QUARTERBACK

QB Joe Burrow is a league-winner at quarterback. If healthy, he is the best passer in the game. The only thing keeping him from being No. 1 in all of fantasy football is his lack of rushing upside. However, if healthy, and if all offensive weapons are healthy, he may be the top guy with only his passing efforts.

Behind Burrow, QB Joe Flacco and QB Josh Johnson are backups. Flacco is worth rostering now. Burrow, as good as he is, has been banged up and missed time, it seems, every season.

While Johnson is a serviceable veteran, youngster and Cincinnai native QB Sean Clifford has played well this preseason. Neither are worth rostering, however.

RUNNING BACK

RB Chase Brown is a fantasy stud. But RB Samaje Perine has received enough play that it keeps Brown from battling for the No. 1 running back spot. Still, Brown is a must-start every week. Perine is worth a stash as a bye week option but he is getting up there in reps/age and finding a third back is a much-needed piece of this lineup.

RB Tahj Brooks, a 2025 draftee, had high promise but has simply not done enough to be secure in his place.

None of the current backs rostered (RB Kentrel Bullock, RB Jamal Haynes, RB Kendall Milton) seemed to have done enough or been given enough of an opportunity to be that guy.

It would seem a back on another team or one soon to be cut might be that guy.

For now, whoever that third guy is will not be a dynasty play. Granted Brown is a free agent after the season but I do not see a path where a guy not on the roster is the ultimate Brown replacement. Stay away but stay tuned.

WIDE RECEIVERS

The first two are as good or better than any in the NFL. After that, there are plenty of players to chose from but how relevant are they for fantasy? WR Ja'Marr Chase and WR Tee Higgins are must-starts in any format.

There is not a clear cut third receiver on the team but even if there is will they get used enough to put in your lineup or even keep on your roster?

In short, they are roster worthy. If Chase or Higgins misses time, the third wideout is more than worthy of action. WR Andrei Iosivas is the veteran incumbent but rookie WR Colbie Young is a solid rookie who could easily unseat the veteran.

WR Dohnte Meyers, a former CFL standout, is drawing high praise from veterans and media alike during camp. He had some special teams play in the pre-season game against the Bears, so he could be going through the process of taking over WR Charlie Jones spot as a fifth receiver and return specialist.

WR Mitch Tinsley, WR Noah Thomas and WR Ke'Shawn Williams have had their moments but, even if they make the 53, they are not worth rostering.

To me, this is a deep group for NFL purposes but top heavy for fantasy. Chase and Higgins are the only two starters but Young provides dynasty relevance more than Iosivas.

TIGHT END

TE Drew Sample is listed as the starting tight end on the Bengals depth chart. I know it's training camp but it seems unusual that a No. 1 tight end on a depth chart is not so much worth a spot on your fantasy roster.

Oh, Sample will get a touchdown or two when you might wish he was on your roster or in your lineup. But truth is, the Bengals do not use the tight end as a high volume position. Collectively the tight ends on the team post solid numbers but with Sample, TE Mike Gesicki and TE Tanner Hudson splitting time for various formations, it makes it difficult to roster one, let alone start them.

TE Erick All Jr is an interesting player, one with great athleticism but greatly injured. He is healthy now and making big waves in camp. How he turns out in terms of fantasy football remains to be seen but the talk is such that if he is available on your waiver wire or in a deal, get him now. He could turn out to be the third option in the passing game instead of another wide receiver and that would be huge.

TE Cam Grandy has received a few notes among Bengals beat reporters during camp but he seems more like Sample and Hudson than the others.

Rookie TE Jack Endries, who has big-time receiving chops, but is still a rookie.

Could there ever be a Bengals tight end worth playing? Gesicki was supposed to be the guy but just like Sample he has a moment or two but nothing worth using from a volume standpoint. Endries is worth stashing. All would be the guy who makes us forget about the lack of tight end use over the years because he is the most complete player at the position.

For now, All and Endries are intriguing longshots to keep on your roster but until this team's philosophy on tight end usages changes, I am not sure any are going to be major fantasy forces.

KICKER

PK Evan McPherson is a good kicker. He had a great rookie season but then fell off a bit. Still he is a good kicker on one of the best offenses in the NFL and is a must-start every week if your league uses kickers. He is a specially good at long distance kicks so extra points for 50-plus yard field goals makes McPherson a must-have.
IDP

This will be an interesting unit in 2026. The Bengals defense will be better, bank on that. But will anyone be fantasy relevant?

If you are in a league that uses defensive tackles, DL Dexter Lawrence is an obvious play. DE Myles Murphy and DE Boye Mafe are veterans who can post solid numbers but will either be at the high end of the sack chart, if your league uses that?

