Cincinnati Bengals News

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins caught six of seven targets for 90 yards and one touchdown during Sunday's Week 3 contest against the Pittsburgh Steelers. In addition to finding the end zone for the first time this year, Higgins' six catches represented a new season-high mark. The 27-year-old has repeatedly proven that he can co-exist with Ja'Marr Chase in fantasy football, and he remains a must-start WR2 going forward. As long as quarterback Joe Burrow is healthy, Higgins is a safe bet to get peppered with targets while making difficult catches and offering some touchdown upside. With that said, he's currently on pace for just six touchdowns this year, which is a significant step back from his 10 in 2024 and his 11 in 2025. Perhaps he can improve on that pace with another big game and visit to the end zone in a potential Week 4 shootout against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase was once again the team's leading receiver in the 30-27 Week 3 loss on the road to the division-rival Pittsburgh Steelers, catching nine of his 12 targets for 98 yards and a touchdown. It was a slow start to the season for Chase, as he caught just two passes for 12 yards in the season-opening win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. But he had seven catches on nine targets for 75 yards and his first two touchdowns of the year in the Week 2 victory over the Houston Texans. That is now three touchdowns in the last two games for Chase, who is an absolute must-start each and every week. Chase's nine catches were three more than Tee Higgins, and his 12 targets were five more than Higgins. The 26-year-old All-Pro will have a strong chance to make it three straight weeks with a trip to the end zone when the Bengals face off against the Jacksonville Jaguars next Sunday in Week 4.

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Dohnte Meyers is hopeful to make a bigger impact against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 3. Meyers hasn't seen much of the field during the first two games of the season. The rookie wideout has played fewer than 20 percent of the offensive snaps during his first two games of the season. The expectation is that he'll continue to rotate with fellow rookie Colbie Young in four and five receiver sets. Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins dominate the target share in this offense. There's not much room for any other receivers to make much noise in this offense right now. Meyers has some stash value, but he isn't a must-roster player even in dynasty formats.

Cincinnati Bengals kicker Evan McPherson will face the Pittsburgh Steelers on the road in Week 3. McPherson followed up his 19-point fantasy performance in Week 1 with a 12-point performance last week. The Bengals kicker was able to knock through all four of his field goals and extra-point attempts in Week 2, making him 6-6 on field goals and 5-5 on extra-point attempts this season. McPherson has been the best fantasy kicker through the first two weeks of the season and should remain viable against the Steelers in Week 3. The Steelers defense has been stout this allowing just 13.5 points per game this season, but they've faced a Cooper Rush-led Atlanta Falcons offense and an A.J. Brown-less New England Patriots passing attack so it is hard to determine how good they actually are. Nevertheless, Cincinnati has scored the 10th-most points this season and should continue their scoring efficiency this Sunday. If the Bengals can move the ball effectively, McPherson should continue being one of the best kickers in fantasy. McPherson is ranked K7 in our RotoBaller Week 3 rankings, making him worthy of a start this Sunday. Fantasy managers should feel confident starting McPherson this weekend.

Cincinnati Bengals tight end Mike Gesicki was heavily involved in the Week 1 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but disappeared last week against the Houston Texans. Gesicki led all Bengals pass catchers with five catches for 78 yards and a touchdown in the season opener, but did not earn a single target in Week 2. The veteran tight end went from offensive focal point to non-factor in consecutive weeks, which may have been due to the health of quarterback Joe Burrow. Burrow took a big shot while running out of bounds early in Week 1. It was later revealed that Burrow was dealing with back tightness ahead of Week 2. It is possible that Burrow dealt with the back tightness throughout their Week 1 matchup and targeted Gesicki closer to the line of scrimmage for that reason. The Bengals offensive attack shifted back towards their high-volume wide receiver duo of Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins with Burrow getting healthier. Heading into Week 3, it is difficult to trust Gesicki as anything more than a dart throw at the tight end position. Gesicki will likely have good performances again this season, but fantasy managers may not be able to predict when those will be. Gesicki is ranked TE29 in our RotoBaller Week 3 PPR rankings, putting him outside of TE2 range this week. Fantasy managers may be best served looking elsewhere for tight end production.

Cincinnati Bengals running back Samaje Perine will take on the Pittsburgh Steelers on the road in Week 3. The veteran back's opportunities dropped from eight in Week 1 to just three last week, but he's been efficient with those touches. Despite only getting one target in last week's win over the Houston Texans, Perine ranked third on the team in receiving yards. Perine has been especially effective in the passing game, turning four catches into 46 yards this season. While his upside is capped in the RB2 role, it is encouraging to see him produce when given the chance. He could have more chances to produce this week against a Steelers offense that has given up the sixth-most rushing yards this season. Perine is ranked RB61 in our RotoBaller Week 3 PPR rankings, meaning that he's best viewed as a bench stash rather than a start-worthy option. Fantasy managers should hold onto Perine because his value would skyrocket should anything happen to Bengals RB1 Chase Brown.

