Cincinnati Bengals News

Cincinnati Bengals tight end Mike Gesicki is coming off a down year in which a pectoral injury limited him to only 13 games and 28 receptions, the lowest totals since his rookie season. Returning for the final seven games following a five-week stint on the Reserve/Injured list, he was notably more effective to close the year, playing on a 17-game pace of 49 receptions for 597 yards, but in finding the end zone only twice, Gesicki was still just the TE14 in that span. Following an early-career stretch with the Dolphins in which he finished as a low-end TE1 in three straight seasons, he has not returned to the top 12 across his last four campaigns with Miami, New England, and Cincinnati, only once cracking the top 22, and his most productive stretches with the Bengals have come as an injury fill-in for either Ja'Marr Chase or Tee Higgins. With the offense operating at full health, Gesicki's involvement has been sporadic, with head coach and playcaller Zac Taylor leaning heavily into 11-personnel usage. Gesicki could again see fantasy managers race to the waiver wires should either Chase or Higgins miss time in the coming year, but at RotoBaller's TE28, he is unlikely to factor into 2026 drafts.

It took Cincinnati Bengals running back Chase Brown until Week 7 of the 2025 season to post a weekly fantasy finish inside the top 20, but from that point forward, he never looked back. Brown finished as the RB19 or better in each of his final 11 games, only twice finishing outside the top 15. The team's mid-season trade for veteran quarterback Joe Flacco helped to steady a faltering offense without three-time Pro Bowler Joe Burrow, and Brown was perhaps the biggest benefactor, finishing as the RB7 from that point forward. With Burrow at full health and Flacco back under contract to back him up, Brown's high floor remains very much intact, while a projected philosophical shift could help to raise his ceiling in 2026. Brown was one of the league's most explosive runners when the team went under center, but with the Bengals ranking 31st in the league in that category, he rarely had the opportunity to take advantage. Reports out of minicamp have suggested that the team could mix in more under-center runs, and even a modest increase, along with the offensive consistency allowed by the presumed health at quarterback, could have Brown flirting with a top-five finish. Heading into the year, he is RotoBaller's RB10, and drafters should again feel comfortable making Brown their RB1 in 2026.

Heading into his fourth professional season, dynasty managers pretty much know what to expect from Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Andrei Iosivas. With the Bengals' most notable addition to the receiver room coming in the form of fourth-round pick Colbie Young, Iosivas is all but locked into the WR3 role he's held for the past two seasons. While five missed games from Tee Higgins allowed Iosivas to find the end zone six times in 2024 (a number that dropped to only two in 2025), the rest of his stat line has remained incredibly consistent. Playing in all 17 games in both seasons, the 2023 sixth-round pick averaged 34.5 catches for 457 yards on a 9.6% target share, hardly straying from that baseline in either season. With Higgins and three-time All-Pro Ja'Marr Chase both on the field, Iosivas has been limited largely to clear-out routes with few opportunities of his own. While his size and versatility have allowed him to step in for either in the event of injury, in more cases than not, targets have been funneled primarily through whichever of the pair remains healthy, with Iosivas' own usage uptick still making him little more than a streaming flex option. Entering the final season of his rookie contract, the 26-year-old could still find greater opportunity on a more manageable depth chart in 2027, but at RotoBaller's dynasty WR141, any upside hype once surrounding Iosivas has all but faded away.

As the Cincinnati Bengals and offensive coordinator Dan Pitcher figure out how to become more explosive on offense in 2026, they are experimenting with using quarterback Joe Burrow more under center, according to Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic. The top-five teams in usage of under-center and under-center play action in 2025 all finished in the top quarter of the league in explosive-play rate. Burrow has produced just one explosive completion while using under-center play action in the last three seasons. The 29-year-old three-time Pro Bowler has been working on under-center play-action drops during the offseason program, and he's made it clear that he's on board with tinkering in this realm. Cincy posted 0.16 EPA per play on plays with Burrow, and receivers Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins on the field the last two years, which was the best in the NFL by a wide margin. But the Bengals ranked 22nd in explosive-play rate in 2025, a fourth straight season in the bottom third of the league. Burrow played in a career-low eight games last year due to injury after passing for a league-high 4,918 yards and league-high 43 touchdowns in 2024. A bounce-back seems inevitable if he can stay on the field in 2026, especially if the Bengals offense can find more explosive plays. RotoBaller has Burrow ranked as the No. 5 fantasy QB.

