With the Bengals struggling mightily since losing Joe Burrow (toe), the club has decided to make a move at quarterback. In exchange for a fifth-round pick, Cincinnati has acquired Joe Flacco and a sixth-round pick from the Browns.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Bengals want Flacco to be ready to play this Sunday against the Packers. If he starts as expected, Flacco will be replacing Jake Browning, who has led Cincinnati to an 0-3 record as a starter. For the season, Browning is completing just 64.% of his attempts, and he is averaging just 6.1 yards per attempt. Furthermore, he has thrown six touchdowns and eight interceptions. Brown ranks 31st of 33 qualify quarterbacks in passer rating this season, but guess who ranks dead last at No. 33? Flacco.
The veteran’s numbers have been even worse than Browning, with Flacco completing 58.1% of his attempts, averaging 5.1 yards per attempt and throwing two touchdowns to six picks. Flacco is a former Super Bowl MVP, who did have a solid season last year with the Colts, averaging 7.1 yards per attempt and throwing 12 touchdowns to seven picks, but the 40-year-old has taken a major step backwards this season, and it’s difficult to view him as much of an upgrade from Browning.
Chase has struggled with Browning under center, scoring single-digit FPTS in two of his three games with the quarterback starting this season, but Chase did finally find some chemistry with Browning this past Sunday, with Chase erupting for 32 FPTS vs. the Lions, thanks to a 6/110/2 receiving line. Flacco does have a history of force-feeding his top receivers the ball, but Chase is already handling a massive 35.4% target share this season, so it’s hard to imagine that already huge rate increasing any further with Flacco.
While having a new face at quarterback seems like an encouraging development for Chase, the wideout’s inconsistent numbers are likely to continue with Flacco throwing him passes, and this might be a good time to consider trading Chase in your fantasy league. Some fantasy managers may be overly excited about Flacco’s arrival, and Chase is coming off a huge fantasy performance this past week, so you may be able to get an immense return for the receiver.
