Running back named Bengals’ most valuable fantasy football pick

When it comes to fantasy football, new Cincinnati Bengals running back Zack Moss is a player to keep an eye on. The Bengals signed Moss to a two-year deal after trading incumbent running back Joe Mixon to the Houston Texans earlier in the offseason, and Moss is expected to carry a heavy load for the Bengals in 2024.

That’s why Moss was recently listed as Cincinnati’s top fantasy value pick for 2024 by Bleacher Report. The magazine believes Moss should have plenty of opportunity to put up big numbers with the Bengals, especially if he can become a consistent target of quarterback Joe Burrow in the passing game.

From the Bleacher Report:

“Moss played well in place of Jonathan Taylor in Indianapolis last year, flirting with 1,000 yards from scrimmage and recording two starts in which the 26-year-old gained more than 120 yards on the ground. Moss also set a career-high in receptions last season. If he gets a significant share of the passing work in Cincinnati, he could be a cost-effective source of RB2 numbers.”

As the projected starter in Cincinnati, Moss should actually have the opportunity to put up some good numbers and establish himself as a top-tier fantasy option at the running back position.

The biggest potential obstacle to Moss’ successful fantasy year is the emergence of second-year running back Chase Brown. Brown averaged 4.1 yards per carry in 2023, which is a respectable number, especially for a first-year player. He also showed he can be effective as a receiver as well. Brown caught 14 passes (out of 15 targets) for 156 yards and a touchdown as a rookie. That’s an average of over 11 yards per catch – or a first down and a changeup every time he caught the ball.

The Bengals plan to use a timeshare approach to the running back position next season, and how much time is allotted to Brown will have a big impact on how effective Moss will be as a fantasy back. If Brown is used as a consistent pass catcher out of the backfield, that could take away Moss’ opportunity on the field. Regardless, Moss is a player to watch in future fantasy drafts.