2017 wasn't a great year for Joe Mixon. He started his rookie season off behind Jeremy Hill, and just when it looked like he took control of the backfield injuries sidelined him. He finished last year splitting carries behind a sieve-like offensive line with Giovani Bernard, casting a shadow of doubt over his role for 2018.

In Week 1, Mixon established his dominance in that backfield in resounding fashion, out-touching Bernard 22 to 2, and catching the second-most passes (5!) on the team. Put simply, Mixon is as much of a workhorse as any back in the league. It doesn't hurt that he led the team in total yardage with 149 yards, topping the day off with a rushing touchdown as well.

That kind of running back opportunity dominance -- both on the ground and in the air -- is a boon for fantasy football. It means that even in tough matchups, like the ones he'll have in the next few weeks, he should be a reliable fantasy producer. If the Bengals are in neutral scripts, he should gobble up all of the carries, and if the team is behind he'll still be on the field because of his chops in the passing game.

Going forward, you should feel confident starting Joe Mixon on your fantasy teams as a true workhorse running back.