Jermaine

Burton

Brutal but not surprising. Burton was drafted No. 80 overall by the Bengals last season as a high-risk, high-reward dart throw. The talented rookie out of Alabama caught just four passes for 107 scoreless yards in 2024 and was held out of the team’s season-finale against the Steelers due to a coach’s decision. He was already considered to be on the roster bubble before this quote from Tobin, which came at the Senior Bowl, but this seems to add another layer to his uncertain future with the organization. Tobin went on to point out that the Bengals knew they “were taking a risk” when they drafted Burton and added that they thought they “could help him through some of the challenges he’s had in the past” but also said Burton is “going to have to start doing something quickly.”

On top of a win of their own, the Bengals need the Carson Wentz-led Chiefs to beat the Broncos and Miami to lose versus the Jets this week to make the playoffs. Barring a miracle, Burtons appears to be going out with a whimper as a rookie. The head case receiver went for 107 yards on four receptions this year. Week 18 marks the third time the team has left him off the gameday roster. Burton had known red flags on his profile coming out of Alabama, but the Bengals overlooked them and selected him in the third round. The upside shot has not paid off and it’s now fair to wonder if Burton will even make the roster in 2025.

Back from a one-game, team-imposed suspension, Burton did not cover himself in glory, failing to run out a potential long reception in the first half. His role mostly amounted to cardio. It’s not a performance that’s going to have the Bengals telling Tee Higgins to take all the time he needs to get healthy. Burton will be off the fantasy radar in Week 11 against the Chargers.

Apparently a big part of the Bengals’ Week 9, Tee Higgins-less game plan, Burton was scratched after missing Saturday’s walk-through. A massive blunder, but one the Bengals are apparently willing to forgive with Higgins still sidelined vs. the Ravens’ awful pass defense. Third-round rookie Burton is probably worth a WR5 dart throw in this plus matchup.

Burton has had a rocky start to his career. Despite being taken 80th overall, the Bengals have now made him a healthy scratch twice. He has two catches for 88 yards this year. Both Joe Burrow and head coach Zac Taylor had encouraging words on the rookie earlier this week and he was expected to be more involved with Tee Higgins out once again. The Bengals had to scrap those plans after he no-showed Saturday’s practice. Andrei Iosivas will remain the team’s No. 2 receiver for their Week 9 matchup with the Raiders.

Higgins will be inactive for the second straight game due to a quad injury. He has not practiced in over a week and will now miss Week 9 against the Raiders. Andrei Iosivas is the primary beneficiary of Higgins’ absence with Charlie Jones (groin) out and Jermaine Burton a surprising healthy scratch. Iosivas has some FLEX upside, though expect the Bengals offense to primarily run through Ja’Marr Chase, Mike Gesicki, and Chase Brown. The Bengals have a quick turnaround to a Thursday game in Week 10, so Higgins will possibly miss that game as well. Burton, meanwhile, seems to be out of favor with Bengals coaches, receiving a healthy scratch with both Higgins and Jones out.

Burton has been rotating in and out of the wide receiver rotation with Trenton Irwin, but both were active this week with Tee Higgins (quad) out. Burton was targeted three times, catching 41-yard long ball along the sideline for his only catch. He notably also had an endzone target that was broken up. Meanwhile, Irwin caught his sole target for four yards. Neither player is fantasy relevant for next week.

Burton was active the first five weeks of the season but will sit this one out as the Bengals take on the Giants on Sunday Night Football. The 1-4 Bengals desperately need a win on the road to salvage a season already slipping through their grasps.

Burton found space on the sideline on a busted coverage for a 47-yard connection. The former Alabama wideout has just hauled in that one catch thus far, but could be more involved as the season progresses. For now, he remains just a dynasty lottery ticket and shouldn’t be in lineups for Week 3 against the Commanders.

Taylor was responding to a question about Burton seeing more snaps if Tee Higgins (hamstring) remains out. In that context, Taylor’s response is more of a polite non-answer than a compliment. The third-round rookie had a quiet offseason and ran just one route in Week 1. The Bengals will continue to roll with Trenton Irwin as their WR3 until Higgins returns.