The Bengals in the Joe Burrow era have been known to not give their star QB good offensive lines to work with but have not failed to provide him with strong skill position players. In particular the Bengals have given Burrow arguably the premier wide out tandem in the sport that is now likely the best in the sport since A.J Brown was traded from the Eagles. Here I will go into detail analyzing the skill position players of the Bengals heading into the 2026 season.
Starting at running back, Cincinnati is led by Chase Brown who is among the most underrated players at his position. Outside of Brown’s rookie season, where he struggled but was still graded as an elite pass catcher, Brown has now graded in the above average range among players at his position for two straight seasons now according to Pro Football Focus. Brown in all three seasons in the NFL has been graded as a borderline elite to an elite pass catcher out of the backfield. Brown has also been able to give the Bengals strong production despite the Bengals having poor offensive lines and his star QB struggling to stay on the field. Perhaps Brown can now break out and become a star as he heads into year 4 in the NFL with his QB hopefully staying healthy and the Bengals now having potentially a much stronger offensive line.
The depth behind Brown at the running back position is concerning as of now as none of the three currently listed players on the depth chart behind Brown feel like a legitimate #2 back in the modern NFL. However, veteran Samaje Perine has shown some promise in his years in the NFL, while 2025 sixth round pick Tahj Brooks could break out heading into year 2 and could be a strong supplementary option to Brown out of the backfield. Perhaps the Bengals should look into signing someone like Najee Harris who is still available and can provide the Bengals with some depth at running back.
At tight end the Bengals have one of the better units in the sport that is among the deeper units in the sport as they have several strong players at the position. Former second round pick Mike Gesicki is #1 on the depth chart as of now for the Bengals and is underrated at the position. Gesicki has graded above average in terms of both an overall offense grade and a receiving grade according to Pro Football Focus for two straight seasons now. Gesicki has been known to struggle with consistency but has shown an elite ceiling in the NFL while becoming more consistent over the past two seasons. Gesicki by any stretch is an above average starter at tight end who could come into his own with him now going into a second full season with a hopefully healthy Burrow.
Former second round pick Drew Sample is second on the tight end depth chart as of now for the Bengals. Sample has underwhelmed in the NFL thus far but has still shown some capabilities. Sample has graded in the below average range in every single season of his career, but the Bengals’ offensive coaching staff must still see some potential in him to have him second on the depth chart despite the talent at the #3 and #4 spots at tight end for Cincinnati.
Speaking of the remaining talent that the Bengals have at tight end, Erick All Jr and Tanner Hudson round out the unit for the Bengals and are likely the best currently listed #3 and #4 players in any unit in the sport, as both are capable starters. Erick All Jr was drafted relatively high in the fourth round in 2024 and had a decent rookie season. All Jr did not play in 2025 but given his draft selection and his solid rookie season, he should be in line to be a high-level backup for the Bengals. Hudson has consistently graded in the above average range taking reserve snaps in the NFL at tight end and is one of the better if not one of the best reserve tight ends as of now.
At wide receiver is where the Bengals truly shine from a skill position standpoint as the duo of Jamarr Chase and Tee Higgins has always been one of the best in the sport. Now that A.J Brown has departed from the Eagles, the combination of Chase and Higgins is likely the best in the sport as of now. However, the Bengals do indeed lack depth behind Chase and Higgins as of now. As in my subjective assessment of the remaining Bengals’ wide receiver unit, I failed to find a player that even warranted a grade of a C, with the highest coming in at C-. The Bengals will likely need one of the reserve players to step up and be a strong option off the bench at wide receiver for Cincinnati.
I have provided a breakdown of the Bengals’ skill position players below with me assigning each player a subjective grade along with some footnotes.
Starters
WR1 – Jamarr Chase – A to A+
WR2 – Tee Higgins – B+ to A-
HB1 – Chase Brown – B to B+, could be in A range starting next season with a healthy Burrow and a better offensive line
TE1 – Mike Gesicki – B to B-,
Key Reserves
HB – Samaje Perine – C to C+
HB – Tahj Brooks – 2025 6th rounder, struggled as rookie
HB – Gary Brightwell – C
TE – Erick All Jr – 2024 4th rounder, solid rookie season, DNP in ‘25
TE – Drew Sample – 2019 2nd rounder, C to C- in NFL so far
TE – Tanner Hudson – B while taking reserve snaps
WR – Colbie Young – 2026 4th rounder
