Even though he rushed for the most yards by a Bengal in a decade and gave the club its first AFC rushing championship ever, that wasn't Joe Mixon's favorite stat from 2018.

That would be fumbles.

As in none. Zero. 0.0. Or as the late, great Cincinnati Enquirer sports writer Tom Groeschen would say, "Oh point oh."

"My favorite stat," he said Monday, still wondering how a web site gave him what he saw as a 91 percent grade for that category despite oh point oh fumbles on 280 touches. (The Giants' Saquon Barkley also had none on his 352 touches that included 261 carries.)

So here's our favorite Mixon stat from a season he powered his way to 4.9 yards on the most carries (238) and yards (1,168) for the Bengals since Cedric Benson went for 301 and 1,251 yards for the improbable '09 AFC North champs. In the last four games, Mixon lined up without wide receiver A.J. Green and quarterback Andy Dalton (and in those last 10 quarters he didn't have 1,000-yard receiver Tyler Boyd, either) and still averaged five yards per carry and had three of his four 100-yard games in a passing attack that didn't net six yards per pass attempt.

If you think Mixon is wondering what he can do with everyone intact, you're right.

"It's not a one-man show," Mixon said. "I'm excited. Everybody should be excited."

Mixon can't have any extensive talks yet with new head coach Zac Taylor and offensive coordinator Brian Callahan before the Bengals report for off-season workouts April 9 because it's a violation of the collective bargaining agreement. He stuck his head into an office briefly, but they were about to meet so he paid his respects and left. New offensive line coach Jim Turner and Mixon had time to meet and look each other over. If they were drawing up specs for a running back in a new version of the West Coast offense, they're looking at the floor model.

The 6-1 Mixon, looking to keep his playing weight right at about 222 pounds, doesn't need a long discussion to expect a steady diet of work. He's watched tape of Taylor's Rams and what 6-1, 227-pound running back Todd Gurley's 256 rushes set up.