Cincinnati opened preseason on a high note, riding Joe Burrow’s efficiency and a flourishing connection with Charlie Jones as Cincinnati rolled to a 31-17 win over Washington. Burrow steered three possessions, completing 9 of 14 passes for 62 yards, including a 4-yard TD to Jones on his final throw. Chase Brown capped a 58-yard opening march with a 1-yard TD on fourth-and-goal. The Bengals used starters more, scoring TDs on four of five Burrow-led drives across two exhibition games, signaling a sharp start to the regular season grind for fantasy rosters.

Washington’s lone Daniels appearance flashed athleticism without passing, as the reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year scampered for a 14-yard TD late in the first half while the Commanders protected him behind a thinned OL and wet field. Jacory Croskey-Merritt stood out as a training-camp darling with a 27-yard TD run late in the second quarter, and Chris Rodriguez piled up 62 rushing yards to boost his rotation odds. Washington leaned on its run game and chipped-in field goals, underscoring backfield uncertainty and potential late-round upside for fantasy drafters.

Notes stacked on both sides: Cincinnati’s Myles Murphy remains sidelined, Trey Hendrickson sat out, and the depth chart keeps shifting behind Burrow’s likely Week 1 workload. Washington cut into its own plans, with McLaurin absent amid a contract dispute and young backs like Croskey-Merritt showing promise. Mitchell Tinsley snagged two late first-half TDs for Cincinnati off Jake Browning’s throws, a reminder of how the depth chart can surprise in fantasy leagues. Up next, Cincinnati welcomes Indianapolis, while Washington closes its preseason against Baltimore.

Five running backs sit at the epicenter of 2025 fantasy upside: Chase Brown, Kenneth Walker III, Omarion Hampton, D'Andre Swift, and R.J. Harvey. Each is paired with a favorable ADP, and all have a plausible path to finishing among the top scorers at their position by season’s end. Brown, Walker, Hampton, Swift, and Harvey are presented not as one-off breakouts but as versatile, scheme-friendly backs with legitimate league-winning potential if their roles hold or expand, even in uncertain backfields.

Chase Brown's late-season breakout for Cincinnati showcased a lead-back ceiling, averaging among the league's top points per game over an eight-game stretch. Kenneth Walker III has flashed elite efficiency and big-play ability when healthy, and Seattle's shift toward a run-first framework under Klint Kubiak could unlock a top-8 ceiling in 2025. Omarion Hampton lands in a Denver offense investing in the run and a versatile receiving game, making him a strong hit in the right passing-down role. D’Andre Swift's career arc—juggling multiple systems and roles—still carries a high ceiling if Chicago leans into zone runs and maximizes his multi-week usage. Finally, R.J. Harvey arrives with breakout speed and receiving chops in a Denver backfield that could stabilize behind a more predictable ground game, boosting his chances for a top-10 finish if he leads carries and catches on early downs.

ADP ranges from early fourth-round to mid-rounds, underscoring the value of each on draft day. The headline takeaway: these five backs offer clear, attainable routes to league-winning weeks, provided health and opportunity align with their teams’ evolving schemes and offensive lines.

SportsLine's 2025 Fantasy football draft bible tightens the window on top-150 rankings, sleepers, and busts while arming fantasy managers with slot-specific tips for snake and salary-cap formats. It nods to familiar stars like Ja'Marr Chase, Bijan Robinson, and Justin Jefferson, then spotlights rookies such as Malik Nabers, Chase Brown, and Bucky Irving climbing into top-150 consideration. The guide emphasizes drafting from strong offensive teams as a tiebreaker, never letting late-round picks become filler, and using every pick to build depth for late-season impact.

Beyond tier-one stars, the bible champions sleepers and breakouts that can swing titles, and it flags three potential busts with inflated ADPs—cautionary reminders to avoid overpaying for hype. It also provides position-by-position and slot-specific strategies for different league formats, ensuring you tailor your approach to your draft slot and format. The team behind it—Gibbs, Cummings, Schneier, White, and Nagel—brings decades of fantasy acumen to give you a credible, data-driven edge as you assemble a championship roster.

The Bengals’ backfield duel to accompany Chase Brown in 2025 will shape both offense and fantasy value. Cincinnati re-signed Samaje Perine, a reliable pass-blocker with third-down chops, creating a veteran floor behind the second-year Brown. Opposing a rookie, Tahj Brooks, a downhill runner from Texas Tech, adds a contrasting style and goal-line potential. The clash matters if the Bengals lean on efficiency in a high-volume, pass-heavy attack led by a healthy Joe Burrow.

Perine’s impact hinges on usage: if he claims the third-down and two-minute duties, he’s a steady PPR option in deeper leagues and best-ball formats. Brooks’ ceiling rides on red-zone opportunities and clear early-down snaps; in a run-heavy script or an injury to Brown, his role could surge. In a pass-first offense with Chase and Higgins, the RB2 battle carries real fantasy stakes as camp and preseason reps unfold.

Fantasy players should weigh roster construction: Perine is the safer hedge with consistent floor, especially in 14+ team leagues; Brooks is a stash for those chasing upside in Dynasty or deep convos about late-season spikes. Cincinnati’s context — Burrow’s health, light boxes against the pass — suggests upside exists for the committee, particularly in games that stay competitive and through fantasy playoff weeks.

Dynasty leagues lean heavily on age, upside and roster construction, and this piece flags players who might be overvalued heading into 2025. Drake Maye (Patriots) is highlighted as a solid QB2 with a ceiling that could rise, but he’s tethered to an unsettled pass-catching corps and a Vrabel-coached system that isn’t famous for air yards. Chase Brown (Bengals) carries a big workload but lacks top-10 RB traits, leaving room for pullback touches. Drake London (Falcons) is a young centerpiece with route skills, yet his big-play upside is capped without a clear deep threat. Tee Higgins (Bengals) is solid, but his value hinges on staying WR1-adjacent in a stacked offense. George Kittle (49ers) remains productive but age and injury history temper dynasty optimism. Stefon Diggs (Bills) enters the later stage of peak value, and while still elite, risk accrues with age and durability. Travis Etienne Jr. (Jaguars) has RB1 potential, but the backfield and offensive line dynamics could cap yearly ceiling. The piece ultimately argues for patience and upside-driven pivots in 2025 dynasty drafts and auctions.