What You Need to Know:

-In 2020, Boyd was on a WR10 pace through 10 games with Joe Burrow. He was on pace for nearly 140 targets.

-The WR hit 20 PPR points in 4 of 10 Burrow games. He was held under 10 PPR points only twice.

-Boyd continued to be used as a primary slot target on short-range passes (8.8-yard average depth of target).

-Boyd played 5 games without Burrow, posting lines of 3-15, 1-71-1, 5-43, 0-0 and 1-1. Boyd left the 0-0 game early with a concussion. He was ejected from the 1-71-1 game.

-The rough end to the season found Boyd finish as the WR38 in PPR game (15 games).

-Burrow, of course, went down with a serious knee injury in late November. The good news is he’s expected to suit up for Week 1.

-The Bengals added a potential instant WR1 in 5th overall pick Ja’Marr Chase. Chase opted out of the ’20 season but posted a huge ’19 alongside Burrow (84-1,780-20).

-Tee Higgins returns after a strong rookie year (108-67-908-6). His 6.7 targets per game approached Boyd’s figure of 7.3.

-Fortunately for Boyd, the Bengals remain without a pass-catching TE. The same coaching staff (HC Zac Taylor and OC Brian Callahan) return after leading the league 3-WR sets (76%).

-Boyd can offset any volume concerns by remaining highly efficiency alongside Burrow. The pair combined for a 79% catch rate last fall.

Draft Sharks Bottom Line

Only 26, Boyd has delivered as an undervalued fantasy asset for 3 straight seasons. He reached 1,000 yards in 2018 and 2019 and would have hit that threshold if not for Joe Burrow’s season-ending injury.

Burrow holds the key to Boyd returning reliable WR3 value in 2021. And as of early summer, the young QB is fully expected to suit up come Week 1. We’re buying pieces of an ascending Bengals offense, and Boyd is no exception.