Chase Brown
RB - Cincinnati Bengals
2025 Outlook
Availability
Brown became a high-usage monster for the Bengals last season, finishing with 229-990-7 rushing and 54-360-4 receiving. That was good for an RB12 finish in half-point PPR fantasy scoring, but from Week 4 on, Brown was WR6 in fantasy scoring and RB7 in fantasy points per game. The Bengals didn't make any major investments at running back in the offseason, so Brown should continue to be the lead back for one of the NFL's best offenses.
Brown was Cincy's CMC last year after he took over the starting job. In Weeks 9-17, he averaged 23.7 touches and 116.3 total yards as the RB4 in fantasy points per game. He played at least 79% of the snaps in every game while ranking second in receiving yards per game, sixth in target share (12.5%), and tenth in first downs per route run (per Fantasy Points Data). As good as Brown was, I do have some small worries about his per-touch efficiency. Among 46 qualifying backs, he was 25th in explosive run rate, 26th in missed tackles forced per attempt, and 33rd in yards after contact per attempt. None of those numbers scream "ELITE PLAYER!" That doesn't mean that Brown can't continue to crush in fantasy in 2025 as Cincy's do it all back, but the inefficiency does create an avenue for another back to step up and siphon off work. I don't know if Zack Moss or Samaje Perine are up to the task, but maybe Tahj Brooks could. We'll see how camp plays out for Brown, but right now he looks like a rock solid RB1.
The Bengals RB1 role is elite. Like the Rams, Zac Taylor's coaching staff deploys one RB who plays almost all the snaps.
After Zack Moss went down, Brown took over the Cincinnati backfield in Week 9. He had an eight-game streak of 90+ yards from scrimmage.
Brown was the RB5 in points per game (18.4), and first in expected points per game (22.3).
The Bengals emerging star was PFF's 14th-highest graded RB and unquestioned bell cow - exactly how he was during his final season at Illinois.
With an elite receiving role to boot, Brown projects like a more explosive Kyren Williams in 2025.
