Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
BenJarvus Green-Ellis has been a fairly productive player for fantasy football owners over the last four years, and his second season with the Cincinnati Bengals in 2013 was no different (756 rushing yards, seven touchdowns) even with the emergence of Giovani Bernard. Bernard is in line for a much bigger role this year, but “The Law Firm” can still be roster-worthy in fantasy leagues.
Positives
Green-Ellis led the Bengals in carries last year with 220, and even with a likely reversal in workload he could maintain a goal line role this year (29 red zone carries in 2013; 53.7 percent of the team’s total).
Green-Ellis will turn 29 in early July, but he has just over 1,000 career carries and less than 1,100 career touches. So he should still have something left, without the wear and tear most other running backs his age have.
The Bengals may run the ball a lot more this year under new offensive coordinator Hue Jackson, which means there should be enough carries available to make multiple running backs fantasy-worthy.
Negatives
The drafting of Jeremy Hill in May led to Green-Ellis being demoted during offseason work, and there is speculation his roster spot is in jeopardy. Green-Ellis’s career-high for receptions is 22 in 2012, so he won’t suddenly become a prolific pass catcher for the Bengals or another team.
Green-Ellis averaged a career-low 3.4 yards per carry last year, which continued a downward trend and brings the possibility of further decline as he enters his age-29 season.
Final Verdict
If Green-Ellis is cut between now and Week 1 he should have no trouble finding a new team, and at that point his fantasy outlook for this year would need to be revised. But for now let’s tentatively assume he stays with the Bengals, which makes him undraftable outside of very deep leagues and waiver wire material until an injury to Bernard or Hill changes things.
Bye Week: Week 4
Projected Round: 13th Round
Auction Value: $2 (Fantasy Pros.com)
Brad Berreman is a Senior Writer at Rant Sports.com. Follow him on Twitter or connect on Google +.
