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Trey Hendrickson • DE • Bengals

Bengals to Gauge Trey Hendrickson's Market at Scouting Combine

The Cincinnati Bengals plan to gather information about impending free-agent defensive end Trey Hendrickson's market at the NFL scouting combine in late February in Indianapolis, according to Kelsey Conway of The Cincinnati Enquirer. It seems likely that Hendrickson will end up walking in free agency, but there is also a possibility that Cincy looks to place the franchise tag on the 31-year-old veteran and then attempt to trade him. That scenario is unlikely, especially since Hendrickson played in only seven games in 2025 and ended the year on Injured Reserve with a hip/pelvis injury that required core-muscle surgery. The Bengals used the franchise tag on him last year, so tagging him a second straight season would cost them $30.2 milion in 2026. Despite his injury, Hendrickson will have plenty of suitors if he makes it to the open market after having back-to-back 17.5-sack seasons in 2023 and 2024.

19 hours ago

Tee Higgins • WR • Bengals

Tee Higgins Continues to Thrive in No. 2 Role

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins continues to be a productive fantasy option, and he posted a new career-best finish as the overall WR15 in PPR leagues in 2025. Despite missing two games, Higgins exploded for 59 catches, 846 yards, and a career-high 11 touchdowns. It has been really encouraging to see the former second-round pick get more looks in the end zone. He has set a new career-high in touchdowns in each of the last two seasons, and during that two-year window, he has scored a total of 21 times. Some people might say that Higgins benefits from facing teams' No. 2 cornerbacks (because their top options cover Ja'Marr Chase), but that's a hard argument to make given that Higgins has also excelled in games that Chase has missed. There's a bit of an injury risk with Higgins, who had two concussions during the back half of the 2025 season, but his ceiling and floor both remain quite high. He's worth drafting as a high-end WR2 in 2026 fantasy drafts, and he's worth holding in dynasty leagues.

Yesterday

Trey Hendrickson • DE • Bengals

Colts to be Aggressive in Pursuit of Trey Hendrickson?

A Cincinnati Bengals team source told NFL Network's Cameron Wolfe that it seems inevitable that All-Pro defensive end Trey Hendrickson (hip, pelvis) will leave this offseason. The Bengals could either let Hendrickson walk in free agency or slap the franchise tag on him and try to trade him. Wolfe says to keep an eye on the Indianapolis Colts. Indy wants to be aggressive, and they made the splash move to acquire cornerback Sauce Gardner from the Jets last season. Colts defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo and defensive-line coach Marion Hobby both have familiarity with Hendrickson from their time as coaches in Cincy for four-plus seasons. The 31-year-old pass-rusher had back-to-back 17.5-sack seasons in 2023 and 2024 but played only seven games in 2025 due to hip/pelvis injuries. Hendrickson would immediately make Indy's pass rush more formidable if he were to join them in free agency or via trade.

4 days ago

Joe Burrow • QB • Bengals

Bengals Not Looking to Trade Joe Burrow

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport said over the weekend that the Cincinnati Bengals won't entertain trade offers for quarterback Joe Burrow this offseason and will instead look to spend and build around him. Rapoport expects teams to call the Bengals after Burrow expressed some discontent with the organization during the 2025 season, but the franchise signal-caller is not expected to go anywhere. More than anything, the Bengals will probably spend on the defensive side of the ball to help supplement what is already a strong offensive unit. The 29-year-old Burrow only made eight starts in 2025 due to a turf toe injury that required surgery, and he threw for 1,809 yards, 17 touchdowns, and five interceptions. Staying healthy has been an issue for the former No. 1 overall pick, but with one of the best receiving duos in the NFL, Burrow should be primed for a bounce-back campaign in 2026 as a QB1 in fantasy if he can stay on the field.

Feb 9

Trey Hendrickson • DE • Bengals

Trey Hendrickson Unlikely to Return to Bengals?

The Athletic's Paul Dehner Jr. writes that there's "little reason to believe" that star pass-rusher Trey Hendrickson (hip, pelvis) "will willingly return to Cincinnati." It also doesn't make much financial sense for the Bengals to spend the majority of their free-agent budget to force Hendrickson to come back. The 31-year-old, who had back-to-back 17.5-sack seasons in 2023 and 2024, is coming off an injury that required surgery and turns 32 in December. Other factors working against him are the fact that there is a solid draft class and free-agent market at edge rusher. Still, Hendrickson's compensation on the open market this offseason would likely start at or near the $29 million he made in 2026. The Bengals are unlikely to entertain a multi-year deal, so the only way to retain him would be via the franchise tag, which would cost $30.2 million for one year. There is also a tag-and-trade scenario, but the most likely outcome is the Bengals letting Hendrickson walk in free agency.

