Chase Brown Fantasy Football Outlook: Hero RB Target

If you drafted Chase Brown in 2024, he smashed his ADP and was probably a league winner for you. Brown finished as the overall PPR RB10 and, in a similar fashion to Bijan Robinson, took off as the season progressed. Brown started the first half of the season sharing the Cincinnati backfield with Zach Moss and averaged 11.25 fantasy points a game. Once he took over the Bengals’ lead back in Week 9, it was lights out from then on. We are bullish on Brown’s fantasy outlook this season. He does not, however, come with the same eighth-round discount he did in 2024.

Chase Brown Fantasy Football Outlook: Hero RB Target

2024 Year in Review

Chase Brown compiled 255 fantasy points on 1.350 all-purpose yards, 54 receptions, and 11 total touchdowns. Brown was a top-10 fantasy running back, and his season should have been even better, but he split running back touches with Zach Moss in the first half of 2024.

From week nine on, Brown averaged a robust 20.63 points per game, which was on a level with Saquon Barkley.  He posted 54 receptions, fifth best among fantasy running backs. During the above-mentioned time frame, Brown averaged 23.7 touches, 116.7 all-purpose yards, and played nearly 80% of the running back snaps. His 12.5% target share was ranked in the top six, and he was in the top 10 in first downs per route run. 

There was some downside to his running back metrics. Among 45 qualified running backs, he was ranked in the bottom 26 in explosive runs and missed tackles forced per rush attempt. The data told us Brown was good, but not necessarily elite.

Fantasy Football Profile: Chase Brown

2025 Projection

Chase Brown is projected to score 250 fantasy points on 235 attempts for 935 rushing yards and eight touchdowns. If he can maintain the same passing game usage, we should be looking at another 50-65 catches and an additional 2-4 touchdowns. 

Brown is tied to Joe Burrow and plays in an elite offense. Burrow led all fantasy quarterbacks in pass attempts, passing yards, and touchdown passes. 

Chase Brown Fantasy Football ADP

Chase Brown’s pre-season ranking in February was RB12, with an ADP of 36. He has since risen to RB10 in best ball rankings with an ADP of 22. His 289 touches were a career-high. So the question going into 2025 is whether he can be an anchor RB1 on fantasy rosters in 2025. Brown is smaller in stature at 5’10 and 210 pounds. The concern for us is whether he will hold up as a bellcow running back for an entire season. In addition, as previously mentioned, Brown is nowhere near the value he was last season, so you are therefore taking on more risk. That being said, there appears to be no real threat to his touches or role in the Cincinnati offense.

Bengals Coach Zac Taylor is a Sean McVay disciple, and therefore, the lead back in that offense is a coveted fantasy asset. Brown, barring injury, remains the Bengals’ lead back. For those who desire to start their fantasy drafts WR-WR, he is a nice option for you at the end of round two or early in round three.