The NFL season is quickly approaching, and fantasy drafts are starting. At DraftKings, you can play an array of different season-long fantasy contests.
This is a look at the fantasy value of all the players in the Cincinnati Bengals’ backfield.
Cincinnati Bengals Backfield
The Bengals are hoping to get to the postseason after a disappointing 2024-25 season. Despite missing the playoffs, they had one of the best offenses in the NFL. Joe Burrow led the NFL in passing, and Ja’Marr Chase won the receiving triple crown. It was a solid year in the backfield for Chase Brown as well, finishing tied with Justin Jefferson for 11th in the NFL in all-purpose yards. Zack Moss was the RB2 in Cincinnati last season, but he only played eight games due to injuries. In a somewhat surprising move, the Bengals decided to cut Zack Moss this offseason despite having him under contract for the upcoming season. In the place of Moss, the Bengals will have a combination of veteran Samaje Perine and rookie Tahj Brooks backing up Brown.
Chase Brown is a solid back, but this will always be a pass-first team. Brown scored 11 total touchdowns last season, so he is still a solid fantasy option, but this will never be an offense that pounds the rock. The Bengals had one of the worst defenses in the NFL last season, which is how they missed the postseason despite that great offense. That was another thing hurting Brown’s success. Part of the reason that Joe Burrow led the NFL in passing is that the Bengals were constantly in games where they needed to be aggressive, throwing downfield to stay in games. The Bengals made an effort to improve their defense during the offseason, both with coaching and personnel. If they can improve on that side of the ball, it should allow their offense to be a bit more balanced.
Running Back Handcuffs: Samaje Perine & Tahj Brooks
The Bengals have two distinct options backing up Chase Brown. Samaje Perine is back for his third stint with the Bengals after spending the last two years in Denver and Kansas City. Perine was the RB2 for the Bengals’ Super Bowl appearance in 2021, so there are fond memories of him in Cincinnati. That being said, he is not much of a threat at his current age. Despite playing all 17 games for the Chiefs last season, he only had 20 carries, and that is despite their RB1, Isiah Pacheco, missing a big chunk of the season. Perine was only a receiving threat for Kansas City, racking up 322 yards and a touchdown through the air. While he could play some role in this pass-heavy offense, there is no real value in taking Perine in fantasy drafts. In dynasty leagues, he holds no long-term value. Even if Chase Brown is injured, Perine is unlikely to be a down-to-down back this season.
Tahj Brooks is a more interesting handcuff case. He might start the season as RB3 on the depth chart, but the Bengals’ cutting Zack Moss shows that they have confidence in Brooks moving forward. Brooks was a sixth-round pick for the Bengals, but he was a superstar at Texas Tech. Brooks and Chargers draft pick Omarion Hampton were the only two running backs in college football to rush for at least 1,500 yards each of the past two seasons.
Brooks was never an elite receiving threat in college, so Perine will likely be the third-down running back to start the season. However, if Brown were to suffer an injury, it would likely be Brooks that took over the primary running back role, leaving Perine in a purely receiving role. In dynasty leagues, there is also much more value in taking a chance on Brooks. He could play the bigger role in the event of an injury, and has the chance to be the back of the future in Cincinnati. Chase Brown’s contract is up after the 2026-27 season, and the Bengals would likely let him walk or even trade him next summer to try to get some value back for him. If he proves himself to be NFL-ready, Brooks could then be the full-time back for the Bengals. If I were to take any handcuff for Chase Brown, it would be Tahj Brooks, particularly in dynasty leagues.
