Running back targets for the Cincinnati Bengals in this year’s draft

Who should the Bengals pair with Chase Brown?

Chase Brown had a breakout season for the Bengals, but with Zack Moss entering the final year of his deal and coming off an injury-riddled season, they need to add another playmaker into the backfield.

Here are six potential fits in this year’s draft.

Cameron Skattebo – Arizona State – 5’9” 219

Comp: Baker Mayfield, if he were reincarnated as a wrecking ball (cue Miley Cyrus)

Cameron Skattebo tops this list, not because he is necessarily better than the others, but because his physical running style would be such an interesting change from Chase Brown.

Skattebo runs angry. He’s an absolute jerk running the ball, and I use the word jerk only because the word I want to use would never make it past my editor.

Just watch the clip below all the way through. Make sure to watch the close up at the end.

I am telling you. Skattebo was not falling down.

He made the decision to stiff-arm that defender into the ground.

He’s not just a short-yardage back though. He has speed, vision, and excellent contact balance. He is even a good receiving threat.

Skattebo broke out in 2024 with over 1,700 yards rushing and 21 touchdowns, plus 45 receptions for another 605 yards. The self-proclaimed best running back in the nation finished fifth in Heisman voting. If he didn’t have a chip on his shoulder after being under-recruited and winding up at Sacramento State, he certainly does now. I would recommend you get out of the way.

He and Chase Brown would complement each other excellently. They can do all the same things, but they have very different styles.

D.J. Giddens – Kansas State – 6’1” 212

Comp: Rodney Anderson

The Bengals love productions, and D.J. Giddens has got it. He had over 3,000 yards from scrimmage over the past two seasons. They’ll also love that on 478 touches in those two years he only had one fumble.

He’s a high runner in the mold of Marcus Allen or Adrian Peterson. With his high knees pumping like pistons, he is hard to take down.

Giddens is always moving, but it’s not that he is dancing in the hole. His movement has purpose and creates lanes. He has good vision and can see cutbacks two or three gaps behind the play call, but he also has an innate ability to get skinny through whatever crease he can find.

He ran a 4.43 at the combine, and that’s evident on film, although he will get walked down over long distances. He has great burst and great jump cuts.

Ollie Gordon II – Oklahoma State – 6’1” 226

Comp: Duce Staley

Ollie Gordon II, or OG2 as he surely should be called, had over 2,000 yards from scrimmage in 2023, but that number was cut in half in 2024. So what happened?

Well, he had about 100 fewer carries despite playing only two fewer games. There also seems to be a consensus that he suffered from poor quarterback and offensive line play.

He definitely still looked like a guy who could get it done in the NFL. OG2 is a one-cut downhill runner with excellent lateral quickness and breakaway speed. He also gets it done as a pass-catcher who had 509 yards on 68 catches over the last two years.

Phil Mafah – Clemson – 6’1” 234

Comp: Joe Mixon wearing the Mask from 1994 film of the same name

Phil Mafah saw a steady increase in production over the past three seasons, culminating in a 1,000-yard performance in 2024.

At 6’1” 234, he is larger than most backs, but he still possesses speed and agility. He has excellent hips and can swivel and cut on a dime. Not surprisingly for a man of his size, he is a powerful runner as well.

He moves very similarly to Joe Mixon.

Devin Neal – Kansas – 5’11” 213

Comp: Devin Singletary

Devin Neal has been very productive and consistent with three straight seasons over 1,000 yards rushing.

Neal is a very balanced running back. He is powerful, has excellent contact balance, and can break tackles. He shows quickness with his cuts and crazy foot-fire to set them up. At times, he looks more like a receiver releasing than a running back. He’s also a pretty solid receiver out of the background.

He can do it all, but there is no single area of his game that really excites you. He’s just a very solid player.

Kyle Monangai – Rutgers – 5’8” 211

Comp: Travis Etienne

Kyle Monangai has tremendous burst. When he finds a hole, he is gone. He is very patient in the backfield, waiting for the play to develop. (Let’s be honest, that may not be the best fit in Cincy.) When he tries to make cuts down the field, it seems a bit laborious and unnatural.

He has some power, but at 5’8”, he could use his natural leverage better. Despite this and his penchant to see the hole open before hitting it, he has had success in goal line and short-yardage situations.

Monangai had 2,500 yards rushing over the last two seasons at Rutgers.