Chase Brown vs. Zack Moss – Who Should I Draft In 2024 Fantasy Football?

August 11, 2024

Should fantasy players draft Chase Brown or Zack Moss during their 2024 fantasy football drafts? Mitch Blatt examines the case for both running backs.

Fantasy football managers are closely watching the Cincinnati Bengals' backfield. The Bengals should have a high-scoring offense, but it is an open question who will be their primary running back after the team got rid of Joe Mixon.

The Bengals added former Colts running back Zack Moss in free agency and have Chase Brown entering his second year.

Between Chase Brown and Zack Moss, who will be the starting running back for the Cincinnati Bengals, or will they form a committee? Should you draft either of them?

Chase Brown 2024 Fantasy Football Outlook

Brown didn't do much in his rookie season, but he didn't get many opportunities. Joe Mixon was used as a bell cow running back, and Brown only carried the rock 44 times for 179 yards. He didn't do much better as a receiver, catching 14 passes for 156 yards and a single touchdown.

His 4.1 yards per carry was a smidge higher than Mixon's average, but Brown only produced successful runs on 34.1% of his carries, 15 points fewer than Mixon did. Brown just couldn't get it done on third downs. Mixon is gone now, but Zack Moss has also outperformed Brown over his career.

Zack Moss 2024 Fantasy Football Outlook

Moss has played a significant role for the Indianapolis Colts over the past two seasons. He has had to start in 11 games, as Jonathan Taylor has missed time with injuries. In that time, Moss has been relatively productive. As a Colt, he has rushed for 1,159 yards on 259 carries and six touchdowns. If he maintained that level of efficiency as a season-long starter, he would be a viable RB2 in 12-team fantasy football.

He was a quality starter early last season before Jonathan Taylor's contract dispute was resolved. In the first six weeks, Moss finished as a top-10 running back four times and as a top-five running back twice. Betting markets expect the Bengals to be a top-ten scoring offense this season, so he should be expected to score more touchdowns than he did last season.

Who Should I Draft?

The Bengals' starting running back is uncertain, but Zack Moss is currently in the pole position. He is listed as the RB1 on the depth chart, and he has been more effective in the NFL thus far. The preseason is only just beginning, and there is still a lot that could change before the opening day. It is also a strong possibility that the Bengals might end up splitting carries more like a committee.

The relative draft positions of the two reflect that uncertainty. Moss is currently going as the 31st running back off the board in National Fantasy Football Championship drafts, while Brown is going one round later as the RB35.

People are gambling on this backfield, and picking the winner could result in a boatload of fantasy points. It's worth noting, however, that there are potential starters on other teams who are still available at the point Brown is going off the board, including the L.A. Chargers' Gus Edwards and both Cleveland Browns running backs Nick Chubb and Jerome Ford.

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