Cincinnati

Bengals

Jones has been a special-teamer only for the Bengals, falling well behind Mitchell Tinsley on the depth chart this year. He managed 20 offensive snaps and 106 special-teams snaps as a returner. Entering the final year of his rookie deal, Jones is not worth rostering in fantasy leagues, but has been a solid core special teamer for the Bengals.

Brown is back at practice Friday after missing time earlier in the week with an illness. The 25-year-old running back is good to go for the matchup in Week 18 against the Browns. He needs just 53 yards rushing to have his first 1,000-yard rushing season of his career. Brown is an RB1 for managers playing their fantasy championship in Week 18.

Brown missed yesterday’s practice as well. Were he to sit out in Week 18 against the Browns, it would likely mean RB Samaje Perine handles a sizable, fantasy-friendly workload. Bengals rookie RB Tahj Brooks could also take on some rushing work. Players typically play through illness, but we have seen a few sickness-related game-day absences as of late. Brown still has a chance to play. Stay tuned.

Taylor said that Burrow gives them the best chance to win, which is both true and not really the point anymore given the Bengals were officially eliminated from playoff contention weeks ago. Burrow is wrapping up his second season in the last three years in which he appeared in 10 games or less due to injury. A significant injury against the Browns in Week 18 would be absolutely devastating for the Bengals and Burrow, who carries a nearly $48 million cap hit in 2026. Maybe Taylor comes to his senses before game-time or he lets Joe Flacco at least play the second half, but he’s remained consistent in recent weeks about Burrow playing.

This is close to Gesicki’s standard statline when the Bengals’ offense is at full strength, which it is at the current moment. They have a rough Week 18 matchup in the Browns, meaning Gesicki probably won’t be much of a DFS play even with the usual final Sunday chicanery primed to be more insane than ever this season.

It was a disappointing statline on an afternoon where Joe Burrow cleared 300 yards in three quarters, but Higgins at least didn’t stick finals-week managers with a zero. Held under 60 in each of his two appearances since returning from his latest concussion, Higgins is closing out the year on a quiet note. That probably won’t change for a Week 18 matchup with the Browns’ elite defense.

Brown’s third 100-yard rushing effort of the season included his first multi-score day on the ground. Rather amazingly, Brown entered the proceedings with just four rushing touchdowns, though he had supplemented them with four aerial strikes. He also lost another score to Samaje Perine, but this was an exclamation point on a monster stretch run and fantasy playoff performance from the early-season disappointment. Brown will remain in the low-end RB1 mix heading into 2026.

Musing during the week about the fact he had not scored since Week 7, Chase naturally responded with the 13th multi-score effort of his increasingly-illustrious career. No. 1 was a 13-yard YAC job on a first quarter quick out. No. 2 was an eight-yarder on a second quarter goal-line slant. Leading 30-7 midway through the third quarter and 37-7 before the frame was through, the Bengals then took the air out of the ball for the entire fourth quarter. Stacking up absurd stats as always, Chase is just three receptions away from his second straight 120-catch campaign. He should be rocking and rolling early against the Browns in Week 18.

We can’t write “in the Bengals’ Week 17 win over the Cardinals” because there was actually 12:06 remaining when Burrow took a seat with the Bengals leading 37-7. Doing whatever he wanted against one of the league’s worst defenses — including finding Ja’Marr Chase for a pair of touchdowns, his first since October 16 — Burrow’s two scores brought him to 154 for his career, tying him with Carson Palmer for fourth in Bengals franchise history. Burrow could have had a 4-5 score day, but the Bengals kept advancing inside the Cardinals’ five-yard line then punching it on the ground. Healthy and dealing, Burrow should be out there to put the finishing touches on his 2025 box scores against the Browns in Week 18.

Fant has been a small part of the Bengals’ offense since Mike Gesicki’s return, but he will be out there for what should be a high-scoring affair. He’s not worth a DFS punt play. Inactive for the Bengals are QB Jake Brownin, WR Charlie Jones, CB Josh Newton, S PJ Jules, EDGE Joseph Ossai, TE Cam Grandy and DT Jordan Jefferson.