Mixon was one of the top running backs in the country coming out of high school. However, he suffered from domestic violence issues.
The Bengals took a chance on him, and the team believes he has the potential to be a great player. That’s why he was drafted in the second round of the 2017 draft.
He’s a versatile back.
Mixon is an excellent example of a back that can play multiple positions. While he does have some limitations as a runner, his versatility as a pass catcher and blocker is impressive.
The Oklahoma running back has a lot of potential to be a very good all-purpose player in the NFL. In addition to being a very strong and explosive runner, he is also an excellent receiver who shows above average hand-eye coordination to secure the ball without losing speed.
In college, Mixon started just five games at running back, but he managed to rush for a career-high 1,274 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2016 despite missing three games due to injury. He also completed 37 receptions for 538 receiving yards and even managed to return one kickoff for a touchdown.
This was a huge plus for Mixon, who was considered a top-five running back in the 2017 NFL Draft. At six feet, one inch and 220 pounds, he is a little bigger than most backs in the league but has plenty of strength and balance to absorb hits and keep his feet moving.
While he doesn’t have the highest of grades as a pass catcher, Mixon can still create separation and be a very dangerous weapon when he is on the field. He has great hands and can make defenders miss or lose their grip on the ball.
He is a very efficient pass catcher who can run a variety of routes, including short- and long-yardage options. He can use his speed to move around the corner and gain separation on defenders.
If he can develop a strong leg kick, Mixon could also have the potential to be a solid return man. He is also an excellent blitzer who can force a defender to re-position and get to the ball quickly.
While he hasn’t been quite the bell-cow back that many expected when he was selected in the second round of the 2017 NFL Draft, Mixon has shown enough to warrant some consideration as a starter for the Cincinnati Bengals. It will take a few more good camps for him to challenge Giovani Bernard and Jeremy Hill as the Bengals’ starting backs, but Mixon has some serious potential to be a very valuable asset on offense.
He’s a pass catcher.
Having a good pass catcher is a necessity for every team. It helps to have a player that can run routes just like a receiver, and also create mismatches with defenders due to their elusiveness. However, finding a transcendent talent is very rare.
Joe Mixon is a versatile running back who has been able to excel in both the run and pass game. He was a second-round pick in the 2017 NFL draft, and he had a strong first season with the Bengals, leading the league in rushing yards. He came back for a much stronger second season, and was named AFC Offensive Player of the Week in Week 12 as he finished with 114 rushing yards against Cleveland and a touchdown.
In the 2021 season, Mixon ran for a career-high 1,205 yards and 13 touchdowns. He also had 42 receptions for 314 receiving yards, and he was named to the Pro Bowl.
The Cincinnati Bengals have been a big fan of Mixon since they selected him in the second round of the 2017 draft. They have given him a four-year contract worth $48 million.
Despite his controversial past, he has proven himself to be an excellent football player and has earned the trust of the organization. He has also earned a reputation for being a hard worker and a good leader on and off the field.
While he has never been convicted of any crimes, he has had a few minor issues in his career. He punched an OU student in the face in 2014, and he was suspended for one game by Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops in 2016 after he ripped up a parking ticket and threw it at a campus parking attendant.
In the future, he will likely need to improve on his sack totals and fumble recoveries, but overall, Mixon is a very solid player who can be counted on for his ability to run and catch the ball. His catches and rushing yards have both improved each year, and his ability to create separation from defenders makes him a top option for fantasy owners.
He’s a good blocker.
Despite his impressive skills as a receiver, Joe Mixon also has an impressive ability to block. That may be the biggest reason why the Bengals selected him in the second round of the 2017 draft.
It is rare for rookie running backs to be tasked with pass protection because of how difficult it can be. However, with Bernard potentially out in the first few weeks of the season, and Hill being a poor pass-blocker, there is a good chance Mixon will have to do it for some time.
In college at Oklahoma, Mixon split the responsibility for pass-blocking snaps with Samaje Perine, and he did an excellent job of it, too. In fact, he was even named to the All-Big 12 team for his blocking.
While he didn’t have much experience as a runner before the Bengals picked him up, he has worked on his running game over the last few years and is a strong candidate to take over the starting job for the team. His rushing numbers have been very impressive over his first five seasons in the NFL, and his body of work is proof that he’s a good fit for Cincinnati’s offense.
One of my favorite examples of Mixon’s ability to block comes on a run-pass-option play in the Week 2 game against Cleveland. This is a great example of how he can be a pocket protector, and I love the way he squares up the Texas Tech force player in front of him to make him give up the ball.
This was a fantastic rep from Mixon, who made the blitzer put his hands up and then came off his block, allowing Mayfield to get into his stance and look for an open man down the sideline. It’s not the most perfect process, but it shows how he can get into his stance quickly and square up the blitzer to prevent him from getting in his crease.
This is a rep of his that will likely be overlooked because he hasn’t had the ball in his hands, but it’s an excellent example of how he can get into his stance and squaring up the defender to keep him from being able to make a play. It’s a little hard to tell exactly how much power was coming off the blocks, but the result looks good and the process is pretty solid.
He’s a good receiver.
A talented, versatile running back with a strong receiving ability, Joe Mixon has a high ceiling for the NFL. His burst, acceleration and good balance allow him to run the ball well in the open field and to create separation when aligned as a receiver.
He is also a natural pass catcher who can get open with his soft hands and use his speed to make difficult catches. He is an ideal mismatch weapon for the Bengals’ passing game and will be a vital part of their offense in 2022.
His speed allows him to gain a lot of yardage in the short area, and his vision and natural power give him the ability to re-accelerate in confined space. He also has the patience and vision to read gap fluidity and defensive flow.
Mixon is a natural route runner who can line up in the slot and be a good outlet receiver in the passing game. He has great hands and is a very elusive runner, but he will need to improve on his blocking ability in order to thrive as an NFL running back.
The Bengals haven’t used Mixon much in the passing game, but they will eventually start to utilize him more. He’s averaging a little more than 15 carries per game this season and has eight games with at least 100 yards from scrimmage. He has 20-TD upside and is a surefire first-round pick in fantasy football drafts.