Feb 4

Chase Brown • RB • Bengals

Chase Brown Working on Extension With Bengals

Cincinnati Bengals running back Chase Brown said his representation is in talks with the team about a new long-term contract extension, according to Ben Baby of ESPN. Brown, 25, is eligible for an extension after completing his third year in the NFL in 2025. "I would love to do something and be a part of this team," Brown said. "I don't want to go anywhere else." The 25-year-old finished 11th in the NFL last year with a team-high 1,456 scrimmage yards. He was also sixth among all RBs with 437 receiving yards, and he had his first 1,000-rushing campaign (1,019 yards). Given all of the other financial commitments to key players on the offensive side of the ball in Cincy, and the fact that the Bengals' defense needs a lot of help, it remains to be seen if the Bengals will extend Brown going into the final year of his deal. Regardless of his contract going into the 2026 season, Brown should at least be viewed as a low-end RB1 target as the team's No. 1 backfield option in a high-scoring offense.

Jan 29

Chase Brown • RB • Bengals

Chase Brown Solidifying Himself as an RB1 Going into 2026

Cincinnati Bengals running back Chase Brown has been a workhorse for the team the last two seasons, combining for 461 rushing attempts for 2,009 yards and 13 touchdowns while also catching 123 of his 153 targets for 797 yards and nine more trips to the end zone in 33 regular-season games. In a quick-strike offense led by quarterback Joe Burrow and with one of the top receiver duos in the league in Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, it makes Brown extremely attractive in fantasy football. The 25-year-old produced his first 1,000-yard season in 2025, going for 1,019 yards and six TDs on a career-high 232 carries over 17 games to finish as a top-10 fantasy RB in half-PPR scoring. Brown has totaled 11 touchdowns (rushing and receiving) in each of the last two years. He'll be locked into the RB1 role again in Cincy in 2026 in the final year of his contract, giving him clear RB1 upside in fantasy football.

Jan 29

Ja'Marr Chase • WR • Bengals

Ja'Marr Chase Still a First-Round Fantasy Receiver

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase wasn't as dominant in 2025 as he was in 2024, when he led the NFL in catches (127), targets (175), receiving yards (1,708), touchdowns (17), and yards per game (100.5). Chase had a league-high 185 targets, 125 catches, 1,412 yards, and eight touchdowns in his 16 games played in his fifth year in the league in 2025. Despite the step back, the 25-year-old wideout remains one of the best all-around receivers in the game. Chase was the WR4 in half-PPR scoring, behind only Puka Nacua, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, and Amon-Ra St. Brown. He has been a Pro Bowler in all five of his NFL seasons, as well as being named a first-team All-Pro in the last two years. The former fifth overall pick out of LSU is showing no signs of slowing down and has excellent chemistry with quarterback Joe Burrow. Chase already has a staggering 6,837 receiving yards and 54 touchdowns in his 78 games played for the Bengals.

Jan 28

Tee Higgins • WR • Bengals

Tee Higgins Remains One of the Best No. 2 Wideouts in the League

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins will always be in the shadow of Ja'Marr Chase as long as the two stay in Cincy, but it doesn't mean that Higgins cannot continue to be productive. The 27-year-old hasn't had a 1,000-yard season since 2022, but what he's lacked in yardage the last two seasons, he's made up for with trips to the end zone, scoring a whopping 21 times in 27 games the last two years. In 15 regular-season games in 2025, Higgins caught 59 of his 98 targets for 846 yards and a career-high 11 touchdowns. Despite missing some games due to injury and losing valuable targets to Chase, Higgins still managed to finish as the WR14 in half-PPR scoring. The former second-rounder isn't without injury concerns, but when he's healthy, he has excellent chemistry with quarterback Joe Burrow and also a nose for paydirt. Higgins has had at least five TDs in each of his six NFL seasons and will enter the 2026 campaign as a strong WR2 target.

