Dalton Risner is weighing NFL suitors after working out for Cincinnati and planning visits to Seattle and possibly Pittsburgh. At 30, Risner has started 62 games for Denver and spent the last two seasons with Minnesota, drawing interest from the Vikings again. Cincinnati’s interior line has been hit by injuries this preseason, spotlighting Risner as a potential upgrade at guard. The Bengals, Seahawks, and Steelers are among teams in play, while Denver was mentioned only as Risner’s original landing place in his draft year.

For fantasy players, Risner’s signing would likely stabilize Burrow’s pocket and improve the Bengals’ ground game, especially if Cordell Volson remains limited by injury. If Risner signs elsewhere, the impact shifts to the recruiting team’s depth chart and run-blocking schemes. Risner’s versatility—guard by trade—gives teams a flexible upgrade and could alter snap shares among Bengals guards, with immediate ripple effects across fantasy lines for surrounding skill players.

Additionally, Risner’s public openness to multiple visits signals a patient FA process, keeping the Bengals’ offense in a holding pattern until a decision lands. A Risner-Bengals union would also squeeze Jalen Rivers’s rookie opportunities, while a Seahawks or Steelers move could reframe those offenses’ interior protection expectations. The Denver Broncos drafted Risner in 2019, a reminder of the guard’s proven durability and consistency across the position.

Joe Burrow exploded in 2024 with elite passing volume, finishing among the top fantasy quarterbacks per game despite Cincinnati’s defense leaking points. The Bengals kicked off 2025 by shoring up the trenches with Lucas Patrick and Dylan Fairchild joining the line, while Tee Higgins re-signed and Ja’Marr Chase remains Burrow’s prolific counterpart. The combination gives Burrow a high-volume, high-ceiling path in a projected pass-heavy attack, keeping him firmly in the QB1 conversation for 2025.

Fantasy managers should note Cincinnati’s weapons accentuate Burrow’s upside, with Chase and Higgins posting strong efficiency marks last season. The OL upgrade should grant Burrow more time and rhythm, supporting an offense that trusts Burrow to push counts and touchdowns. Projections peg Burrow for another massive volume year, with the Bengals aiming to sustain a top-tier passing attack even if the defense remains imperfect.

The preseason guide leans into Burrow’s floor and ceiling, emphasizing two-pronged WR firepower and the compatibility of the line upgrades with Burrow’s aggressive releasing style. For fantasy, early-round targets should consider Burrow’s safety floor and the explosive upside from Chase and Higgins in a high-volume system, making Burrow a compelling anchor for many builds.

The Cincinnati Bengals practice scene turned tense after Joe Burrow was knocked down by Shemar Stewart, a rookie first‑round pick, sparking a brief team scuffle. Lucas Patrick started the shoving match, and Stewart swung at Patrick’s helmet before teammates swarmed in. Burrow left the play uninjured, but the moment underscored a clash between Cincinnati’s offensive line and its aggressive, rebuilt defensive line. Ted Karras acknowledged the O‑line’s surge in intensity, while deeming the skirmish manageable. The episode also hints at a defensive uptick under new coordinator Al Golden, with Stewart and fellow rookie Demetrius Knight Jr. among the new faces.)