A year ago, Cincinnati Bengals running back Joe Mixon ended up leading the AFC in rushing. He did so quietly during a lost season for the team that signaled the end of the Marvin Lewis era — so quietly he didn’t get a ton of recognition for doing so and missed out on NFL Network’s Top 100 players list, which is rather surprising for a guy who led an entire conference in a major category.
Oddsmakers aren’t omitting Mixon, though, when it comes to the NFL rushing leader category next season. In fact, he’s tied for third, behind Ezekiel Elliott and Saquon Barkley in the odds at BetOnline.ag, via The Athletic’s Jon Machota.
It’s hard to say whether Mixon will be in the mix or not thanks to new head coach Zac Taylor. The offense figures to feature plenty of the run, though how those carries will be divvied up among two or three talented backs on the depth chart is unclear.
But based on the situation Mixon excelled in last year and the fact A.J. Green is already hurt, the Bengals’ rising star in the backfield certainly doesn’t seem like a bad play at this sort of line.
