Who Should I Start? Michael Penix Jr. or Chase Brown

Thursday, April 9, 5:39 AM

Cincinnati running back Chase Brown enters his fourth season with the Bengals, and seemingly his fourth season with lingering questions about his job security. The Bengals pick 10th in the upcoming NFL Draft and recently hosted Notre Dame prospect Jeremiyah Love on an official visit. Most draft analysts believe Love will be gone long before Cincinnati is on the clock, so if that is the case, or if the Bengals opt to address the bottom-dwelling defense that has held them back for years, Brown could emerge as one of fantasy's biggest winners from night one of the draft. A fifth-round selection in 2023, Brown has emerged as one of the most unheralded late-round success stories in recent years, finishing as the RB12 and RB8 over the past two seasons. While games won't be played for another five months, the Bengals appear to be heading into 2026 without any looming contract disputes and with their core of Brown, Joe Burrow, Ja'Marr Chase, and Tee Higgins at full health, which could again make them one of the most potent offenses in the league. Brown enters the final season of his rookie deal, and should Cincinnati elect to wait until the later rounds to add to the running back room, dynasty managers can take that as a vote of confidence for the 26-year-old back who may still be ascending.