Can't believe I clicked on the wrong Mike Thomas with the fifth overall pick in BCL1.
