In the 5th round of the 2023 NFL draft, the Cincinnati Bengals selected running back Chase Brown from Illinois. The promising running back offers lots of upside, with the potential to take a leap in his sophomore season. Can Chase Brown lay claim to the lion’s share of the backfield work, or will it be closer to a 50/50 split between Brown and newcomer Zack Moss?
2023 statistics
2023 saw Chase Brown play second fiddle to Joe Mixon. In his rookie season, according to ESPN, Brown rushed for 179 yards on 44 attempts, good for 4.1 yards per carry. He also had 14 receptions on 15 targets for 156 yards (11.1 yards per reception) and one touchdown. With Joe Mixon (309 touches in 2023) being shipped off to the Houston Texans, there are opportunities for Chase Brown to have a great season.
Fantasy Upside
At his ADP of 122.5 (Sleeper), he is currently slotted as the 40th running back off the board. Given that the Bengals are looking to replace 300+ touches expect Brown to be given a healthy dose of those. Chase Brown proved at the University of Illinois he could handle a workhorse load if the team required it. FOX Sports tracked Brown rushing 328 times for 1,643 yards and ten touchdowns in 2022. That’s 27.3 attempts per game for 136.9 rushing yards per game!
He has the speed to be an excellent change of pace back if that’s how the Bengals decide to use him. Having a 4.43 forty-yard dash was good enough for fifth among all running backs at the combine in ’23, according to NBC Sports. In 2023, he had the second-fastest ball carrier speed of the season (22.05 mph) based on NextGen stats, behind only DK Metcalf (22.23 mph).
Risks
With new backfield running mate Zack Moss, the Bengals may experiment with how they utilize both backs, causing for some early season uncertainty. Both running backs have the chance to take advantage of the number one role. It will be interesting to see who can take advantage of the opportunities given to them.
Final thoughts
All the rumblings from training camp so far have been that Chase Brown continues to impress. Taking a lot of reps with the first-team offense. Drafting Brown at his ADP of 122.5 isn’t going to kill your fantasy team, with him being a fourth or fifth running back. He is going to have enough volume in 2024 to be a satisfactory flex option on any given week.
If things continue trending in the direction they are going now, Chase Brown could be a steal at his current ADP. Time will tell, but for now, it’s a situation to watch.
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