Is Chase Brown playing this week? Injury update, fantasy outlook for Bengals RB ahead of Week 6 vs. Giants

After five games, the Bengals are fourth in the NFL in points per game (28.0).

But Cincinnati is just 1-4 and falling behind in the AFC North race early in the season. However, you can’t blame the team’s offense much; it plays well enough to keep the Bengals in the game – and a strong running back duo is a big part of that.

Zack Moss was the starter, but Chase Brown impressed as a sophomore from Illinois. However, Brown dealt with some injury concerns throughout the week as Cincinnati prepares to face the Giants in Week 6.

Here’s what you should know about Brown’s injury status ahead of the Bengals’ Sunday Night Football matchup, including a look at the team’s running back depth chart and Brown’s fantasy prospects.

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Is Chase Brown playing this week? Bengals RB injury update

While Brown is listed as questionable for Sunday’s game against the Giants, he is expected to play, according to Jordan Schultz of Fox Sports.

Brown had been dealing with a quadriceps injury all week and had limited practice on Thursday and Friday. However, it should be suitable for “Sunday Night Football.”

Bengals head coach Zac Taylor confirmed Friday that both Brown and Moss have also been cleared to play on Sunday.

In five games, Brown had 230 rushing yards at 5.6 yards per carry and three total touchdowns. He has become a key part of Cincinnati’s offense, racking up 27 carries over the last two weeks.

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Bengals RB depth chart

The Bengals have relied on Moss and Brown as a duo for five weeks as each has taken on their role in the team’s offense. Here’s a look at the Bengals’ running back depth chart:

rank	player
1	Zack Moss
2	Chase Brown
3	Trayveon Williams
4	Chris Evans (IR)

#1: Zack Moss

Moss has been the starting running back for Cincinnati since Week 1 and has had at least nine carries in every game.

With a total of 211 rushing yards and 124 receiving yards this season, he is an all-rounder for the Bengals. However, as time went on, Moss lost more and more snaps to Brown.

No. 2: Chase Brown

Brown has more rushing yards (230) than Moss this season and 16 fewer runs, giving the Bengals a more efficient option in Week 5. The pairing has become more of a 1A and 1B in its offense in recent weeks.

As a fifth-round rookie in 2023, Brown completed 44 carries for 179 yards and one receiving score. With each passing week he becomes more and more committed to the Bengals.

No. 3: Trayveon Williams

Since Moss and Brown have pretty much split time at running back so far this season, Williams has yet to register his first carry of 2024.

He was with the Bengals for all six seasons of his career, serving as a depth player behind Joe Mixon before being ranked behind Moss and Brown in the 2024 depth chat. Williams has 62 carries for 307 rushing yards in his career.

No. 4: Chris Evans (IR)

Evans was placed on IR before the start of the 2024 season due to a torn patellar tendon. He is expected to miss the entire regular season.

Evans, like Williams, has been with the Bengals since he was drafted. A sixth-round pick in 2021, Evans has three receiving touchdowns in his career but only 19 carries.

Chase Brown Fantasy Outlook Week 6

Since he is expected to be healthy against the Giants, Brown is a strong starting RB3 option in Week 6.

Even while splitting time with Moss, Brown has been productive when he’s been on the field of late. Between Weeks 4 and 5, he had 126 rushing yards, 20 receiving yards and three touchdowns. He will remain limited as a fantasy option as long as Moss holds down the starting spot and sees his playing time diminish, but the efficiency Brown provides is valuable enough to make him worth starting.

If Moss ever misses a game, Brown would immediately move into high-end RB2 territory. For now, though, it’s worth starting against the Giants on FLEX pitches.