Is Joe Mixon Playing Tonight? Latest Injury Updates, Fantasy Analysis, and More

Joe Mixon of the Cincinnati Bengals has been included in the injury report this week due to a chest injury, causing concern among fantasy football managers who rely on him as a top running back for Week 9.

Mixon’s current status is listed as questionable for Sunday Night Football, pending his recovery from the chest injury.

Will Mixon be able to play against the Buffalo Bills tonight? And if he does, what are his prospects for fantasy football this week? Let’s catch up on the latest information about Mixon.

Editor’s Note: Joe Mixon is active and participating in the Bengals’ Week 9 Sunday Night Football game.

Will Joe Mixon Play in Week 9?

Early in the week, Mixon was added to the injury report with a chest injury. While he had limited participation in practice on Wednesday, he was able to fully practice on Thursday and Friday.

Based on this information, although there hasn’t been an official update on Mixon’s health at the time of writing, it is highly likely that he will be ready and able to play at full capacity against the Bills on Sunday Night Football.

Considering that fantasy managers are anticipating Mixon’s participation on Sunday night, what can they expect from him in terms of fantasy performance against the Bills?

What Is Mixon’s Fantasy Outlook for Tonight?

Mixon is currently ranked as the RB22 in fantasy football this season. However, prior to their bye week in Week 7, he, along with the rest of the Bengals’ offense, faced offensive struggles.

Last week, Mixon delivered his best performance of the season. He achieved 110 scrimmage yards and displayed explosive plays against the San Francisco 49ers. He also had a 76% snap participation rate and received all three RB touches within the 10-yard line.

This matchup against the Bills presents an opportunity for Mixon and the Bengals’ offense to take advantage. According to data from the FantasyPoints Data Suite and FantasyPros, the Bills are allowing 4.81 yards per carry to running backs, which ranks them as the third-worst team in the NFL in terms of yards per carry allowed to running backs for Week 9.

Moreover, Buffalo ranks last in terms of rushing yards after contact allowed, while Mixon currently ranks 10th among all running backs in yards after contact earned this season. This indicates a favorable mismatch on paper.

MORE: Fantasy Football RB Week 9 Trade Targets

The Bills are allowing 20.2 fantasy points per game to running backs, which ranks them 12th in the NFL. Therefore, Mixon has the opportunity to exploit this matchup and potentially have a standout performance. According to our PFN Consensus Rankings, Mixon is currently ranked as the RB14 for Week 9. However, I personally believe that his potential is even greater.

Fantasy managers could witness a potential RB1 performance from Mixon this week. If he performs well and the Bengals can maintain a lead against the Bills, Mixon could not only have his best week of the season but also be a game-changer for fantasy managers.

As a result, all fantasy managers should start Mixon with confidence this week, expecting him to shine in this unexpectedly favorable matchup.

I consider Mixon as one of my recommended buy-low targets for RBs in fantasy leagues as trade deadlines approach. Mixon’s performance is improving week by week, as is the Bengals’ overall performance. If he delivers a strong game against the Bills, the opportunity to acquire him at a lower value will decrease significantly.

I highly advise taking advantage of the current opportunity to acquire Mixon because there might not be another opportunity to get him if he performs as expected against Buffalo.

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