Survive and Advance
Few veteran players were impacted more by their team's draft strategy than Chase Brown.
Brown's pre-draft ambiguity wasn't about his 2024 production—he finished as the No. 12 running back in half-PPR with 228 fantasy points—but rather about whether the Bengals would invest early at the position. They didn't. Cincinnati walked away with only sixth-rounder Tahj Brooks, effectively preserving Brown's standing atop the depth chart.
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There is a reason that his status as the lead back was up in the air, though. It's not as though Brown took this job and made it a no-brainer for the Bengals. As for what he did well, that starts in the passing game.
Receiving Profile
Brown's floor was built on his receiving usage, which should project favorably for his outlook this year.
He was targeted 65 times (4.1 per game) last season, fifth most among NFL running backs. He posted 345 yards after the catch, including 72 yards over expected. He added 0.11 expected points per target, which is excellent efficiency for his volume.
Running Backs with 4+ Targets/Game in 2024
| Player | Targets per game | EPA/Target | half-ppr fantasy rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bijan Robinson | 4.2 | +0.08 | RB4 |
| De'Von Achane | 5.1 | +0.25 | RB6 |
| Alvin Kamara | 6.4 | -0.11 | RB10 |
| Chase Brown | 4.1 | +0.11 | RB12 |
| Breece Hall | 4.8 | -0.11 | RB17 |
| Ken Walker III | 4.8 | +0.08 | RB28 |
| Javonte Williams | 4.1 | -0.10 | RB31 |
Brown also ran the sixth-most routes among all running backs and posted a 4% catch rate over expected.
Brooks isn't likely to be a threat to steal passing downs. Veterans Zack Moss and Samaje Perine could siphon off passing work, theoretically. Moss was respectable in limited reps last year (27 targets, +0.40 EPA/target), but Brown is more efficient and consistent.
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