ESPN's Ben Baby writes that Cincinnati Bengals rookie fourth-round wide receiver Colbie Young stood out during minicamp this spring. "I think he's going to fight and battle," offensive coordinator Dan Pitcher said. "He's a young player, but there are things that I think he can do quickly and help us." The Bengals are looking to create more explosive plays on offense in 2026, and finding a consistent No. 3 receiver behind stars Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins could be a big part of that equation. Receiver Andrei Iosivas and tight end Mike Gesicki had productive spring workouts as well, but it appears that Young, a University of Georgia product, could be right in the thick of the WR3 competition this summer at training camp. Young has decent speed for his size (6-foot-5, 218 pounds), but he was never especially productive in college at Georgia and the University of Miami, finishing with 1,437 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns on 116 receptions over four seasons. Right now, Young should only be on the radar of fantasy managers in dynasty/keeper formats.

Since being selected first overall in the 2020 NFL Draft, only injuries have been able to slow Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow. Over his past 25 starts, Burrow has averaged 2.4 touchdown passes per game, and in a fantasy space largely dominated by quarterback mobility, he is one of the few players who can routinely challenge for a QB1 finish on arm talent alone. While the notable improvements made to a Bengals defense that ranked among the worst in the league could put him in more favorable game scripts and ultimately lower his ceiling, Burrow comes into 2026 healthy and still surrounded by one of the NFL's premier pass-catching units. Burrow is RotoBaller's QB5, but if the Bengals offense can stay intact in a way that it has rarely been able to do in recent years, he is as safe a bet as any to lead the league in touchdown passes and could easily outperform ADP.

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Flacco began his 2025 campaign with the Cleveland Browns, and through four starts, he threw six interceptions to only two touchdowns, scored fewer than 5.3 fantasy points per game, and looked as if his time in the NFL was coming to an end. Following a rare in-division mid-season trade, he started six games for the Bengals in place of an injured Joe Burrow and immediately became a viable fantasy option while elevating the entire Cincinnati offense. He finished as the QB7 or better in three of those games, and in signing a one-year deal this offseason to return to the Bengals, he remains a must-roster backup in superflex dynasty leagues and raises the floor of receivers Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, as well as running back Chase Brown. With Joe Burrow RotoBaller's QB5 for 2026, any appearance by Flacco still represents a worst-case scenario, but at 41 years old, the 19-year veteran is more than capable of preventing a complete bottoming out if called into action.

Cincinnati Bengals tight end Jack Endries was a seventh-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, and while the depth chart in front of him is not insurmountable, he still faces a long road to making an NFL roster. Endries was the 19th of 22 tight ends selected in April, and while the league is moving toward heavier personnel usage, Cincinnati was one of the least efficient teams in 2025 when operating with multiple tight ends on the field. Mike Gesicki's contract runs through 2027, and 2024 fourth-round pick Erick All Jr. is steadily gaining steam as he works his way back from the complicated ACL injury that caused him to miss all of the 2025 season. Drew Sample has played 95 games for the team over his seven-year career and would appear to be locked into his dedicated blocking role. Should the Bengals opt to keep four tight ends, Endries would still need to beat out Tanner Hudson, and even then, as the third or fourth tight end on an offense run through wide receivers Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, there is no realistic path to fantasy relevance. At RotoBaller's dynasty TE44, Endries is not a player who needs to be rostered in most leagues.

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Colbie Young could find himself in a starting role to begin the season. According to ESPN, Young is competing for the No. 3 role with Andrei Iosivas. Bengals offensive coordinator Dan Pitcher said that he believes is going to fight and battle for that third wideout spot this summer. There's no way he can go any higher than that with Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins on the roster. The Bengals selected Young in the fourth-round out of Georgia during this year's draft. His stats don't jump off the page, but the Bengals like his potential. He could be an interesting late-round option in fantasy drafts if he wins the No. 3 receiver job.

