Joe Mixon’s Week 5 status is currently up in the air, but either way, fantasy owners will need to add his clear back-up, Samaje Perine, as a potential streamer off the Week 5 waiver wire. Bengals coach Zac Taylor described Mixon as “day-to-day” with an ankle sprain and added he is one of the few injured players on the team that’s “trending in the right direction” for Sunday’s tilt against the Packers.
Taylor said Mixon will likely be limited during the week to heal his ankle.
“I know he wants to play and will do everything he can to put himself in that position,” Taylor said.
On the contrary, Adam Schefter reported Mixon is “week-to-week,” which sounds like he will miss this week’s game. On the bright side, this injury is separate from the foot injury that cost the running back the final 10 games of last season.
Bengals’ RB Joe Mixon was diagnosed with a low-grade ankle sprain that will leave him week to week, per source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 4, 2021
When Gio Bernard packed his bags for sunnier pastures in Tampa Bay, Perine found himself as the team’s RB2. The journeyman is on his third team in the last four seasons but got some burn for the Bengals last year during Mixon’s absence.
Perine’s 2020 highlight came against the Texans when he rushed for 95 yards and two touchdowns on 14 carries and added four receptions for another 41 yards. The former Oklahoma Sooner has only 28 yards on nine carries this season.
If Mixon misses this week, Joe Burrow would have to lean on Perine, rookie pass-catcher Chris Evans, and Trayveon Williams. Evans has some PPR upside due to his silky mitts but only has three grabs on the season.
Although Mixon has seen obscene usage, don’t expect plodder Perine to see a similar number of touches. Burrow already has a stacked receiver core and he’ll throw the rock at an even higher clip without his bell-cow behind him.
Joe Burrow's career neutral pass rate:
With Joe Mixon (52%)
Without Mixon (67%)
59% last week with Mixon leaving early.— Hayden Winks (@HaydenWinks) October 5, 2021
Still, a starting running back on an ascending fantasy offense is a valuable commodity and Perine should be added off the Week 5 waiver wire — especially given Mixon’s injury history.
Check back on Wednesday for The Wolf’s Week 3 Fantasy Football Rankings to see where the Bengals’ backfield stacks up across the league.
