Who Should I Start? Zack Moss or Chase Brown

Monday, March 11, 11:03 PM

According to NFL Media's Tom Pelissero, the Bengals and free-agent running back Zack Moss agreed to a two-year, $8 million deal. Cincinnati released Joe Mixon on Monday night, so it didn't take the team long to fill the void in the backfield. Moss is coming off his best year since being drafted in 2020, showcasing his talents while filling in for the oft-injured Jonathan Taylor. In 14 regular season appearances, he finished with 794 yards off 183 touches to the tune of 4.3 yards per carry. The 26-year-old also caught 27 passes for 192 yards while totaling seven touchdowns (five rushing, two receiving). It's reasonable to assume Moss will get the bulk of the work in Cincinnati. But the Bengals have a few up-and-coming options, notably Chase Brown, who could compete for routine snaps heading into the 2024-25 campaign. That said, Moss should benefit from playing alongside Joe Burrow (wrist), Ja'Marr Chase, and potentially Tee Higgins, assuming he is the No.1 option on the depth chart by the end of training camp.

Sunday, January 7, 9:26 PM

Cincinnati Bengals running back Chase Brown had 43 yards off 11 carries in Sunday's win over the Browns. He added one catch for 10 yards. The Bengals were eliminated from playoff contention after the Week 17 loss to the Chiefs. However, Cincinnati wanted to end the year with a winning record. Brown's 11 attempts were the most of his career. Although he couldn't find the end zone for the second time this season, he still had a decent year as Joe Mixon's backup. At any rate, the 23-year-old should at least remain the No. 2 running back on the depth chart, so he'll draw interest from fantasy managers during drafts ahead of Week 1 for insurance purposes. Of course, the Bengals should strongly consider keeping Joe Mixon on the roster, even more so since he had 12 touchdowns this season. Yet, Brown's outlook could improve even more if he finds himself atop the depth chart heading into the 2024-25 campaign.