Is Samaje Perine or Tahj Brooks the RB2 for the Bengals? Which Cincinnati Running Back Should You Draft in 2025?

Is Samaje Perine or Tahj Brooks the RB2 for the Bengals? Should you draft Perine or Brooks in 2025 fantasy football drafts? Shaun's expert draft analysis and advice.

As the 2025 NFL regular season approaches, one of the most intriguing position battles in Cincinnati Bengals camp isn’t at quarterback or wide receiver; it’s behind featured running back Chase Brown, where a veteran and a rookie are vying for the RB2 role. Brown is coming off a strong sophomore campaign with 990 rushing yards on 229 carries and enters the season as the unquestioned lead back in Zac Taylor’s offense. After moving on from Joe Mixon two offseasons ago, the Bengals made it clear that Brown would be the centerpiece of their rushing attack. He rewarded them with tough inside running, flashes of breakaway speed, and the ability to handle 283 touches.

The question now is who will serve as his change-of-pace and insurance policy in one of the AFC’s most explosive attacks. Depth has never been more important at the running back position, and in Cincinnati’s case, this competition has real implications for both the offense and fantasy football managers. To address that need, the Bengals re-signed veteran Samaje Perine, who spent last season with the Kansas City Chiefs. Perine is a battle-tested, versatile back with a proven track record in pass protection and third-down situations. He brings a steady presence to the backfield and has the trust of coaches thanks to his reliability and football IQ.

On the other side of the competition is rookie Tahj Brooks, a downhill bruiser out of Texas Tech and the school’s all-time leading rusher. Selected in the sixth round of the 2025 NFL Draft, Brooks offers physicality, goal-line potential, and the ability to wear down defenses. These two backs bring contrasting styles: one is a polished pass-game specialist, the other a power runner built for short-yardage work, making this an intriguing battle to watch through camp and preseason.

Samaje Perine Fantasy Football Outlook

Perine looked sharp in the preseason opener, logging several third-down reps with the first team. He was effective in blitz pickup, something Bengals coaches continue to emphasize in running back evaluations, and served as a reliable checkdown option out of the backfield.

There’s no question that Perine’s role, if he makes the final roster, will revolve around third-down duties. With Joe Burrow under center and a deep wide receiver room including Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, the Bengals value a back who can protect the quarterback and contribute in the passing game. That’s Perine’s specialty, and it’s why he’s hung around the league since 2017 despite never being a full-time starter.

At age 30 (turning on September 16), Perine may be closer to the end of his career than the beginning, but his tread is relatively light for a veteran. He’s averaged over four yards per carry in each of the last five seasons and has never logged more than 197 touches in a single season. That’s a stark contrast to many backs his age who have already surpassed 1,500 career carries. Perine sits at just over 700.

shout out Samaje Perine pic.twitter.com/YJnnEdAg5w

— Turd Ferguson (@El_Travador) December 9, 2024

For fantasy purposes, this matters. Perine’s body hasn’t been beaten down the same way as a 30-year-old feature back. He can still handle situational work without concern for overuse injuries.

From a fantasy perspective, Perine’s upside is capped unless an injury occurs, but he could still deliver flex-level value in PPR formats if he secures third-down duties. In Cincinnati’s high-volume passing attack, even three to four receptions a game could make him useful in deeper leagues. He’s a smart late-round pick for those rostering Brown or in 14+ team leagues that reward receiving volume.

In best ball formats, Perine makes sense as a stabilizer. You won’t get week-winning spike weeks, but he can sneak into lineups when bye weeks hit or if game scripts force the Bengals into heavy passing.

Tahj Brooks Fantasy Football Outlook

Brooks may be the rookie, but he’s no stranger to heavy workloads. With 633 touches over the last two years at Texas Tech, Brooks was one of the most productive backs in college football. But that usage has also raised concerns about how much tread is left on his tires.

The Bengals selected Brooks in the sixth round, a relatively low investment, but the depth chart behind Brown is wide open. In his preseason debut, Brooks ran with the second team and logged a team-high 10 carries for just 26 yards. While the volume was encouraging, his 2.6 yards per carry and lack of burst were underwhelming.

Still, context matters. Brooks’ offensive line play was shaky in that game, and several of his carries were into stacked boxes. What impressed coaches was his ability to churn out tough yards after contact, which has always been his calling card.

Brooks’ game is built on physicality. He’s a straight-line, no-nonsense runner who thrives in short-yardage and goal-line situations. He lacks top-end speed (4.52 40-yard dash at the combine) and will need to prove he can contribute on passing downs to earn consistent snaps. If he doesn’t carve out at least a minimal role on third downs, he risks being pigeonholed as a situational hammer.

ALL22 of Tahj Brooks' rush attempts last night.

I believe Justin Hill (Bengals RB coach) watches Brooks' film and thinks he had a good night. I've included a few notes below.

-Brooks' O-line was struggling, but he was making the most of it.

-0:25: My favorite run. Caught two… pic.twitter.com/53kLapE25r

— Zareh Kantzabedian (@ZKantzFF) August 8, 2025

If the Bengals look to spell Brown on early downs or need a change-of-pace in the red zone, Brooks could carve out a role. Touchdowns are the swing factor here. Even with 6–8 carries a game, if he handles the bulk of the goal-line work, he could be fantasy relevant as a touchdown-dependent RB3.

For fantasy purposes, his path to relevance is a bit narrower than Perine’s, unless he earns red-zone touches or proves more explosive than he’s shown so far. Dynasty managers, however, should keep Brooks on the radar. Cincinnati’s long-term RB depth chart is unsettled, and if Brown were to go down, Brooks’ physical style would make him a candidate for 15+ carries a week.

Bengals Offensive Context

When projecting Perine and Brooks, it’s important to look at the broader Cincinnati offense. Burrow is fully healthy after the calf and wrist issues that hampered him last season. With Burrow back to form, the Bengals project as a top-five passing offense in 2025.

For running backs, that means fewer opportunities for 20+ carry games but increased chances for efficiency. Running lanes open when defenses sell out to stop Ja’Marr Chase and Higgins. Last year, Brown benefitted from those lighter boxes, averaging 4.3 yards per carry against nickel and dime defenses.

The Bengals also project to play in plenty of high-scoring games. That boosts the potential for red-zone touches. Brooks could carve out value here, while Perine benefits if Cincinnati faces frequent second-and-long or third-and-medium situations where pass protection is at a premium.

Who Should You Draft in Fantasy Football?

For fantasy managers investing in Brown, choosing the right handcuff could prove critical, especially in deeper leagues or best ball formats.

Perine is the safer option in terms of the floor.  If Brown were to go down, Perine would likely take over passing-down and two-minute work immediately.  He'd have a clear role and could deliver PPR points without scoring touchdowns.  His value is tied directly to Burrow's passing volume.

Brooks offers the higher ceiling if things break his way.  If the Bengals were to lean into a more run-heavy approach or wanted to preserve Burrow in short-yardage spots, Brooks could take over a decent chunk of the early-down and goal-line workload.  That could make him a fantasy playoff hero if the Bengals lean on him late in the season.

Ultimately, the choice depends on roster construction. If you already have stable depth and want to swing for upside, Brooks is the stash. If you’re risk-averse and just want to protect your investment in Brown, Perine is the better hedge.

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