Mitchell Tinsley surged in Cincinnati’s preseason, grabbing five catches for 73 yards and twice finding the end zone against Washington. A standout 21-yard TD on a jump ball highlighted his rising floor and catch radius. Ja'Marr Chase publicly vouched for him, suggesting Tinsley could work with the ones if he keeps delivering. Joe Burrow echoed the sentiment, praising his performance and camp consistency as a sign he could secure a real roster spot.

Once a Penn State standout who went undrafted in 2023, Tinsley spent time with Washington before signing a futures deal with Cincinnati in February. If this pace continues, he could carve out a consistent role in a crowded Bengals WR room, offering a potential late-season fantasy spark for dynasty rosters and a real-life depth option for the offense.

Mitchell Tinsley lit up the Bengals’ exhibition showing, pulling in five receptions for 73 yards in the second quarter, including two leaping end-zone touchdowns that came only 20 seconds apart. His 21-yard grab in the back of the end zone capped a drive that started with a Barrett Carter pick, turning Monday night into a personal audition for Cincinnati’s final roster spot. The burst of production in the late first half underscored why Cincinnati’s depth at receiver is intriguing and why coach Zac Taylor has been high on him since training camp.

Joe Burrow amplified the message in the third quarter, praising Tinsley for his camp consistency and trustworthiness, saying, "That guy has been making plays all camp. Hopefully, he's secured a spot for us... He’s a smart guy, knows all the positions." With Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins anchoring the group, Tinsley’s performance still matters as a potential complementary weapon who can line up outside, in the slot, or over the top when called upon.

The win over Washington reinforced the storyline: Cincinnati is deep at wideout, and Tinsley’s emergence adds a real layer of optimism for those tracking late-round or dynasty fantasy value. As he noted, staying mentally sharp and controlling what he can control has been key. His city of NFL beginnings now feels like a proving ground that could translate into a meaningful NFL role come Week 1, depending on how he finishes the preseason and how the team allocates spots on the 53.

Washington’s preseason showdown with Cincinnati offered a crisp read on fantasy implications: Brian Robinson Jr. sat out in a mutual decision as rumors swirled about a potential Commanders deal, while rookie Jacory Croskey-Merritt absorbed a heavy workload and flashed a 27-yard score that electrified Washington’s backfield chatter. Cincinnati rode Joe Burrow's offense to a 31-17 win, and Mitchell Tinsley stole the highlight reel with two acrobatic, high-difficulty TD catches that underscored his preseason revenge arc. The Bengals’ defense tightened late, snagging two interceptions, including a Barrett Carter pick by a rookie linebacker, signaling a multi-layered game for fantasy scouts.

From a data-first lens, PFF graders waved through the action, promising a deeper post-game read tomorrow. Early box-score data showed the Bengals outpaced Washington on several metrics, with the offense clicking on multiple drives and the red-zone figures yielding a split that mirrors the deeper roster competition. The standout performance by the third-year Bengals wideout, who hauled five catches for 73 yards and two touchdowns, highlighted a receiver who can swing fantasy expectations if the volume sticks in the next tune-up. In short, the narratives around backfield workload, rookie showcases, and veteran passer dynamics created a fertile ground for sharp dynasty and DFS angles as the preseason unfolds.

Mitchell Tinsley rose from relative obscurity to a breakout moment on national TV, delivering a one-handed grab and two touchdowns in a 17-second burst that lit up Monday Night Football for Cincinnati. With the Bengals’ regulars resting, the 25-year-old showcased the kind of late-blooming, niche-roster potential that makes preseason rosters a high-stakes chessboard. Tinsley’s road through Hutchinson Community College, Western Kentucky, and Penn State, plus a stint on Washington’s practice squad before signing with Cincinnati, illustrates a veteran mindset and steady production that teams prize in depth roles.

The performance matters beyond a single highlight reel. It punctuates a narrative about roster battles in Cincinnati’s receiver room and signals that Tinsley is not merely a camp curiosity. If he survives the final cuts, his path to a meaningful role could hinge on special-teams value and injuries, making him a fantasy sleeper with the right opportunity. For fantasy managers, Tinsley’s fate is tied to the Bengals’ depth-chart dynamics, upcoming preseason reps, and how quickly he translates spring to-season readiness when the real games arrive.

In short, Tinsley’s 2025 arc shifted from hopeful to plausible in a single half of football, catalyzing discussions about late-round dynasty value and the triggers needed for a breakout in Cincinnati’s high-powered offense.