ChaseBrown

News: 3 days agoBrown rushed 20 times for 80 yards and brought in three of five targets for two yards in the Bengals' 20-6 win over the Texans on Sunday.

Spin: As his final numbers suggest, Brown worked for virtually every yard Sunday, but his contributions on the ground helped the Bengals move the chains and pull off the upset road victory. Brown couldn't get anything going as a receiver, but the fact he saw five targets is certainly encouraging from a bigger-picture fantasy view. The fourth-year back's usage through the first two games corroborates Brown's unquestioned role as the primary option in Cincinnati's ground game, as he's already seen 36 carries and 11 targets heading into a Week 3 road matchup against an always tough Steelers defense next Sunday.

ESPN Fantasy Projection: Brown is entering his fourth NFL season and third as Cincinnati's lead back. His 2025 season got off to a rocky start (10.1 fantasy points per game and one touchdown during his first seven games), but it turned around drastically down the stretch (21.2 points per game and 10 TDs during his final 10 games). The improvement coincided with Cincinnati's improved QB play, which should continue into 2026 with a healthy Joe Burrow. Brown has yet to finish a season higher than 16th in carries or rushing yards, but he has scored exactly 11 TDs and has finished fifth in receptions in each of the past two years, both of which have resulted in top-10 fantasy campaigns. The 26-year-old once again has minimal competition for touches in a very good Bengals offense. He's best valued as a fringe RB1.