The Facts: Mixon hasn't wasted any time impressing his coaches. His high-end acceleration and size/speed ratio have stood out, as has his work to improve in pass protection, which is often what keeps rookie backs off the field. Asked how he looks, one Cincinnati staffer answered: "Like a beast."

Diehards Line: The Bengals took a lot of criticism for selecting Mixon, whose draft status plummeted due to character concerns. Go ahead and assume they didn't decide to take that heat without good reason. In fact, Mixon will likely see a heavy dose of playing time right away and he's not doing anything to change that perception. Gio Bernard and Jeremy Hill probably give Mixon and the Bengals at least a season to find the answer about the newcomer's ability to carry the entire load, but Mixon might not need it.