Fantasy Football Player Notes

Joe Burrow is playing great ball this year. Even though Burrow has been dicing up defenses, Ja'Marr is still waiting for his first 100-yard game. It's been a decent year so far for Chase, but he has yet to reach the elite heights we have seen before. This week, he plays the Titans, who are allowing the 9th most passing yards and 6th most passing touchdowns to opposing teams. Even though they have been beaten through the air, the Titans are allowing the fewest passing touchdowns. This is likely due to teams getting ahead and leaning on their run game. Considering the Bengals don't have a functional run game, they should be passing from start to finish. Buckle up, as this could be a vintage Ja'Marr Chase game.

Chase Brown has had such a poor run out this season as the RB20 in fantasy points per game. He has one touchdown this season and is the RB12 in expected fantasy points per game. Overall, he has averaged 18.4 touches and 71.3 total yards. He has been splitting the early-down work with Samaje Perine over the last two games, while last week his snap rate jumped back to 74.5% as he also had a 59.4% route share (16.7% target share). Over the last two games, he has had a 55% rushing share while splitting the red zone work with Perine evenly (both backs have two red zone rushing attempts). This is despite Brown having a 70% snap share during that span inside the 20-yard line. Among 42 qualifying backs, Brown is 25th in yards after contact per attempt and 32nd in missed tackle rate, but his offensive line has done him no favors as he is also 33rd in yards before contact per attempt. This could be the "get right" game for Brown. Across their last five games, Tennessee has allowed the fourth-highest explosive run rate, the fifth-highest rushing success rate, and the seventh-highest yards before contact per attempt.

Joe Burrow is playing some of his best football, and Tee Higgins has been taking full advantage of it. Last week, in the second half alone, Higgins had 148 yards and a score. That marks the second time in three weeks he has had over 145 receiving yards. Surprisingly, Higgins only has two scores on the season. Unfortunately, they face the Titans, who are allowing the fewest passing touchdowns in the league. That said, this is likely due to teams being able to run the ball on them. Since the Bengals don't have a run game, this should force them to stick with the passing game. I have Higgins as a mid-tier WR2, but he always has substantial touchdown appeal.

Samaje Perine is a viable flex this week. Over the last two games, Perine has split the red zone work evenly with Chase Brown (two rushing attempts each) while averaging ten touches and 47 total yards. Perine has mustered a decent 10.3% explosive run rate and 2.29 yards after contact per attempt this season. Tennessee has fielded a putrid run defense recently. Across their last five games, Tennessee has allowed the fourth-highest explosive run rate, the fifth-highest rushing success rate, and the seventh-highest yards before contact per attempt. If Perine scores a touchdown with 10-12 touches this week, he could easily be a nice flex play.