Cincinnati Bengals DVOA, Stats, & NFL Rankings

Cincinnati Bengals offensive tackle Orlando Brown Jr. (leg) and wide receiver Charlie Jones (groin) are both inactive again for Week 16 against the division-rival Cleveland Browns on Sunday. This will mark Brown's third straight missed game and sixth overall this season since Week 9. With the 28-year-old out again, expect Cordell Volson to make another start at left tackle while protecting quarterback Joe Burrow's blind side. Jones, meanwhile, has not suited up for the Bengals since Week 8 due to his groin injury. The 26-year-old has played in eight games in his second season in the NFL in 2024 and has caught his only target for a five-yard gain. With Jones out yet again, Khalil Herbert and Isaiah Williams will handle return duties on special teams. Brown and Jones will try to get ready to return in what could be a pivotal contest in Week 17 against the Denver Broncos.

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Andrei Iosivas does have a career-high five touchdowns in 2024 and resides in one of the best passing offenses in the NFL, but he's still not a viable flex play for fantasy managers looking to advance to championship matchups in Week 16. We would recommend ignoring him in starting fantasy lineups for a divisional tilt on Sunday against the Cleveland Browns. In the first meeting with Cleveland on Oct. 20, Iosivas put up a donut (he did so the following week as well). The 25-year-old just isn't seeing enough volume (51 targets on the year) behind target hogs Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. When you factor in tight end Mike Gesicki, Iosivas is quarterback Joe Burrow's No. 4 target, at best. In the last five weeks, Iosivas has been outside the top-50 wideouts with 11 catches, 127 yards and one touchdown on 16 targets. There's minimal upside here and a scary-low floor.

Cincinnati Bengals tight end Mike Gesicki had three catches for 37 yards in the Week 15 win over the Titans. Unfortunately, that type of showing has been the norm for the 29-year-old nearly all season. Granted, he has had a few potent fantasy showings. However, with 45 catches for 497 yards during the 2024-25 campaign, Gesicki can't be trusted from a fantasy standpoint, although managers in need can plug him in and hope for the best against a Browns defense that has struggled against opposing tight ends all year.

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase has been the best fantasy wideout all year. In the former LSU Tiger's 14 appearances this season, he has amassed 102 catches (138 targets) for 1,413 yards and 15 touchdowns. He found the end zone eight times in the four games heading into the Week 15 win over the Titans. While Chase didn't score versus Tennessee, he still had nine catches. With the Browns on tap for Week 16, nothing should change regarding Chase, meaning he should continue to get plenty of attention from Joe Burrow (wrist, knee). Keep him starting in all fantasy formats against Cleveland.

Cincinnati Bengals running back Chase Brown has had an excellent 2024-25 campaign. The 24-year-old has 832 yards off 191 carries and 47 catches for 318 yards. He's also combined for 11 touchdowns, finding the end zone at least once in seven of his previous nine appearances. With the Browns on tap for Week 16, Chase will need to stay involved for the Bengals, a team barely alive for the postseason. But since the 2023 No. 163 overall pick has been a go-to option for Joe Burrow (wrist, knee) all year, there's no reason to believe that will change versus a Cleveland defense that has allowed 25.4 points per game this season. As expected, Chase remains a must-start in all fantasy setups in Week 16.