2026 Team Outlook: Cincinnati Bengals
RB Samaje Perine, CIN - Fantasy Handcuff
Over the past 10 seasons. Perine has worked as a rotational back for Washington, Cincinnati, Miami, Denver, and Kansas, while having his best touch opportunity (175/603/1 with 22 catches for 182 yards and one score) in his rookie season in 2017. He has been a serviceable RB2 over the past six seasons (370/1,653/11 with 171 catches for 1,413 yards and six touchdowns on 206 targets), highlighted by gaining 4.5 yards per carry and 8.3 yards per catch.
The Bengals barely used Perine over their first games (22/99 with six catches for 24 yards), followed by a flash game (100 combined yards with one touchdown and one catch on 10 touches). He missed Week 11 and Week 12 with an ankle issue. Cincinnati gave him 10.3 touches per game over their last six games (52/184/2 with 10 catches for 57 yards), despite gaining only 3.5 yards per rush and 5.7 yards per catch. Fantasy Outlook: Perine showed fade late in 2025, but he still has a high enough skill set to win the Bengals’ handcuff running back opportunity. I don’t expect him to be drafted in many fantasy leagues this summer.
WR Andrei Iosivas, CIN - Deep-league Only
Iosivas arrived in Cincinnati as a developmental vertical threat with speed (4.43 40-yard dash), frame (6'3" and 205 lbs.), and rising production (18/263/4 in 2019, 41/703/5 in 2021, and 66/943/7 in 2022 at 15.3 YPC) at Princeton that translated more in concept than immediately on the field. The raw tools were obvious; the refinement was the question. His rookie season was almost entirely a red zone story. Iosivas caught 15 of 25 targets for 116 yards and four touchdowns, with all four scores coming inside the 10-yard line (from three, two, three, and seven yards out). His best game came in a Week 18 cameo (5/36/2), a low-volume, high-efficiency preview of what he could become as a scoring specialist.
In 2024, Iosivas stepped into the WR3 role and delivered a more complete body of work (36 catches for 479 yards and six touchdowns on 61 targets), with seven catches of 20-plus yards showing his big- play capability. His concerns were the drops (6), which dragged his catch rate down to 59.0%, and a low-volume ceiling (Cincinnati gave him five targets or fewer in all but two games). He cracked 10.00 PPR fantasy points four times (2/7/2, 5/52/1, 3/35/1, 3/53/1), making him a touchdown-or-bust fantasy option more than a reliable weekly contributor. Iosivas' upside is real, but opportunity hasn't knocked on his door enough to be trusted. Progression was expected in year three of his NFL career, but the injury to Joe Burrow led to a step back in his game (33/449/2) despite similar targets (58 – 61 in 2024). His fantasy ticket came only twice last season (Week 5 – 5/82 and Week 9 – 5/66/1), both with Burrow out of the lineup. Fantasy Outlook: I expect Iosivas only to be drafted in deeper BestBall formats. His ADP (259) in the high-stakes market screams free-agent pool. Despite his regression in 2025, he out-snapped Tee Higgins (851 to 769), putting Iosivas on the field for 76.6% of the Bengals' plays. At the very least, he should be a wide receiver handcuff option to Higgins.
RB Tahj Brooks, CIN - Deep-league Only
Brooks put together two productive seasons at Texas Tech (575 carries for 3,047 yards and 27 touchdowns, plus 57 catches for 268 yards and one score) before Cincinnati selected him in the sixth round of the 2025 draft. He's a power-over-quickness runner with league-average speed, but his vision is a genuine asset, and he shows the ability to make defenders miss in tight spaces. His receiving production (102 career catches) looks better on paper than in game action (5.3 yards per catch), suggesting a diet of checkdowns rather than any real threat as a pass-catcher out of the backfield. In his rookie season, Brooks only touched the ball 17 times, leading to 54 combined yards with no touchdowns. His only issue was a concussion, costing him a Thanksgiving Day matchup. Fantasy Outlook: Brooks benefited from a heavy volume of touches at Texas Tech, and his counting stats reflect that more than any elite asset. His ceiling is below the best running backs in the NFL, making it difficult to unseat an established starter, and he profiles best as an early-down grinder with spot value near the goal line. Worth monitoring through training camp, if he makes a strong impression, a path to an RB2 role in Cincinnati isn't out of the question.
WR Colbie Young, CIN - Super Sleeper (high risk/potential)
CAMP SURPRISE - Cincinnati Bengals rookie wide receiver Colbie Young is generating massive hype due to his elite 6'5" frame and a standout training camp that has him pushing for the WR3 role. Selected in the fourth round out of Georgia, fans and coaches are excited because his massive catch radius makes 50-50 jump balls look effortless, giving Joe Burrow a premium red-zone weapon. He translated that practice buzz directly to the field in his last preseason game against the Bears, hauling in a 17-yard touchdown fade and leading the team in targets to firmly cement his breakout potential.
After progressing over two seasons at Miami of Florida (32/367/5 and 47/563/5), Young had minimal opportunities (11/149/2 and 26/358/1) over the following two years after transferring to Georgia, due to missing time with an off-the-field issue in 2024 and a broken leg last season. In his freshman year, Young had two impact games (9/101/1 and 6/126/2) in back-to-back weeks, hinting at a much better player. His edge in size (6'5" and 220 lbs.) stands out, and Young has above- average speed (4.49 40-yard dash at the 2026 NFL Combine) for his stature. He brings catcher's mitts for hands, along with the wingspan to
win high-pointed balls in jump-ball situations. His route running needs work, but Young will threaten defenses with his value after the catch. He must improve his release vs. physical corners, and his ability to get open takes a hit when moving back to the quarterback. Fantasy Outlook: Reading between Young's scouting lines suggests a player who will create winning opportunities in his rookie season for Joe Burrow. His ceiling should be higher than Andrei Iosivas', but Iosivas beats him with his experience in the Bengals' offense and route running. Young is a player to keep an eye on, but his profile will be boom or bust in his rookie campaign.
TE Jack Endries, CIN - Not Draft Worthy
Endres spent three college seasons split between California and Texas, peaking in 2024 with the Golden Bears (56/623/2) before a quieter final year with the Longhorns (33/346/3). He finished with 124 catches for 1,376 yards and seven touchdowns over 39 games, with his two best performances (8/119 and 9/101) coming midseason at Cal in 2024 with Fernando Mendoza at quarterback. His profile is one of a player with genuine upside in several areas, but Endries still needs to add strength and physicality to become a complete tight end. His route running lacks a true edge, but he has sneaky speed on longer developing routes that can catch defenders off guard. He plays with a basketball post mentality in contested catch situations, using his body to create space against man coverage, and his hands hold up well under pressure.
As a blocker, Endries finds his way to the right spot often enough, but needs more power at the point of contact to finish consistently. He's instinctive with the ball in his hands and takes what the defense offers, though getting off the line against physical press coverage remains a problem. Endries ran a 4.62 at the 2026 NFL Combine, not a speed limitation, but not a weapon either. The tools are there for development; the refinement is the work ahead. Fantasy Outlook: Endies slipped into a good tight end situation, but he must jump multiple players to earn a reasonable piece of the Bengals' passing pie. His best value may come late in the year, with development and more chances expected in 2027.