Jan 27

Cam Taylor-Britt • CB • Bengals

Cam Taylor-Britt to Spend Five Days in Jail

Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Cam Taylor-Britt was sentenced to five days in jail after he pleaded guilty to reckless driving and driving without a license on Jan. 6. Taylor-Britt was placed on Injured Reserve in November due to a foot injury that he suffered in the Week 11 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, and he didn't play the rest of the season. In his eight games played for the Bengals in 2025, the 26-year-old defensive back had a career-low 21 tackles (12 solo) and five pass breakups in his fourth year in the league. Marco Wilson took on an expanded role in Cincy's secondary the rest of the way after Taylor-Britt was placed on IR.

Jan 6

Joe Flacco • QB • Bengals

Joe Flacco Not Considering Retirement

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Flacco isn't considering retirement, but he hopes to be "selective" in what comes next in his career, according to Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic. It's clear that Flacco wants to continue playing, and he's even open to coming back to Cincinnati, even if that would mean serving as Joe Burrow's backup. He's also open to fielding calls from a team that needs a signal-caller for next season. The 40-year-old began the 2025 season as the Cleveland Browns' starting QB before a midseason trade to the Bengals to help out while Burrow recovered from turf-toe surgery. The former Super Bowl champion proved that he still has something left in the tank, although he went just 2-8 in his 10 starts with the Browns and Bengals. Flacco completed 60.3% of his passes for 2,479 yards, 15 touchdowns, and 10 picks. At best, Flacco will be in play as a low-end QB2 in superflex leagues if he ends up playing a 19th NFL season and making more starts in 2026.

Jan 5

Ja'Marr Chase • WR • Bengals

Ja'Marr Chase Records Eighth Touchdown Catch of 2025 in Week 18

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase had a big game in his team's 20-18 Week 18 loss to the Cleveland Browns, recording eight catches for 96 yards and a touchdown on 10 targets. The 25-year-old had another excellent season in 2025, hauling in 125 receptions for 1,412 yards and eight touchdowns on 185 targets across 16 games played. Across seven games started by Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow, Chase averaged 106 receiving yards per contest and recorded four touchdown grabs. Chase has been named to the Pro Bowl in all five of his NFL seasons and could be on his way to a second consecutive All-Pro selection. As long as he makes it through the offseason healthy, Chase figures to be one of the first wide receivers off the board in fantasy drafts heading into the 2026 season.

Jan 5

Joe Burrow • QB • Bengals

Joe Burrow Throws Three Touchdowns in Season Finale

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow finished off the 2025 season on a strong note during Sunday's game against the Cleveland Browns. Burrow completed 29 of 39 passing attempts for 236 yards with three touchdowns and one interception in the loss. Burrow did everything he could, but the special teams unit let him down this week. Burrow finishes the season with 1,809 passing yards with 17 touchdowns and five interceptions in eight games after missing a good portion of the year after having surgery to fix a turf-toe injury. The 29-year-old is clearly one of the best QBs in the league, but his inability to stay healthy is hurting this team. Burrow has missed significant time in two of the last three seasons. The hope is that he'll be able to put together a fully healthy season in 2026.

Jan 4

Joe Burrow • QB • Bengals

Joe Burrow Facing Brutal Matchup in Week 18

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow dominated in Week 17 against the Arizona Cardinals, completing 24 of 31 pass attempts for 305 yards and two touchdowns. The 29-year-old has been excellent over his last two outings, throwing for 614 yards and six scores without committing a turnover. However, Burrow has a difficult matchup in Week 18 against the Cleveland Browns. Cleveland enters the week ranked second among NFL defenses in total passing yards allowed (2,984) and third in sacks (51). In Burrow's first matchup of the season against the Browns, back in Week 1, he completed just 14 of 23 pass attempts for 113 yards and a touchdown, and was sacked three times. Burrow is averaging over 275 passing yards per game and has thrown 12 touchdown passes over his last five contests, so he remains a high-upside quarterback. However, he profiles more as a mid-tier fantasy QB1 in Week 18 against Cleveland than a must-start player at the position.

Jan 3

Chase Brown • RB • Bengals

Chase Brown Will Play in Week 18

Cincinnati Bengals running back Chase Brown (illness) returned to practice on Friday and will play on Sunday in the Week 18 regular-season finale against the division-rival Cleveland Browns, according to Ben Baby of ESPN. Brown's availability for this weekend was in question after he missed the first two practices of the week due to illness. The 25-year-old will be ready to roll on Sunday, though, as he seeks the first 1,000-yard rushing season of his career. He heads into the final weekend of the regular season with 219 carries for 947 rushing yards and six touchdowns on the ground, adding a career-high 65 catches on 82 targets for 419 yards and four more touchdowns. Brown has been money for fantasy managers down the stretch and needs to remain in all starting lineups against Cleveland. In the season opener against the Browns, Brown had 21 carries for 43 yards and a touchdown.

