Bengals: RB Chase Brown will be a focal point

Jul 21, 2025

Bengals Offensive Coordinator Dan Pitcher said that RB Chase Brown will be one of the focal points of the Bengals offense this year.

Related players: Chase Brown, Zack Moss, Samaje Perine

Fantasy Impact:

It's an exciting through for those who own or will own Brown this season, especially considering how high-powered the offense can be, and, with a defense that struggled to stop anyone last season. Brown finished as the fantasy RB11 overall and RB16 on a per-game basis. He took over the backfield after Moss went down and made the most of his opportunity, ranking as the RB6 from Week 9 to Week 17. He caught 54 passes—5th among running backs—and played a key role in one of the league’s best offenses. The Bengals brought Moss back and added Perine, who could siphon off passing-down work and limit Brown’s weekly floor. Still, Brown looks like the favorite to lead this backfield in touches and carries high-end RB2 value in a high-scoring offense. If he holds onto the passing-game role, there’s room for more. He could be great value with his current ADP of the early-to-mid third round.

yesterday

Rams ink second-round TE Terrance Ferguson

Adam Schefter

yesterday · 2:09 PM EDT

The Rams signed second-round pick tight end Terrance Ferguson.

Fantasy Impact:

As the logjam of unsigned second-round picks breaks, Ferguson received about 83 percent of his contract fully guaranteed. Ferguson could be in the mix almost immediately in the Rams offense. He posted almost 1,600 receiving yards and 16 touchdowns in four seasons at Oregon and, given his size and ability, could become a favorite target sooner rather than later for quarterback Matthew Stafford. Rookie tight ends are always tough to project in their first year. Ferguson is averaging as the 27th tight end off the board.

Saints get second-round QB Tyler Shough under contract

Adam Schefter

yesterday · 1:55 PM EDT

The Saints signed second-round rookie quarterback Tyler Shough to a four-year deal worth $10.795 million.

Fantasy Impact:

The contract value was already known via the rookie wage scale, but with other second-round picks this year, it came down to how much of that money was going to be fully guaranteed. Shough received 100% of his deal fully guaranteed. Schefter also notes Shough received an annual Roster Bonus structure, meaning he will receive majority of his compensation each year during the first week of camp.

Shough had the leverage of being a quarterback when it came to the guarantees and saw every other player selected above him in the second round, except Browns RB Quinshon Judkins, who hasn't signed yet due to his legal issues, receive a fully guaranteed contract.

Shough will be in a camp battle with Spencer Rattler and Jake Haener for the starting role. Regardless, the outlook for the Saints is not a very strong one. That said, Shough could be the starter sooner rather than later. He's the quarterback that was brought in by new head coach Kellen Moore and the team spent a top-40 pick on him. Rattler and Haener were both Day 3 picks. The Saints report to camp on Tuesday, begin their preseason schedule August 10 on the road against the Los Angeles Chargers and kick off the regular season at home on September 7 against the Arizona Cardinals.

Jul 18

49ers place WRs Brandon Aiyuk and Ricky Pearsall on PUP

Adam Schefter

Jul 18 · 4:51 PM EDT

49ers placed WRs Brandon Aiyuk and Ricky Pearsall on the Active/Physically Unable to Perform list.

Fantasy Impact:

Aiyuk was expected, but Pearsall seems to be dealing with an undisclosed injury. We'll keep an eye on things, but we still expect the latter to be ready for Week 1. Regardless, Jennings continues to creep up rankings dispite his current contract dispute and finds himself as a borderline WR2/3 in our rankings, while Pearsall hovers in the WR4 range.