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase has been a superstar since entering the league in 2021. Chase has finished with 1,000 receiving yards or more in every season and has over 50 touchdowns in his career. This past season, Chase saw a career-high 185 targets, hauling in 125 receptions for 1,412 receiving yards and eight touchdowns. across 16 games. Chase has finished as the WR5 or higher in three of his first five seasons in the league. The superstar wideout seems to be one of the few players in the league who is bust-proof. The 26-year-old still has a league-winning ceiling and is young enough to still build around even in dynasty start-ups.

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins has been undervalued at times because he's playing alongside Ja'Marr Chase. Despite being the No. 2 option, Higgins has been a stud since being drafted by the Bengals in 2020. During his first three seasons, Higgins finished with 1,000-plus receiving yards in two of those first three years. Unfortunately, injuries have slowed down Higgins from putting up elite numbers, but he's hopeful to put those lingering issues behind him. This past season, Higgins finished with 59 receptions, 846 receiving yards, and 11 touchdowns. Those are fairly impressive numbers given the fact that Higgins is doing that with quarterback Joe Burrow being injured for part of two of the last three seasons. When this offense is healthy, Higgins can put together high-end WR2 numbers with the possibility of being a WR1.

After recording 65 catches for 665 yards in his first season with the Cincinnati Bengals in 2024, tight end Mike Gesicki's production fell off in his second year with the team in 2025. The 30-year-old missed four games with a pectoral injury and finished the season with 28 catches for 307 yards and two touchdowns on 42 targets. Gesicki is back with Cincinnati for 2026, and he could be in position for a bounce-back campaign after the team let tight end Noah Fant walk in free agency. Gesicki is not assured of the TE1 role for the Bengals, as he will have to compete with Drew Sample, Erick All Jr., and Tanner Hudson. Still, Gesicki has proven an ability to be productive in the Cincinnati offense before, particularly in games where Bengals wideout Tee Higgins is sidelined by injury. In dynasty formats, Gesicki could be a worthy buy-low dart-throw for managers after his down year in 2025.

Cincinnati Bengals running back Chase Brown put together another rock-solid season in 2025, recording 1,456 scrimmage yards and 11 touchdowns on 301 touches across 17 games. The 26-year-old topped 1,000 rushing yards for the first time in his career while also setting career-highs in targets (88), receptions (69), and receiving yards (437). Brown's long-term future in Cincinnati is an open question, as he's set to play on the final year of his rookie contract in 2026. Still, he enters the year as the unquestioned lead back for the Bengals and should have a solid chance to reach 300 touches for the second consecutive season. If Cincinnati can get a fully healthy season out of quarterback Joe Burrow, Brown may also find himself playing in one of the NFL's best offenses in 2026. Dynasty managers may want to consider selling high on Brown following the 2026 season, but for now, he profiles as a player to hold due to high-end RB1 upside.

The Cincinnati Bengals restructured the contract of quarterback Joe Burrow on Tuesday, creating $10 million in salary cap space, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. The move was due in part to the cash needed for the trade that landed the Bengals defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence this offseason. The 29-year-old QB has four years left on his five-year, $275 million deal that he signed in September of 2023. Burrow, a three-time Pro Bowler, only played in eight games in 2025 in his sixth year in the NFL, a major disappointment after he led the NFL in attempts (652), completions (460), passing yards (4,918), touchdowns (43), and yards per game (289.3) in 2024. He doesn't have the dual-threat abilities of some of the other elite names at the position, but what Burrow lacks in rushing skills, he makes up for with his arm strength and precision as a passer, and he has one of the best WR corps in the league with Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins as his top-two receivers. Burrow is a high-risk/high-reward midrange QB1 target in fantasy football drafts for the 2026 season, and he's currently ranked as RotoBaller's QB5.

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase has finished as the WR5 or better in three of his first five seasons, only falling short when he missed four games in 2022 and when the team was without three-time Pro Bowl quarterback Joe Burrow for half of the 2023 season. Even at his worst, Chase has finished no lower than WR13, making him one of fantasy's most bust-proof players, evidenced by a mid-season run in 2025 that saw him targeted 53 times in a three-game stretch that all but saved Joe Flacco's career and helped land the 18-year veteran his first career Pro Bowl selection. With Flacco back in the fold as the Bengals' backup for 2026, dynasty managers can feel good about Chase's floor while never having to question his league-willing ceiling. At only 26 years old, Chase is RotoBaller's top-ranked player in single-quarterback dynasty formats and one of fantasy's safest players to build around.