Guys like DE Shemar Stewart and DE Cashius Howell could be those sack plays waiting to happen. Stewart, who hyperextended his leg early in camp, might be the best one to have given his overall play. May not be a top sacker but could be a good overall tackler. Keep an eye on how the injury plays out. He has yet to return to practice.

Howell is showing that college production can indeed relate to NFL production, at least during camp. That is something the Bengals have avoided in recent drafts. They opt for traits over production, but Howell is the opposite and it looks like a good pick. If you can stash him on your dynasty roster, I would do so.

Linebacker is the fantasy spot that has the most solid plays. Pick the Green Dot guy and go from there. Welp, LB Barrett Carter and LB Demetrius Knight Jr are now second year players who are expected to play a lot again this year. They might post fantasy numbers but both have a lot to prove and plenty riding on the success of this defense to be question marks for NFL purposes.

I speculated a veteran lineback might be added but that is not likely to happen. LB Swayze Bozeman has shown promise and could be another worthy stash.

In the secondary, the Bengals employ five players. DB Bryan Cook is the big free agent signing, coming home to lead the team. He is a solid play for sure.

DB Jordan Battle is the other safety, which normally is the best spot for IDP play. DB D.J. Turner II and DB Dax Hill are strong NFL corners. If your league uses CB as a position, Hill is the one to pick. DB Jalen Davis is the nickel guy and against some teams is a good play against those teams who use multiple wideouts as their base set.

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TRANSACTIONS

August

15-Signed DB Matthew McDoom. Placed DB Ceyair Wrigh on Exempt/Left Team list.

15-Cleared DT B.J. Hill to practice

6-Cleared TE Josh Kattus to practice

4-Waived DB Isaiah Nwokobia

July

25-Placed DT B.J. Hill on PUP List. Placed TE Josh Kattus on Non-Football Injury List.

June

9-Signed DE Cashius Howell (2^nd round)

May

13-Signed CB Tacario Davis (3^rd round)

8-Signed the following draft picks: OL Connor Lew (4^th round), WR Colbie Young (4^th round), OL Brian Parker (6^th round), TE Jack Endries (7^th round), DL Landon Robinson (7^th round).

8-Signed the following college free agents: OL Liam Brown (Montana), RB Kentrel Bullock (So. Alabama), LB Jack Dingle (Cincinnati), LB Eric Gentry (So. California), HB Jamal Haynes (Ga. Tech), OL Christian Jones (San Diego St), TE Josh Kattus (Kentucky), DB Isaiah Nwokobia (So. Methodist), OL Corey Robinson II (Arkansas), WR Noah Thomas (Georgia), DB Ceyair Wright (Nebraska).

8-Acquired on waivers LB Swayze Bozeman (NY Giants)

April

19-Acquired DT Dexter Lawrence in trade with New York Giants for draft pick 1.10. Signed Lawrence to contract extension

7-Waived OL Matt Lee

2-Signed CB JaSir Taylor, DB Kyle Dugger

March

25-Re-signed QB Joe Flacco

14-Signed QB Josh Johnson

13-Signed DT Jonathan Allen

12-Signed OT Orlando Brown Jr. to contract extension

12-Signed DB Bryan Cook

12-Signed DE Boye Mafe

11-The contracts for the following 12 players expired making them unrestricted free agents: DB Tycen Anderson, LB Brian Asamoah II, TE Noah Fant, QB Joe Flacco, DE Trey Hendrickson, DE Joseph Ossai, OL Lucas Patrick, DE Cam Sample, DB Geno Stone, DB Cam Taylor-Britt, OL Cordell Volson, DB Marco Wilson.

11-QB Jake Browning became a free agent.

2-Signed OL Dalton Risner to contract extension

FEBRUARY

20-Signed DB Jalen Davis to contract extension.

20-Re-signed RB Kendall Milton

18-Re-signed WR Kendric Pryor

9-Activated from Reserve/Injured List LB Brian Asamoah II, DE Trey Hendrickson, DT Kris Jenkins Jr., OL Matt Lee, DB Cam Taylor-Britt, OL Cordell Volson, DB Marco Wilson

9-Activated from Reserve/PUP List TE Erick All Jr.

9-Activated from Reserve/Future List LB Liam Anderson, OL Jacob Bayer, RB Gary Brightwell, QB Sean Clifford, OT Andrew Coker, DT Howard Cross III, OT Javon Foster, WR Xavier Johnson, CB Jalen Kimber, CB Bralyn Lux, WR Jordan Moore, LB Antwaun Powell-Ryland, DB Russ Yeast.

That's it for the preseason! See you next time for my Week #1 fantasy preview!

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