Fantasy Football Player Notes

Ja'Marr Chase emerges as the cornerstone of the Bengals offense in 2024, coming off a stellar season with 100 receptions and over 1,200 yards. Despite finishing as the WR13 in 2023, his true potential shone with Joe Burrow, averaging 16.2 points per game and ranking as the WR6 from Weeks 1-10. With his consistent red zone presence, leading the NFL in red zone targets per game over the last two seasons, Chase is poised for WR1 status, a position historically correlated with dominating red zone opportunities.

Tee Higgins' 2023 season was marred by injuries, limiting him to just 12 games. Despite this, he showcased his big-play ability with an impressive 15.6 yards per reception, 14 receptions of 20+ yards and 4 games with 20-plus points scored. His 37% air yards share highlighted his importance in the Bengals' downfield passing game. While his fantasy production suffered due to injuries, his command of air yards suggests he remains a dominant receiver, as evidenced by several standout performances. Buy the discount in a contract year.

If Joe Burrow gets a full season of good health in 2024, he'll likely be one of the more valuable fantasy assets at the QB position. The 2023 season was a frustrating one for Burrow, who got off to a slow start due in part to a calf injury he sustained in training camp, then went on injured reserve in mid-November with a wrist injury. Four games into the 2023 season, with his ailing calf clearly hindering his mobility and perhaps his throwing mechanics, Burrow was QB31 in fantasy scoring averaging 8.4 fantasy points per game. Then he caught fire, averaging 296.0 yards and 2.4 TD passes over a five-game stretch from Week 5 to Week 10 in which he was QB4 in fantasy points per game. That's the Burrow we hope to see in 2024 if his health cooperates. He'll once again get to work with his longtime LSU and Bengals teammate Ja'Marr Chase, one of the finest wide receivers in the game, not to mention high-quality No. 2 receiver Tee Higgins.

Moss parlayed his starting stint last year with the Colts into a possible starting gig with the Bengals. In the seven games he started and played at least 50% of the snaps, he finished with 21.1 touches and 98.5 total yards per game. Moss should handle the early downs in Cincinnati this season after ranking 15th in missed tackles forced per attempt and 18th in yards after contact per attempt last year (per Fantasy Points Data). Chase Brown could eat into his pass game work as Moss was only 41st in yards per route run and 48th in targets per route run. Even if his passing game usage is capped, being the early down back on one of the league's best offenses still puts him in the RB2/3 conversation.

Chase Brown remains a high-end handcuff bet for 2024 that could offer some stand-alone value if he can eat into Zach Moss's workload. Brown was impressive on a per-touch basis last season, although the sample size is pretty limited (44 carries). Among 77 backs with at least 40 carries, Brown ranked 12th in yards after contact per attempt and 16th in missed tackles forced per attempt (per Fantasy Points Data). Brown is a player to get exposure with during draft season because the upside is there for him to outkick his ADP.

Jermaine Burton emerged as a standout receiver during his senior year at Alabama, boasting a 30% dominator rating and showcasing his dynamic playmaking abilities. His time at Georgia also demonstrated his talent, despite facing competition for targets. Notably, Burton's deep-threat capability was highlighted by his high average depth of target (aDOT) and impressive efficiency (zero recorded drops in 2023) making him a promising prospect for the Bengals after being drafted in the third round. While concerns exist regarding occasional off-field issues, Burton's potential impact in Cincinnati's passing game could be significant, especially given the uncertainty surrounding Tee Higgins' future with the team.

Their DST should be a strong Week 1 option play versus the Patriots.