Jan 2

Chase Brown • RB • Bengals

Chase Brown Not Seen on Thursday

Cincinnati Bengals running back Chase Brown (illness) was not seen at the portion of practice open to the media on Thursday due to an illness, according to Ben Baby of ESPN. It's the second straight day of practice that Brown has missed this week, leaving fantasy managers to wonder if he'll play in the Week 18 regular-season finale on Sunday against the division-rival Cleveland Browns. We'll know more about the 25-year-old's status on Friday. If the Bengals hold Brown out in a meaningless game this weekend, Samaje Perine and rookie Tahj Brooks would split the work in Cincy's backfield in a less-than-ideal matchup against Cleveland. There's plenty of personal incentive for Brown to play in Week 18, though, as he currently sits at 947 rushing yards on the season. Brown is probably plenty motivated to reach the 1,000-yard rushing mark for the first time in his career.

Jan 1

Chase Brown • RB • Bengals

Chase Brown Out With Illness on Wednesday

Cincinnati Bengals running back Chase Brown (illness) did not take part in practice on Wednesday because he was under the weather, according to the team's official website. Brown should be feeling better by the weekend and should be able to suit up for the Week 18 regular-season finale versus the division-rival Cleveland Browns. The Bengals are out of the playoff picture, but they have every intention of playing their starters to try and finish strong. Despite Cincy's disappointing season, the 25-year-old Brown has been a strong contributor for his fantasy managers, carrying the ball 219 times for 947 yards and six touchdowns on the ground in 16 starts. He's added a career-high 65 receptions for 419 yards and four more TDs on 82 targets. Brown will be looking to reach the 1,000-yard rushing mark for the first time in his career, giving him plenty of incentive to finish strong for his fantasy managers.

Dec 31

Tahj Brooks • RB • Bengals

Tahj Brooks Remains Buried as Bengals RB3

Cincinnati Bengals rookie running back Tahj Brooks has totalled just 45 yards on 16 carries to go with one catch for nine yards on two targets in 15 games this season. Brooks has been firmly entrenched as the Bengals' RB3 behind Chase Brown and Samaje Perine for his entire rookie campaign, relegating him mostly to special teams duties. The rookie sixth-rounder has cracked a double-digit snap share in just four games this season. However, seven of his 16 carries have come in the past two games, with the Bengals eliminated from playoff contention. With Brown posting big numbers in recent weeks and Perine continuing to be a reliable veteran on passing downs, it will be tough for Brooks to see many more opportunities in the Week 18 regular-season finale against the division-rival Cleveland Browns.

Dec 31

Mike Gesicki • TE • Bengals

Mike Gesicki Best Left for Deeper Leagues

Cincinnati Bengals tight end Mike Gesicki has seen his snap share drop steadily over the past three games. Now, with nothing but divisional pride on the line in a Week 18 matchup with the Browns, there is no guarantee of playing time for the 30-year-old veteran in the first year of the three-year deal he signed this offseason. For fantasy managers still playing into Week 18, there are more alluring names to be found on the waiver wire, with a pleasant number of NFL teams still playing for something in the final week of the regular season. Gesicki did finish as the TE2 as recently as Week 14, so he does represent a ceiling uncommon to the waiver wire, but with an unclear picture of how the Bengals are approaching the end of the season, he is best viewed as a desperation-only play in deeper leagues.

Dec 30

Samaje Perine • RB • Bengals

Samaje Perine a Top Waiver Priority for Week 18

Cincinnati Bengals running back Samaje Perine has finished as a low-end RB2 in each of the past two weeks without cracking a 40% snap share. If the Bengals opt to rest or limit their starters, including the surging Chase Brown, Perine could be in line for a solid workload in a Week 18 matchup against the Browns with nothing but divisional pride on the line. Even if Perine maintains only his usual change of pace and mop-up duties, he has enough of a floor to keep him in consideration for a flex role against a Cleveland defense that just allowed 131 yards on the ground to a Steelers offense with no threat of a passing attack. Readily available on most waiver wires, Perine should be a top priority in any league with a Week 18 title game.

Dec 30

Cincinnati Bengals News

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