Jermaine

Burton

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.

It’s incredibly rare for players to suit up after getting hit with the doubtful tag, so fantasy managers should move forward as if Higgins won’t be active on Sunday. Ja’Marr Chase is questionable after missing much of the offseason program while holding out for a new contract. Even if Chase plays, it’s hard to know how much he will be on the feel given his lack of practice reps. Andrei Iosivas was already locked in as the No. 3 receiver and will now play an even larger role in the offense. Trenton Irwin and Charlie Jones will also see some reps while rookie Jermaine Burton appears to be buried on the depth.

Burton has shown a total lack of professionalism and seriousness during the offseason, according to Dehner. Andrei Iosivas, meanwhile, has impressed teammates and coaches alike and profiles as the clear No. 3 receiver behind Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. Joe Burrow has said Burton does not follow the team’s playbook and has hinted the rookie is unreliable as a pass catcher. The Bengals, per Dehner, “will hope [Burton] progresses and matures as the year progresses. Maybe he does. Maybe that opens opportunities. It sounds far more likely a redshirt year lies ahead than anything else for the intriguing rookie.”

Dehner writes that receivers Charlie Jones and Trenton Irwin could rotate in “at times” but says Iosivas has earned the role as the Bengals’ third receiver. He also says we shouldn’t expect rookie Jermaine Burton “to contribute anytime soon.” Iosivas was a lanky and speedy prospect out of Princeton who blazed a 4.43 at the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine. He caught just 15 passes for 116 yards and four touchdowns last season but saw a spot open up this offseason after the team opted not to re-sign Tyler Boyd. The target gap between Iosivas and Chase/Higgins will be a wide one. We wouldn’t expect much more than WR4/WR5 production from him in most weeks as long as the Bengals’ top target earners are healthy.

Burton made the strongest case for the Bengals’ No. 5 wide receiver role but is not a recommended re-draft dart throw at this time. He is best targeted in dynasty formats as a potential buy-low.

Burton was a third-round pick, 80th overall, out of the University of Alabama. He played in 26 games with 24 starts in two seasons with the Crimson Tide, hauling in 79 catches for 1,475 yards and 15 TDs. In 2023, he led the SEC and ranked sixth nationally in yards per reception at 20.5. Burton had previously spent two seasons at the University of Georgia and was coming off a modest 2021 season before transferring, posting 26 catches for 497 yards and five TDs on just 225 passing down snaps. The Bengals will hope he can help fill the void left by Tyler Boyd’s departure.

Burton (6’0/196) doesn’t have the kind of production profile we’ve become accustomed to seeing from recent Alabama receivers, but he’s proven to be explosive and accustomed to finding the end zone. Despite amassing more than 2,300 yards in his four-year career, Burton’s career-high in receiving yards (798) came in 2023, when he caught 39 balls for eight scores. He was targeted on 18.1 percent of his routes run during his career and has been treated primarily as a deep threat, as evidenced by his 16.8 career ADOT. A physical receiver who is capable of beating the press and hauling in contested targets (52.6 percent contested catch rate), Burton could earn early playing time on the right roster and with a solid offseason.

After leaving Georgia for Alabama this offseason, Burton (6'0"/200) goes from playing in an offense that was run-heavy to a spread approach with Heisman Trophy-winning QB Bryce Young. He was the Bulldogs leading wide receiver with just 497 yards last season, but that will see a massive shift playing for the Crimson Tide.

Earlier this offseason, other analysts suggested that Burton (6'0/200) would be Bama’s WR1 for 2022. Now, Saban has sung the praises of the transfer WR from Georgia as well. Last season with the Bulldogs, Burton went for 26-497-5 on just 225 passing down snaps. Burton will have a chance to see a lot of targets in 2022 with the Tide losing Jameson Williams, John Metchie III and Slade Bolden to the upcoming NFL Draft.