CINCINNATI — The math simply does not work for Cincinnati Bengals running back Tahj Brooks. A sixth-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, Brooks barely sniffed the turf during his rookie campaign. He touched the football a mere 17 times. He scratched out just 54 total yards from scrimmage across 16 games. Now, as the 2026 offseason accelerates, the former Texas Tech standout stares up at an unforgiving depth chart. The Bengals firmly committed to Chase Brown as their bell-cow back, and veteran pass-protector Samaje Perine holds down the crucial third-down duties.
A Backfield Locked Down
Brown seized the starting job by force. The dynamic runner compiled nearly 600 touches over the last two seasons, ripping through defenses for a massive 1,019-yard rushing campaign in 2025. I remember standing in the tunnel after the Bengals’ gritty Week 17 win over the Cardinals last month. Brown jogged off the field, bruised but smiling, clutching the game ball after a two-touchdown performance. The sheer physical toll on his body was obvious, yet his grip on the starting role looked tighter than ever. Behind him walked Brooks, quiet and observant. The rookie knows the massive mountain he must climb to get on the field.
Then there is Perine. The 30-year-old veteran returned to Cincinnati last March on a two-year deal and immediately delivered exactly what the coaching staff demanded. Perine racked up 469 scrimmage yards and three touchdowns across 15 games. More importantly, he kept quarterback Joe Burrow upright. Perine reads blitz packages like a seasoned coordinator, taking out edge rushers with violent chip blocks. Burrow trusts him implicitly on third down. That unteachable trust keeps Brooks frozen on the sidelines.
“Chase wants the ball every single play, and Samaje will step in front of a moving truck to keep Joe clean in the pocket. You don’t just walk in and take reps from guys playing like that.”
— Justin Hill, Running Backs Coach
The Dynasty Fantasy Fallout / What’s Next
Brooks might have a long-term pulse in dynasty formats, but his immediate fantasy value sits at rock bottom. Brown enters the final year of his rookie contract in 2026. That expiring deal means Brooks could see a window open in 2027. Relying on that scenario, however, requires immense patience.
The Bengals hit the 2026 offseason with clear Super Bowl aspirations. The front office knows they need immediate, proven contributors to survive the AFC gauntlet. They will lean heavily on their established veterans. Unless Brown or Perine suffer a significant injury, Brooks remains strictly an emergency depth piece. The frosty Cincinnati winds blew through Paycor Stadium last January, and Brooks watched the playoff push from the icy sidelines. Expect a similar view for the young back this fall. Fantasy managers holding Brooks need to sell before his market completely evaporates.
