Bengals receiving corps ranked in the league’s top 5

The Cincinnati Bengals have an elite receiving core. Give me a minute while I go repeat that to myself a few more times.

According to SB Nation, the Bengals have the league’s fifth-best receiving core. Led by A.J. Green, Tyler Boyd and John Ross, the Bengals were only outdone by the Falcons, Browns, Rams and Vikings who were ranked 1-4 in that respective order.

That said, for Cincinnati, fans and analysts all know what Green and Boyd are capable of, but per columnist Christian D’Andrea, it’ll be Ross who takes this group to the next level.

“The X-factor is Ross, the former top-10 pick whose NFL career to date spans 16 games and 21 receptions. He wound up on the trading block this offseason but failed to generate enough interest for Cincinnati to swing a deal. If he stays on the roster, he could see a little extra attention this fall as the Bengals attempt to pump up his stock price.”

The big-play duo will draw an intense amount of attention from defenses. That’s where Ross can step in and excel, being oftentimes left in single coverage. His speed is his best attribute, running a record-breaking, combine-best 4.22 40-yard dash just a few years ago.

While Ross’ development will be a huge concern for the Bengals, health will also be of utmost importance. For Green, he’s missed 13 games in the last three seasons after missing a total of just four games throughout the first five years of his career.

A key component to the Bengals’ success, the health of Green will be pivotal for both him personally, as he’s due for a new contract at the year’s end, and for Tyler Boyd, who was significantly more efficient with Green on the field last season.

As of now, this core is just three deep, but expect a few other competitors to be brought in to dethrone Cody Core for that fourth spot.

Overall, SB Nation was absolutely right. The Bengals do have a top-five receiving core!