The Bengals' final-cut decisions hinge on upside versus depth. Isaiah Williams stands as a waiver-wire success story with special-teams value, but Mitchell Tinsley has the edge on roster spot, preseason production, and return ability. Tanner McLachlan's size and upside are appealing, yet Noah Fant's arrival tightens the TE group and complicates his path. Isaiah Thomas and Howard Cross III illustrate the numbers game up front, with interior depth likely forcing tough calls.

These moves reshape early fantasy angles: Williams or Tinsley could seize a Week 1 role if the WR mix shakes out, Fant could siphon targets from the rest of the TE group, and the DL churn could alter snap shares for key pass rushers while keeping the Bengals' interior rotation unsettled into the first weeks of the season.