Bengals Young Running Back Named Best Building Block

The Cincinnati Bengals drafted a huge need in 2023 when they selected Illinois running back Chase Brown with the No. 163 overall pick in the fifth round.

The running back room was in question at the time with Joe Mixon a potential cap casualty and Samaje Perine gone to Denver in free agency. Brown was fresh off a Doak Walker Award finalist nod at Illinois. 

Bengals then-offensive coordinator Brian Callahan said Brown was capable of making defenders miss and break off long runs. Those are two things the offense failed to do the season before.

Chase has been impressive since joining the Bengals, and that's part of the reason why Bleacher Report named him the team's best building block heading into 2025.

"The Cincinnati Bengals offense is built around quarterback Joe Burrow and the aerial attack, though the team may have to slow down the pace in games that the defense struggles to make stops and force turnovers," B/R wrote. "In 2024, Zack Moss opened the campaign as the Bengals' starting running back and finished it on injured reserve with a neck injury. In Week 6, Chase Brown took over the starting job and made the most of his opportunities. In Moss' absence, he became the featured tailback and racked up 1,350 scrimmage yards and 11 touchdowns.

"Brown won't be the focal point in a Burrow-led offense, but he can still be a key contributor because of his pass-catching ability. Last season, he caught 54 passes for 360 yards and four touchdowns. Entering the 2025 campaign in a lead role, Brown could eclipse 1,500 scrimmage yards as one of the league's top dual-threat running backs."

In two seasons since joining the Bengals, Brown has appeared in 28 games with 10 starts, with 1,169 yards while averaging 4.3 yards per carry with seven touchdowns.

He's added 68 catches for another 516 yards and five scores.