Yes, Chase Brown is a start in Week 9 fantasy lineups against the Falcons in Madrid. He still dominates the Bengals’ backfield touches, and Atlanta has been one of the easiest defenses for running backs to score against over the past month. The concern is touchdowns. Brown has only one rushing touchdown on 94 carries this season.
Cincinnati came in as a slight favorite, with an over/under of 52.5 points, one of the highest of the week. The game kicked off Sunday morning at Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, and the Bengals’ offense started fast.
Why is Chase Brown a Week 9 start?
He gets the volume. Brown has played about 71% of the offense’s snaps, taken 67% of the team’s carries and drawn 15% of the targets, according to FantasyPointsData figures cited by DraftKings Network. Last week against Tennessee, he had 20 touches, 12 carries and eight catches, for more than 100 yards.
His receiving work keeps his floor steady. He has 36 catches for 189 yards, which is why he’s still averaging 13.3 PPR points per game even though he’s averaging only 3.6 yards per carry.
How bad is the Falcons run defense right now?
It has been getting worse. Atlanta has allowed nine rushing touchdowns, and PFF ranks the Falcons last in rushing efficiency allowed over the past month. They give up 26.5 fantasy points per game to running backs, fourth most in the league, along with 5 catches per game to the position, which plays to Brown’s strengths as a receiver.
Is Chase Brown a good anytime touchdown bet?
The case comes down to positive regression. Brown scored 11 touchdowns in each of the past two seasons, and last year he had the same slow start before scoring 10 total touchdowns in his last 10 games. PFF lists him as an anytime touchdown pick, noting he has had two of Cincinnati’s five carries inside the 5 yard line.
The overlooked issue is who else is near the goal line. Joe Burrow is having an MVP-level season and isn’t afraid to run it in himself. Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins also create matchup problems in the red zone. Brown is the main option near the goal line, but not the only one.
Who is Chase Brown off the field?
Brown grew up in London, Ontario, and is one of a small number of Canadian-born skill position players in the NFL. His twin brother, Sydney Brown, also plays in the league, and the two starred together at Illinois before reaching the NFL.
What happened to Chase Brown early in Madrid?
The game started as a shootout. Michael Penix Jr. led Atlanta to a touchdown on the opening drive, and Burrow answered with a 47 yard touchdown pass to Chase. In the first 25 minutes, Chase caught eight passes for 142 yards.
Brown kept getting closer. He broke off a strong run to set up the Bengals near the goal line, but his carry from the 1 came up short. On the next play, Burrow scored on a quarterback sneak. Cincinnati later scored again when Higgins caught a 4 yard touchdown, putting the Bengals ahead 21 to 10 late in the second quarter.
That leaves fantasy managers where they’ve been all season. Brown is getting the work and the scoring chances, but someone else keeps finishing the drive. If Cincinnati protects its lead in the second half, he should get more carries late. We’ll find out after halftime whether he finally gets into the end zone.
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