Over the past three seasons, Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins has played in only 39 of a potential 51 games, and of those 39 contests, only 25 have come with quarterback Joe Burrow under center. In those games, Higgins has averaged 13.3 half-PPR points per game, a number that would have been good enough for a WR9 finish in 2025. Injuries have come to define the Bengals offense in recent years, but heading into 2026 with good health and no contract disputes, Cincinnati is once again a threat to lead the league in scoring. Because the full puzzle has so rarely been put together, it's possible that Higgins is still being slightly slept on in dynasty leagues. Only 27 years old, he is one of the premier WR2s in the league with the potential to win weeks should an injury to Ja'Marr Chase force him into a larger role, and at RotoBaller's dynasty WR26, he's a high-reward trade target whose perceived risk has driven down his cost in recent years.

Across 17 games in 2025, Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Andrei Iosivas recorded 33 receptions for 435 yards and two touchdowns on 58 targets. The 26-year-old has established a consistent role as the WR3 in Cincinnati, but his production upside is limited as long as the Bengals' star wide receiver duo of Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins are both healthy. Higgins has missed 12 games since the start of the 2023 season, which has led to some stretches of fantasy-relevant production for Iosivas. However, Iosivas may have to fight just to hold onto his WR3 role in 2026 following Cincinnati's selection of University of Georgia wide receiver Colbie Young in the fourth round of the 2026 NFL Draft. Between his limited upside and the increased playing time competition in Cincinnati, dynasty managers may want to consider moving on from Iosivas as he enters his fourth NFL season.

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow is one of the best pure passers in the NFL, but persistent injuries have capped his fantasy upside and raised some questions about his long-term dynasty outlook. Burrow has played 10 or fewer games in two of the last three seasons. Last year, he was healthy for just eight games, as he totaled 1,809 passing yards, 17 passing touchdowns, and five interceptions. Those are great results on a per-game basis, but he ultimately let down many of his fantasy managers as they were forced to pivot to other quarterbacks when he got hurt. A healthy Burrow can be a top-five dynasty quarterback. After all, he was QB4 or higher in each of the two years where he played all 17 games. However, the injury concern is valid, and it has resulted in him falling to QB6 in RotoBaller's dynasty rankings. He's still a high-upside dynasty quarterback, but he has fallen out of the top three tiers.

Cincinnati Bengals backup quarterback Joe Flacco stepped immediately into the starting role in 2025 after a rare in-division mid-season trade from the Browns, turning in three fantasy finishes as the QB7 or better across his six starts, all while learning a brand new playbook on the fly. With Flacco signing a one-year deal to return to the team this offseason, a better grasp on the system and one of the best surrounding casts in the league should allow him to thrive if called upon again in 2026. Perhaps more importantly for fantasy, his presence boosts the worst-case scenario floors of Ja'Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, and Chase Brown should three-time Pro Bowl quarterback Joe Burrow miss significant time again. With Burrow shelved early in 2025 with a serious turf toe injury, all three saw their production plummet with Jake Browning under center, but rebounded nicely following the trade for Flacco. At 41 years old, his remaining time in the league is limited, but at RotoBaller's dynasty QB46, Flacco's cost to acquire is significantly lower than any other player with such a clear path to week-winning production.

Cincinnati Bengals tight end Jack Endries finds himself in a favorable landing spot as he begins his pro career. Endries is a seventh-round pick out of Texas, where he caught 33 passes for 346 yards and three touchdowns in 2025. Those aren't the greatest numbers, but he gained experience against top-tier defenses in the SEC, and he also had 623 yards back at Cal in 2024. From a developmental perspective, Endries is far from a lock to produce long-term, especially with seventh-round draft capital. However, the landing spot bodes well for his outlook. His opportunity to climb up the depth chart is as good as anybody's, as the Bengals' tight end room currently features Mike Gesicki, Drew Sample, Erick All (knee), Tanner Hudson, and Cam Grandy (chest). Gesicki is the No. 1 option here, but Endries could compete to be his backup early in his rookie season, with the potential to even more volume when Gesicki's contract expires after the 2027 season. Endries projects as a sixth-round pick in rookie drafts. At such a low cost, he's an intriguing draft target because of the Bengals' need for a tight end to establish themselve as a reliable threat on offense.