Fantasy Football: What Cincinnati Bengals running back should you draft?

As the NFL preseason comes to an end, fantasy football begins.

While many of us can’t help but to sign up for a team or two and have a draft prior to the conclusion of the NFL preseason, it’s best to wait until you know your star player wont be injured and you know who has won a positional battle.

Speaking of positional battles, we have the Cincinnati Bengals running back situation.

On the surface, it’s not much of a ‘battle’ at all as BenJarvus Green-Ellis is the Bengals starting running back. However, that doesn’t mean he’s the Bengals running back to own.

After the Bengals finished their preseason last night, rookie running back Giovani Bernard drove home his third touchdown, all of which were from a yard out. It’s a clear sign that the Bengals are comfortable with Bernard as the goal line back and he’s going to vulture a handful of scores from Green-Ellis in those scenarios.

Now, Law Firm did end the 2012 season on a strong note but his first eight games were nothing short of terrible. The Bengals didn’t have any options though, so they had to ride out that storm. That won’t be the case in 2013 if Green-Ellis doesn’t spring to life early in the year.

Ellis isn’t much of a yard monster and it’s likely you’ll see Bernard getting a handful of touches per game, especially in the red zone.

I’m not overly high on any considering the potential splitting of carries, but if I had to take one, I’m taking Bernard thanks to what should be goal line carries.