2023 was a difficult season for the Bengals as they had to compete with Joe Burrow on the shelf for most of the year with a major injury. Burrow returns this year, and with it, the Bengals have another chance to make the Super Bowl. There is a lot of controversy right now as Tee Higgins has expressed a desire to get traded, which could change the Bengals’ fantasy landscape. Additionally, Joe Mixon is now in Houston, which leaves a gaping hole at running back. Lastly, offensive coordinator Brian Callahan is now the new head coach in Tennessee. Callahan was a pass-first coordinator, and it’ll be interesting to see if that changes with him now gone.
Burrow should likely be one of the top ten quarterbacks taken in any fantasy draft, assuming he’s 100% healthy. Pay close attention to how his health is doing in training camp and during preseason to make sure that he’s worth the sixth-round ADP.
Chase will likely go as one of the top five or six overall picks in any draft. Regardless of whether the quarterback is Joe Burrow or Jake Browning, Chase has shown that he can make big plays and lead teams to fantasy championships. With Tyler Boyd now in Tennessee, expect to see Chase take a few more snaps in the slot. If he can get a few quick slants thrown to him he might make some huge plays.
With Joe Mixon now in Houston, the Bengals starting running back appears to be former Buffalo Bill and Indianapolis Colt Zach Moss. Moss was terrific last year when Jonathan Taylor when was out for a few weeks. Now Moss will be the likely starter in Cincinnati, and 2nd year RB Chase Brown will be his backup. Brown started to show some life towards the end of last season, but as of right now, he doesn’t look like someone who’s going to be taking 15 touches a game just yet. Moss will be the likely short-yardage and goal-line threat and the better pick in fantasy to start the season.
Will Tee Higgins get traded, or will he remain with the team? If he stays with the team, he is the obvious #2 receiver in a loaded offense. Higgins is a monster in his own right and is worthy of a late second-early third-round pick in most fantasy drafts. If Higgins does get traded, there’s a good chance that he may be the number-one receiver on his next team, so we have to monitor this closely. The one big reservation that all fantasy managers should have is that if Higgins has some sort of minor injury, I could see it becoming a major problem where he decides not to play because he doesn’t want to endanger his future expected earnings.
Burton is one of the best sleeper picks right now at wide receiver. The Bengals took him in the third round, but he has the first-round type of talent. He’s starting the year as the #WR3, but if something happens with Higgins or Chase, he will move into the starting lineup and could be a difference-maker. Ideally, he’s better suited in best-ball leagues, but he’s still well worth drafting in seasonal leagues, too.
The Bengals go as Joe Burrow goes. If Burrow is healthy, then this team should be an offensive juggernaut.
