5 bold predictions for the Cincinnati Bengals in 2018

2. Joe Mixon will rush for over 1,000 yards

No matter what you think about Mixon’s off the field issues, his talent on the field is very obvious. If he can keep things on the straight and narrow, there’s no reason he can’t become a Pro Bowl running back at some point during his career.

He may not get all the way to Pro Bowl status in 2018 but count on him to emerge as the Bengals primary tailback. Giovanni Bernard is still going to get a healthy amount of carries, but Mixon’s versatility makes him a better weapon for this offense. The only reason he might not get to the 1,000-yard mark on the ground is if the Bengals use him too often as a pass receiver.

If he’s going to have that kind of season, Mixon will need to improve on his 3.5 yards per carry average from his rookie season. He can do that by learning to take the easy yards. You have to admire his desire to turn every carry into a touchdown, but he must learn how to grind out five-yard carries when that’s all the defense is willing to give up.

You can be sure the Bengals will do everything in their power to get the ground game humming this season. That’s the only way Andy Dalton is going to get back to being an above average NFL starting quarterback. That is going to equal a ton of opportunities for Mixon. Look for him to make the most of his increased workload.