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins will face the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 3. The Bengals WR2 was the most targeted pass catcher in last week's 20-6 victory over the Houston Texans. Despite not scoring a touchdown, Higgins was able to lead the Bengals in receiving yards in Week 2. The 27-year-old will try to replicate that performance this week on the road at Pittsburgh. The Steelers have been a good pass defense to start the 2026 season, but Cincinnati's passing attack is much better than most. Higgins has historically been a great touchdown-scoring receiver and he hasn't found pay dirt this year, so the trips to the end zone could start this Sunday. Higgins is ranked WR18 in our RotoBaller Week 3 PPR rankings, making him a strong WR2 this week. Fantasy managers should be encouraged by the volume of opportunities Higgins has had so far and excited for what's to come in this week's matchup.

Cincinnati Bengals running back Chase Brown rushed 20 times for 80 yards and caught three passes for two yards in the 20-6 victory over the Houston Texans last week. Despite mediocre production, Brown received a monster workload which should pay off against the Pittsburgh Steelers this week. The Steelers defense has been stingy against the pass, but has allowed the ninth-most rushing yards in 2026. With 16 carries in Week 1 and 20 carries in Week 2, it's clear that the Bengals trust Brown to execute their offensive game plan on the ground. Given that volume of opportunities against this Steelers' defense, Brown may be able to produce his first game with 100+ rushing yards this season. The Bengals workhorse back also failed to find the end zone last week, so he could be in for a score this Sunday. Brown is ranked RB10 in our RotoBaller Week 3 PPR rankings, making him an RB1 this week. Fantasy managers should be excited about starting Brown this week because all signs point to him having his best fantasy performance yet.

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase will face the Pittsburgh Steelers on the road in Week 3. Chase shook off a lackluster Week 1 performance with a strong stat line against the Houston Texans last week. The superstar wideout caught seven passes for 75 yards and two touchdowns in the 20-6 win in Week 2. Despite putting up WR1 numbers last game, Chase still has not reached 100 receiving yards this season. Chase will likely change that on Sunday against the Steelers. The Pittsburgh defense has been stingy against the pass this season, allowing the sixth-fewest passing yards, but Chase is no ordinary receiver. Chase is arguably the best wide receiver in football with a quarterback that isn't afraid to throw him the ball in any situation. That is a dangerous combination for opposing defenses to face because they can break off a big play at any moment. Chase is ranked WR3 in our RotoBaller Week 3 PPR rankings, making him a top-tier WR1 heading into the weekend. Fantasy managers should never question having him in their starting lineups for as long as he's healthy.

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow will take on the Pittsburgh Steelers on the road in Week 3. Burrow passed for 207 yards and two touchdowns in the 20-6 win over the Houston Texans last week and will try to build on that success this week. The Bengals star took a step back in terms of yardage perspective in Week 2, throwing 47 fewer passing yards, but his touchdown total increased and he didn't throw any picks in his second game. Burrow will try to build on the touchdown success while increasing the yardage against a tough Steelers defense. Through two games, Pittsburgh has allowed the sixth-fewest passing yards and the ninth-most rushing yards. If that trend continues, Burrow could be in for another low-yardage outing on Sunday. The Bengals have the skill players to overcome nearly every matchup, so Burrow has the potential to exceed expectations, but it will not be a cakewalk matchup. It should also be noted that Burrow was not listed on the Bengals injury report this week, signaling that the back issue is now behind him. Burrow is ranked QB9 in our RotoBaller Week 3 rankings, making him a low-end QB1 this Sunday. Fantasy managers should be encouraged by Burrow's upward trend in fantasy scoring, but may need to temper expectations against Pittsburgh.

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Andrei Iosivas (thumb) tore a ligament in his thumb and will be placed on injured reserve, meaning he will miss at least the next four games. Head coach Zac Taylor told the media that the fourth-year receiver will return at some point this season, but his absence should serve to funnel even more of the offense through Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. Through two games, Iosivas has been the only other wide receiver on the roster to see more than two targets, though he has turned those opportunities into only 19 total yards. The third spot in three-receiver sets could now see a rotation between fourth-round rookie Colbie Young and former CFL star Dohnte Meyers, but the passing offense will continue to run through Chase and Higgins, with running back Chase Brown also likely to see an uptick in targets.

Cincinnati Bengals running back Samaje Perine is not seeing enough work to help fantasy lineups while Chase Brown is healthy, and Week 2 made that pretty clear. Perine carried twice for six yards and caught one pass for 16 yards against Houston after getting eight touches in the opener. Through two games, he has seven carries for 26 yards and four catches for 46 yards while playing 34.2% of the offensive snaps. Brown, meanwhile, has 36 carries and eight receptions and owns a 70.7% snap share. Perine's value is tied much more to what would happen if Brown missed time. Tahj Brooks has yet to push him out of the No. 2 spot, and Perine has enough receiving experience to take on more work if needed. RotoBaller lists him among its secondary Week 3 running back options and also places him in the pure handcuff group. He is a bench stash for managers looking for backfield insurance, not someone to start while Brown is handling this much of the offense.

