The Deep State series continues with an examination of fantasy football studs and duds in each NFL division to help you better prepare for your 2019 fantasy football season. The formula? A proprietary blend of statistics, trends, player tendencies, and three decades of fantasy knowledge.
Last week we revealed studs and duds from the NFC East. Next up in the series, the AFC North.
Cincinnati Bengals
Stud: Tyler Boyd, wide receiver
There are several factors here that make Boyd a great mid-draft value in 2019 fantasy football drafts. The first is his breakout campaign last season where he caught 76 balls for 1,028 yards and 7 touchdowns. Keep in mind, Boyd did this with fellow receiver A.J. Green missing seven games and quarterback Andy Dalton missing five. Another factor is that both Green and Dalton are healthy again. Lastly, head coach Zac Taylor’s offense prioritizes the slot receiver, where Boyd spends most of his time. He’s a solid WR2 with upside.
Dud: Tyler Eifert, tight end
Eifert is one of those tantalizing names that seems to hover over every fantasy draft. He had an amazing run in a 12-start campaign in 2015 when he caught 13 TD passes. Unfortunately, injuries have robbed Eifert of any fantasy football value. Since 2016, Eifert has started just four games with 619 yards receiving and six touchdown receptions. Coach Taylor plans on using him exclusively as a receiving tight end to minimize the potential for injury, but buyer beware. Eifert’s track record is terrible and you should let another owner waste a late-round pick on the once-promising fantasy TE.
NEXT: BALTIMORE RAVENS