One more RB domino fell on Monday night when the Bengals signed Zack Moss and cut ties with Joe Mixon. Moss, fresh off his most productive season as a pro, will team up with explosive second-year back Chase Brown, while Mixon hits the open market ahead of his age-28 season. Let’s dig into the fantasy outlooks for those affected by these moves.
CHASE BROWN
Old ranking: 107th overall on Underdog
New ranking: 104th overall
- Brown was lethal down the stretch with a dazzling 12.4 yards-per-target mark. His 4.43-second 40-yard dash isn’t record-breaking, but it’s certainly good speed at the RB position. He’ll be the lightning in a thunder-and-lightning RB duo with Moss, as the Bengals look to get the Illinois product out in space and make the most of his explosiveness.
- Cincinnati will likely work to get Brown the ball as a pass catcher, and he can certainly manage a respectable rushing workload as well. Moreover, this move more than anything signals that the Bengals have real faith in their second-year pro — a promising indication for Brown’s contingent value. If the Bengals don’t add another back, Brown could provide top-12 weeks if Moss misses time during the season.
- This also seems like a backfield that could shift during the year. If one RB is clearly outplaying the other, they’ll likely wind up getting more work down the stretch, similar to how Brown earned a sizable weekly role once he got healthy in 2023.
ZACK MOSS
Old ranking: 163rd overall on Underdog
New ranking: 102nd overall
- Moss had a breakout season with Jonathan Taylor in and out of the lineup in 2023, averaging 4.3 yards per carry while handling a massive workload (he had five games with at least an 80% snap share, plus another 30-carry outing where he played 76% of snaps). Considering Brown only had one game with double-digit carries as a rookie, Moss is likely better equipped to handle the bulk of the early-down work, although this will be a battle to watch in training camp. Moss also likely gets the primary goal-line role, which is pretty valuable considering the strength of the Bengals’ offense (assuming Joe Burrow is back to full health for 2024).
- Like Brown, Moss has elite contingent value, as he will be one injury away from assuming a workhorse role on a good offense, assuming the Bengals don’t add another back in free agency or the draft.
