5 years agoCincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow has the pieces around him to reach a QB1 ceiling as a rookie, provided a combination of variables break right. An offensive line bolstered by the return of 2019 first-round draft pick Jonah Williams should go a long way toward shoring up one of the Bengals' most glaring weaknesses from a year ago. Protection is key for any quarterback, but it's especially important for a rookie familiarizing himself with the pace of the NFL game. In addition to an improved line, Burrow also rolls into his rookie year with a full metal jacket of offensive weapons. Tyler Boyd shined as a number-one wide receiver in 2019 despite everything working against him, A.J. Green is slated to return to the fold, and rookie Tee Higgins has a ton of potential as Cincinnati's third receiving option. Should things go awry on the WR depth chart, Auden Tate showed enough flashes in 2019 to be trusted with a more prominent role. Quarterback wasn't the only position maligned by poor protection up front last year either; Joe Mixon is a talented young running back who has spent the early years of his career in an unfavorable offensive environment. Whether it's Mixon or Giovani Bernard who operates as the Bengals' primary pass-catching back, Burrow will have a capable player to look to on short throws. With all of these things factored in, it's easy to become mesmerized by Burrow's upside. So it needs to be reinforced that upside is called upside for a reason. Burrow is, in fact, a rookie, and one facing the potential of a uniquely challenging preseason due to possible pandemic-related restrictions. It wouldn't be particularly shocking to see the Bengals take a few weeks to mesh on offense, considering the youth of some of their key players. In standard-sized one-QB leagues, the best approach to take with Burrow on draft day is to grab him as an early-season bench stash or streaming option. In two-QB or Superflex leagues, he's naturally a great target as a secondary quarterback.--Chris O'Reilly