Cincinnati Bengals Fantasy Football Outlook for 2024
The Bengals might have finished last in their division in 2023, but a 9-8 record is hardly anything to be ashamed of. After all, last season the AFC North became the first division where every team finished with a winning record since 1935!
Of course, the primary thorn in the Bengals’ side came from Joe Burrowstruggling to play through a calf injury in September before tearing a ligament in his right wrist in Week 11.
Kudos to the squad for winning four of their final seven games even without the services of Joe Shiesty, but expectations have never been higher in Cincy following 2021 Super Bowl and 2022 AFC Championship defeats.
Let’s take a quick look at all the Bengals’ fantasy-relevant coaching staff and major offseason moves (QB/RB/WR/TE) to this point to get an idea of how the 2024 roster is looking:
The addition of massive Georgia OT Amarius Mims with the 18th overall pick is a much-needed boost to the offensive line’s overall depth. After all, keeping No. 9 upright should always be priority No. 1 for Who Dey nation.
Reminder: Only Josh Allen(24.2), Jalen Hurts (23), and Patrick Mahomes (22.9) averaged more fantasy points per game than Burrow (20.8) during the 2021 and 2022 seasons. Hell, the latter edition even featured him posting a fantasy-friendly 75-257-5 rushing line on the season. The 2020 NFL Draft’s No. 1 overall pick is far from a statue in the pocket when functioning at 100%.
Here’s to hoping Burrow is just that after a full offseason to get healthy. While many have been quick to psychoanalyze every possible clip from OTAs, learned doctors have noted the data strongly favors a return to a full range of motion and grip strength, and there aren’t expected to be any long-term concerns.

FANTASY
Cincinnati Bengals Fantasy Football Outlook for 2024
by Ian Hartitz
|
2 months ago
TABLE OF CONTENTS
CINCINNATI BENGALS FANTASY FOOTBALL OUTLOOK: POSITION BY POSITIONQUARTERBACKRUNNING BACKWIDE RECEIVERTIGHT ENDBENGALS 2024 SEASON PREDICTIONMORE 2024 NFL TEAM PREVIEWS
The Bengals might have finished last in their division in 2023, but a 9-8 record is hardly anything to be ashamed of. After all, last season the AFC North became the first division where every team finished with a winning record since 1935!
Of course, the primary thorn in the Bengals’ side came from Joe Burrowstruggling to play through a calf injury in September before tearing a ligament in his right wrist in Week 11.
Kudos to the squad for winning four of their final seven games even without the services of Joe Shiesty, but expectations have never been higher in Cincy following 2021 Super Bowl and 2022 AFC Championship defeats.
Let’s take a quick look at all the Bengals’ fantasy-relevant coaching staff and major offseason moves (QB/RB/WR/TE) to this point to get an idea of how the 2024 roster is looking:
Head coach: Zac Taylor (37-44-1 in 5 seasons with the Bengals)Offensive coordinator: Dan Pitcher (63.6% pass-play rate as Bengals QB coach in 2020-23, 7th)Offseason arrivals: RB Zack Moss (2 years, $8 million), TE Mike Gesicki (1 year, $2.5 million)Offseason departures: RB Joe Mixon (Texans), WR Tyler Boyd(Titans), TE Irv Smith Jr. (Chiefs), TE Mitchell Wilcox(Patriots), QB A.J. McCarron (free agent)Fantasy-relevant draft picks: Alabama WR Jermaine Burton(3.80), Iowa TE Erick All(4.115), Arizona TE Tanner McLachlan (6.194)Reigning PFF O-line rank and returning starters: No. 26, 4/5
The addition of massive Georgia OT Amarius Mims with the 18th overall pick is a much-needed boost to the offensive line’s overall depth. After all, keeping No. 9 upright should always be priority No. 1 for Who Dey nation.
CINCINNATI BENGALS FANTASY FOOTBALL OUTLOOK: POSITION BY POSITION
QUARTERBACK
QB1: Joe Burrow (Fantasy Life consensus rank: QB7)QB2: Jake Browning
Burrow looked like a complete shell of himself during the first month of the season, rarely leaving the pocket or even taking a snap under center. The results were atrocious and largely nuked his numbers on the year.
Things started to really change after someone woke him up when September ended (see what I did there):
Week 5 at Cardinals: 317 pass yards-3 TD-1 INT, fantasy QB6Week 6 vs. Seahawks: 185-2-1, QB14Week 8 at 49ers: 283-3-0, QB5Week 9 vs. Bills: 348-2-0, QB6Week 10 vs. Texans: 347-2-2, QB8
Overall, Burrow posted top-seven marks in EPA per dropback (+.180, 7th), completion percentage over expected (+7.1%, 1st), PFF pass grade (83.3, 6th), and passer rating (107, 2nd) during this five-game stretch of good health. Even against some truly great defenses, he once again looked every bit like anyone’s idea of an elite professional QB.

Nov 16, 2023; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) looks to pass during the first quarter against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
Reminder: Only Josh Allen(24.2), Jalen Hurts (23), and Patrick Mahomes (22.9) averaged more fantasy points per game than Burrow (20.8) during the 2021 and 2022 seasons. Hell, the latter edition even featured him posting a fantasy-friendly 75-257-5 rushing line on the season. The 2020 NFL Draft’s No. 1 overall pick is far from a statue in the pocket when functioning at 100%.
Here’s to hoping Burrow is just that after a full offseason to get healthy. While many have been quick to psychoanalyze every possible clip from OTAs, learned doctors have noted the data strongly favors a return to a full range of motion and grip strength, and there aren’t expected to be any long-term concerns.
Working under the assumption that Burrow should be back to his usual self by Week 1, it’s hard not to be intrigued by the possibilities of this ever-loaded passing attack. After all, this group ranked fourth and second in yards (9,325) and TDs (71) through the air during the 2021 and 2022 seasons—and Fantasy Life projections accordingly have Burrow finishing inside the position’s top six producers in both categories ahead of 2025.
Bottom line: It seems pretty ridiculous that C.J. Stroud (QB5, pick 56 ADP) is going nearly two full rounds ahead of Burrow (QB7, 78.8) at the moment. Shocking but true: Burrow only had *one* fewer top-eight fantasy finish than Stroud last season, and he tied guys like Patrick Mahomes and Tua Tagovailoa. The Bengals’ franchise QB is a rock-solid mid-round option who doesn’t deserve to be going literally twice as late in drafts as he was before last season
