4 Players to Stash in Fantasy Football From the AFC North
Cody Core, WR, Cincinnati Bengals
The Player
Cody Core is used to being overlooked. That can happen when you play as the wingman to a hyped recruit like Laquon Treadwell. He was second in receiving for Ole Miss the past two years behind Treadwell and never quite had the opportunity to demonstrate his physical ability at the position.
At the NFL Combine he stood out, not only for his 6'3", 205-pound frame, but for his athletic profile:
| Name | Hght | Wght | 40 yd | Bnch | Vert | Broad | 3Cone |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DeVante Parker | 6' 3" | 209 | 4.45 | 17 | 36½" | 125" | |
| Cody Core | 6' 3" | 205 | 4.47 | 14 | 37½" | 119" | 6.75 |
| Marvin Jones | 6' 2" | 199 | 4.46 | 22 | 33" | 112" | 6.81 |
| Sidney Rice | 6' 4" | 200 | 4.51 | 39½" | 119" | 7.09 | |
| Terrance Williams | 6' 2" | 208 | 4.52 | 11 | 32½" | 119" | 7.01 |
He actually profiles almost identically to the player he is attempting to replace in Marvin Jones. With second-round pick Tyler Boyd slated to work in the slot role that Mohamed Sanu vacated, there is certainly a need for someone to be a deep threat and outside receiver alongside A.J. Green.
This summer, Core has made plays that has earned him valuable reps in the preseason, and he has made the most of his opportunities with three catches in each of his first two games. While still a raw player coming out of Ole Miss, Core has the traits and athleticism to be coached into a valuable role in this offense.
The Opportunity
With Jones and Sanu no longer in Cincinnati, 152 targets have been vacated from the Bengals' 2015 offense. And the number would likely be higher than that had Andy Dalton not missed three games due to injury. Given that Tyler Eifert (and his 74 targets) is also likely to miss at least the first several games of the season as he recovers from ankle surgery, there is clearly an opportunity for young targets to emerge in this passing attack.
Tyler Boyd has impressed in the preseason, demonstrating the ability to make contested catches and work in the middle of the field and outside the hashes, but the team is still looking for someone to replace Jones as an outside threat opposite Green. Core certainly can push for that role with a strong finish to his preseason and also could see an immense increase in value if something were to happen to the Bengals' star receiver.
Given that the main competition for targets would be journeyman Brandon Tate, if Core can continue to make plays this summer in practice and in the games, don't be surprised to see him given an opportunity in the rotation on Sundays. While certainly a candidate for the practice squad as a sixth-round pick, Core certainly has turned heads during training camp.
He is a player worth monitoring as the Bengals continue to look for players to emerge in this passing attack.
