Fansided

Each NFL team’s biggest breakout candidate

By Conor Dorney

Mandatory Credit: Justin Edmonds/Getty Images
Mandatory Credit: Justin Edmonds/Getty Images /
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CINCINNATI, OH – SEPTEMBER 14: John Ross #15 of the Cincinnati Bengals runs the football upfield against Kevin Johnson #30 of the Houston Texans during their game at Paul Brown Stadium on September 14, 2017 in Cincinnati, Ohio.The Texans defeated the Bengals 13-9. (Photo by John Grieshop/Getty Images)
CINCINNATI, OH – SEPTEMBER 14: John Ross #15 of the Cincinnati Bengals runs the football upfield against Kevin Johnson #30 of the Houston Texans during their game at Paul Brown Stadium on September 14, 2017 in Cincinnati, Ohio.The Texans defeated the Bengals 13-9. (Photo by John Grieshop/Getty Images) /

Cincinnati Bengals – John Ross

Things couldn’t get much worse for John Ross, the ninth overall selection in the 2017 Draft, who failed to a record a single catch in his rookie season with the Bengals. The team, however, is hoping that a new year and revamped offensive front could help to spur some offensive development for Cincinnati heading into this season.

There’s no doubting Ross’ speed and quickness (just watch his record-breaking 40-yard dash at last year’s NFL Combine), but he has yet to turn that elite speed into production at the NFL level. One reason for optimism, however, is the news that Ross has been working with former Bengals star receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh to prepare for the upcoming season. And according to Houshmandzadeh, those preparations are going well:

"He has no doubts Ross can be a big-time player. “If he’s working with me, bet your house on him,” says Houshmandzadeh, straight out of that 2001 odyssey of the mind that was good for 627 NFL catches."

As Houshmandzadeh points out, the mental aspect of the NFL game can be one of the hardest things for rookies to adjust to and a new grasp on that side of the game could allow Ross to flourish in 2018 and beyond.

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