• Head Coach: Zac Taylor (7th season)
• PFF projected win total: 9.4
• 2024 Record: 9-8 (3rd in AFC North)

Biggest strength: Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins

When Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins are all on the field, the Bengals can compete with anyone. Cincinnati went 8-4 in games where the trio was healthy and active. Burrow remains one of the league’s premier pocket passers, Chase is a dynamic threat from anywhere on the field and Higgins consistently wins against single coverage. Together, they help mask plenty of flaws across the rest of the roster.

Biggest weakness: Offensive Line

Subpar offensive line play has been a constant throughout Joe Burrow’s tenure in Cincinnati. The Bengals’ offensive line has finished in the bottom five in PFF grade in four of Burrow’s five seasons, including a 2024 campaign that saw them rank 29th in both pass-blocking and run-blocking grade. With no major additions this offseason, the team will rely on internal improvement from a largely unchanged group.

Quarterback spotlight: Joe Burrow

• 2024 PFF Grade: 93.9
• Key Stat: 93.0 passing grade on throws released under 2.5 seconds (best in the NFL)

Burrow’s ability to process defenses from the pocket and maintain elite accuracy under pressure remains elite. He finished second only to Lamar Jackson in passing grade last season and led the NFL in passing grade on throws released in under 2.5 seconds. He also avoided costly mistakes, posting a career-best 1.9% turnover-worthy play rate.

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Offensive player: WR Ja’Marr Chase

Chase led the NFL in receptions, receiving yards and touchdowns during the 2024 regular season — becoming just the fifth player since the merger to accomplish the triple crown. He’s an explosive playmaker with elite consistency and has earned a receiving grade between 84.9 and 86.7 in each of his four NFL seasons. Given the Bengals’ heavy reliance on their passing game, Chase is poised for another dominant year in 2025.

Defensive player: ED Trey Hendrickson

Trey Hendrickson has emerged as one of the NFL’s premier pass rushers during his time in Cincinnati. Since 2021, he ranks fifth among qualified edge defenders in pass-rush grade (92.2), fourth in pressure rate and eighth in pass-rush win rate. That stretch includes a dominant 2024 season in which he led the league in sacks. Without Hendrickson, Cincinnati’s pass rush would have been virtually nonexistent last year.

Rookie to watch: ED Shemar Stewart

The Bengals selected Shemar Stewart in the first round to bolster Trey Hendrickson and the rest of the defensive line. Stewart is a rare athlete with high-end physical tools, though his pass-rush arsenal is still a work in progress. While his impact as a rusher may take time, he can contribute immediately against the run — his 88.2 run-defense grade ranked sixth among qualified FBS edge defenders last season.

Fantasy spotlight: RB Tahj Brooks

Brooks proved he can handle a true workhorse role at Texas Tech, racking up 665 touches over the past two seasons while maintaining strong efficiency. He peaked with a 90.1 PFF overall grade in 2023 and exceeded expectations at the NFL Scouting Combine, posting a 97th-percentile 20-yard shuttle and an 84th-percentile three-cone drill.

While he may not be the most explosive back in this class, Brooks has the durability and consistency to carry a heavy workload and keep the chains moving at the NFL level.

Best bet: QB Joe Burrow to lead the NFL in passing yardage (+550)

Armed with two of the NFL’s top receivers, Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, and a strong track record for success, Burrow will undoubtedly find himself in the race for the NFL’s passing yardage title for a second consecutive season. His projection of more than 4,200 yards lands at the top spot in PFF’s fantasy projections, a number Burrow is more than capable of hitting if healthy.

Bottom line

With Burrow, Chase and Higgins, the Bengals can compete with anyone. But to make the leap from playoff hopeful to true Super Bowl contender, they need a more reliable offensive line and greater consistency on defense.