2026 Cincinnati Bengals Team Preview
A Joe Burrow injury (nine missed games) in 2025 led to a 6 -11 record
for the Cincinnati Bengals and a third missed playoff season. Zac Taylor
returns for his eighth season (52 -63-1). He saw his four -year winning
streak (10 -7, 12 -4, 9 -8, and 9 -8) snapped. B urrow is 43 -33-1 in his
career, while missing 32 games over six years. His greatest success
came in the 2021 playoffs, culminating in a Super Bowl loss. He has a
5-2 record in the postseason.
Dan Pitcher returns for a second season as Cincinnati’s offensive
coordinator. Before 2025, he held the Bengals' quarterback coach
position for four seasons. He started in their system in 2016 (offensive
assistant) at age 29. Last year, Cinci finished 12th in scoring (414
points) and 17th in offensive yards (5,835).
The Bengals will give AL Golden a second chance to run their defense.
Over his previous three seasons, he worked as the defensive
coordinator and linebackers coach for Notre Dame. From 2016 to 2021,
Golden held defensive coaching positions for the Lions and Cincinnati.
Their defense ranked poorly over the past three seasons in points
allowed (384 – 21st, 434 – 25th, and 492 – 31st) and yards allowed
(31st, 25th, and 31st). Over 10 seasons in college as a head coach,
Golden had a 59-59 record.
Offense
The Bengals continue to be a high -volume passing team. They
attempted 652 passes in 2024, followed by 640 passes in the air last
season, even with Joe Burrow out for more than half the year. Cinci
moved up one spot to 29th in rushing yards (1,590) and attempts (381).
Their backs scored 11 times on the ground while gaining 4.2 yards per
carry. Cincinnati fell to seventh in passing yards (4,244) with the third -
most completions (412). They scored the second -most passing
touchdowns (36) with 17 interceptions (n ine in 2024). Their offensive
line gave up 36 sacks, 12 fewer than the previous year, only due to
Teams RATT YDS Run% ATT YDS Pass% Plays Yards
C incinnati Bengals 381 1591 0.373 640 4244 0.627 1021 5835
Offensive Run/Pass Splits
quicker, shorter pass attempts (6.6 yards – only 47 completions of 20
yards or more).
Quarterbacks
WR Ja'Marr Chase, CIN
Ja'Marr Chase projects for 3 carries for 1466 yards and 0 TDs, plus 120 catches for 1466 yards and 11 TDs in the Cincinnati Bengals offense. This projection-derived outlook should be reviewed against the depth chart, ADP context, and player-ID match report before CMS import.
QB Joe Burrow, CIN
Joe Burrow projects for 4687 passing yards, 33 passing TDs, and 10 INTs, with 140 rushing yards and 2 rushing TDs adding fantasy value for the Cincinnati Bengals. This is a projection-derived draft blurb and requires player-ID and team validation before CMS import.
WR Tee Higgins, CIN
Tee Higgins projects for 73 catches for 1009 yards and 8 TDs in the Cincinnati Bengals offense. This projection-derived outlook should be reviewed against the depth chart, ADP context, and player-ID match report before CMS import.
RB Chase Brown, CIN
Chase Brown projects for 239 carries for 1028 yards and 8 TDs, plus 64 catches for 453 yards and 4 TDs in the Cincinnati Bengals offense. This projection-derived outlook should be reviewed against the depth chart, ADP context, and player-ID match report before CMS import.
WR Andrei Iosivas, CIN
Andrei Iosivas projects for 42 catches for 526 yards and 3 TDs in the Cincinnati Bengals offense. This projection-derived outlook should be reviewed against the depth chart, ADP context, and player-ID match report before CMS import.
RB Samaje Perine, CIN
Samaje Perine projects for 72 carries for 301 yards and 2 TDs, plus 22 catches for 149 yards and 1 TDs in the Cincinnati Bengals offense. This projection-derived outlook should be reviewed against the depth chart, ADP context, and player-ID match report before CMS import.
TE Mike Gesicki, CIN
Mike Gesicki projects for 54 catches for 0 yards and 4 TDs in the Cincinnati Bengals offense. This projection-derived outlook should be reviewed against the depth chart, ADP context, and player-ID match report before CMS import.
WR Colbie Young, CIN
Colbie Young projects for 16 catches for 196 yards and 0 TDs in the Cincinnati Bengals offense. This projection-derived outlook should be reviewed against the depth chart, ADP context, and player-ID match report before CMS import.
TE Jack Endres, CIN
Jack Endres projects for 28 catches for 0 yards and 2 TDs in the Cincinnati Bengals offense. This projection-derived outlook should be reviewed against the depth chart, ADP context, and player-ID match report before CMS import.
WR Mitchell Tinsley, CIN
Mitchell Tinsley projects for 10 catches for 140 yards and 0 TDs in the Cincinnati Bengals offense. This projection-derived outlook should be reviewed against the depth chart, ADP context, and player-ID match report before CMS import.
RB Tahj Brooks, CIN
Tahj Brooks projects for 40 carries for 155 yards and 1 TDs, plus 5 catches for 35 yards and 0 TDs in the Cincinnati Bengals offense. This projection-derived outlook should be reviewed against the depth chart, ADP context, and player-ID match report before CMS import.
QB Joe Flacco, CIN
Joe Flacco projects for 186 passing yards, 1 passing TDs, and 1 INTs, with 6 rushing yards and 0 rushing TDs adding fantasy value for the Cincinnati Bengals. This is a projection-derived draft blurb and requires player-ID and team validation before CMS import.
RB Kendall Milton, CIN
Kendall Milton projects for limited stat volume in the current projection set in the Cincinnati Bengals offense. This projection-derived outlook should be reviewed against the depth chart, ADP context, and player-ID match report before CMS import.