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins caught five passes for 95 yards in the 20-6 win over the Houston Texans on the road. Higgins paced the team in both receiving yards and targets in a big win over a strong Texans defense. While fellow wideout Ja'Marr Chase found the end zone twice, Higgins displayed his ability to keep pace as a top target on this team. Higgins will look to continue being effective next week on the road against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Higgins is in for another tough defensive matchup in Week 3, but he was just able to produce against the Texans defense so fantasy managers should feel confident in starting him. Higgins should be viewed as one of the strongest WR2 options with WR1 upside any given week.

Cincinnati Bengals running back Chase Brown handled 20 carries for 80 yards and three catches for two yards in the 20-6 win over the Houston Texans. Brown was heavily involved in this game on the ground and through the air. His five targets in the contest gave him 25 total opportunities against the Texans. Although he was not able to find the end zone, Brown's volume of opportunities was still elite. Brown will look to find pay dirt next week as he faces the Pittsburgh Steelers on the road. The Steelers are a tough defense to face, but the Bengals offense is also tough for opposing defenses to face. Brown will continue to be a key cog in the Cincinnati offense for as long as he's healthy, so fantasy managers should continue to feel confident in him. Brown should continue to be viewed as a strong RB1 every week.

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow completed 20 of his 31 pass attempts (65%) for 207 yards and two touchdowns in the 20-6 victory over the Houston Texans. Despite being questionable with a back issue heading into this game, Burrow was able to do enough to pull out a win against a strong Texans defense. Burrow was sacked five times in the contest but stayed in, which is a good sign for his health moving forward. Burrow will look to keep the wins rolling against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 3. The Steelers defense has racked up seven sacks, three interceptions, and a fumble recovery through two games this season, so Burrow could have his work cut out for him with a tough matchup. That said, the Bengals star QB just took on the strong Texans defense and was successful, so fantasy managers should be confident in his ability heading into next week. Burrow should be considered a strong QB1 for the upcoming week.

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase bounced back in a big way in Week 2 with seven catches for 75 yards and two scores in the 20-6 win over the Houston Texans. Chase shook off that disappointing season opener performance as he and quarterback Joe Burrow connected often throughout the contest. The star wideout finished first on the team in receptions, but trailed teammate Tee Higgins in receiving yards and targets. This game gave fantasy managers a much-needed sigh of relief and should give them confidence about starting Chase heading into a Week 3 matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Steelers have allowed 20 points to opposing teams in each of their first two games, which bodes well for the Bengals' chances of scoring. Chase is the focal point of the Cincinnati passing attack, so when the offense succeeds, he's usually the reason why. Chase is one of the most reliable targets in the league, and he should be considered a top-end WR1 heading into Week 3.

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (back) is active for Sunday's game against the Houston Texans, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Burrow was limited in practice Wednesday and Thursday before returning to full participation Friday, but he still carried a questionable designation into the weekend. He had maintained throughout the week that he expected to play, and that is now official. Burrow will start for Cincinnati, removing any last-minute uncertainty for fantasy managers who were monitoring his status ahead of kickoff.

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (back) is expected to start Sunday's Week 2 contest against the Houston Texans, according to Tom Pelissero of the Ringer. Burrow is officially listed as questionable, and the Bengals did elevate veteran quarterback Josh Johnson from the practice squad. Nevertheless, this latest report aligns with comments made by head coach Zac Taylor on Friday, when he said that Burrow should start this weekend, barring a setback. Burrow is looking to build on a fair Week 1 showing in which he tallied 254 passing yards, one passing touchdown, one interception, and 20 rushing yards. This Texans defense is no joke, but having Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins at his disposal should keep Burrow in the QB1 tier for fantasy football purposes.

The Cincinnati Bengals are elevating veteran quarterback Josh Johnson from the practice squad to the active roster for their Week 2 matchup against the Houston Texans, per ESPN's Adam Schefter. Johnson's elevation is notable because star Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (back) is officially listed as questionable for Week 2. While Burrow is expected to play on Sunday, it appears the team has enough concern about his health to carry three quarterbacks on their 53-man roster. If Burrow were to be inactive or be forced to exit the game early, Joe Flacco would be the next man up under center for Cincinnati, and Johnson would step into the backup role. Between his uncertain health outlook and the tough matchup against Houston, fantasy managers may want to downgrade expectations for Burrow in Week 2.

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Andrei Iosivas remains the WR3 for quarterback Joe Burrow, but he has a lot of competition for targets heading into a Week 2 road matchup against the Houston Texans. In a Week 1 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Iosivas saw three targets and recorded two receptions for just 12 yards. He was behind in targets to tight end Mike Gesicki (seven), running back Chase Brown (six), and fellow wideouts Tee Higgins (six) and Ja'Marr Chase (four), but he had identical production to Chase. Iosivas played 39 offensive snaps, which was the third-most among Cincinnati wide receivers, behind Chase (60) and Higgins (46). Iosivas played 59.3% of his snaps in the slot, and 40.7% on snaps out wide in Week 1. He is projected to score 4.0 points against the Texans and checks in as RotoBaller's No. 91 wide receiver for Week 2, indicating he is safe to leave on the waiver wire and out of lineups.