As fantasy football managers gear up for the 2025 season opener, few matchups carry as much divisional intensity as the Cincinnati Bengals traveling to face the Cleveland Browns in Week 1. This AFC North showdown presents compelling storylines on both sides, with Cincinnati seeking to break its notorious slow-start pattern.
Chase Brown, RB
Just a year ago, the fantasy community was debating whether Chase Brown or Zack Moss was the right investment in the Cincinnati Bengals’ backfield. Now, Brown is widely seen as a fantasy star, while Moss’s health struggles led to his release by the franchise in late July. Life comes at you fast, which is why being nimble is so essential for any fantasy manager.
Brown is a great player and has earned the label of a set-it-and-forget-it option in all formats. That said, for DFS players, it is worth noting that the Cleveland Browns have posed a challenge for him. Two of his four worst games during the 2024 season, in terms of production relative to touch expectations, came against Cleveland. He had a 72.7% carry gain rate in those contests compared to his 87.2% mark against the rest of the league.
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This history doesn’t mean he can’t produce top-20 numbers at the position this week, as he is undoubtedly capable of doing so. After all, Brown was one of only four running backs last season with 200 carries, 50 catches, and 10 touchdowns. The rising tide of this Bengals offense can rarely float all boats, but I would temper expectations slightly, and that’s reflected in my Week 1 PPR rankings.
Ja’Marr Chase, WR
The Browns were the top pressure defense in 2024, and that, on the surface, sounds like I’m trending toward an anti-Chase case in an effort to make headlines and take the internet by storm.
Relax.
Last season, Chase, on a per-target basis, was 27.2% better than the league average receiver when Joe Burrow wasn’t feeling the heat, a rate that spiked to 38.2% when pressure was applied. When push came to shove, Cincinnati’s WR1 was more WR1-ery the better the opposing front line played, a trait we tend to see from the true alphas who have an elite connection with their signal-caller.
You spent your first pick, likely the top overall pick, on Chase this summer and should feel great about that investment as the NFL has yet to find a way to slow him down. You should be aware that not all WR1s come out of the gates on fire.
WR1 per ADP
- 2024 CeeDee Lamb: WR23 with 13.6 points
- 2023 Justin Jefferson: WR7 with 24 points
- 2022 Copper Kupp: WR2 with 31.8 points
- 2021 Davante Adams: WR53 with 10.6 points
- 2020 Michael Thomas: WR78 with 4.7 points
Chase is a machine, and even during a triple crown season, he didn’t dominate the games (97 total yards and no touchdowns through the first two weeks of 2024).
You’re playing Chase every week without a second thought. If you told me he had to get a finger amputated on Thursday, I think he’s still cracking my top-15 at the position.
2.5
That’s my cutoff. If he had over 2.5 fingers amputated, I think I’d be making drastic ranking changes. There is tremendous variance at the position and in this sport as a whole, which is why I highlighted some of the past WR1 performances. However, the “start your stars” mantra is still something that I’m doing until something tangible changes.
Joe Burrow, QB
Joe Burrow has picked apart the Browns in the past, and he’s set to have another massive season. Given the roster around him, he has no choice if this team wants to be even remotely competitive.
Last season was far from a banner one for Cleveland, but they did lead the league in pressure rate (41.7%, league average: 33.8%). In theory, that’s a strength that should have you lowering expectations for the opposing passing game, but if you, like me, are buying what you saw from Joe Cool a season ago, you’re not sweating this spot.
Burrow pressure splits
- 2023: 84.1 passer rating, 5.8 yards per attempt, 29.5% first-down rate (ranked 13th)
- 2024: 104.0 passer rating, 7.9 yards per attempt, 44.3% first down rate (led the league)
I’m not tempted to go this way in DFS contests. Burrow’s slate-breaking games are most likely to come when the Bengals are playing catch-up and are forced to be overly aggressive and ramp up the tempo.
That’s not going to happen here. I feel good about that.
.@Bengals QB Joe Burrow joins the NFL Top 100 Players of 2025 countdown at No. 6!@NFLFilms @JoeyB pic.twitter.com/SakSi71sfZ
— NFL (@NFL) September 2, 2025
Burrow could post the top QB+ grade this week, flashing the ability to make quick and precise decisions. That doesn’t mean he’ll be the piece you need to cash in big this week.
Mike Gesicki, TE
Since 2019, only Travis Kelce and Evan Engram have run more routes at the tight end position than the now well-compensated Mike Gesicki.
Since 2019, 14 tight ends have more double-digit PPR-point games than the now well-compensated Mike Gesicki.
It’s fun to root for a player, be it DFS or otherwise, that is always on the field, but doesn’t that make the lack of production that much more taxing mentally? To see #88 on the field, but seemingly afflicted with an allergy to the ball?
If you’ve never done the Gesicki sweat thing, I promise you, it does.
There will be a time and place to pluck Cincy’s tight end off the free agent pool and plug him in. Maybe you’re going through injuries, in a tough bye week spot, or going for broke with no worries about a production floor.
That time and place is not the first week of the season, with every team in action and everyone in reasonable health, not to mention Noah Fant being in the mix after signing in late July.
Tee Higgins, WR
Tee Higgins has out-earned Ja’Marr Chase for periods, and that’s not even the most impressive part of his profile for me. Despite several moving pieces over his five seasons in the NFL, he’s finished ahead of expectations in terms of productivity relative to target diet in every campaign.
Yes, last season was probably the best season of his career. He averaged 18.5 PPG (more than CeeDee Lamb), had more air yards in fewer games than A.J. Brown, and led the Bengals in percentage of red zone routes in which he saw a target.
Yes, ahead of Chase.
Higgins reached a dozen PPR points in 75% of his games in 2024, and I expect him to open one-for-one in 2025 against an aggressive Cleveland defense (he’s increased his fantasy points per pressured catch in consecutive seasons).
Higgins can be an underdog and lead his team in receiving production while being nothing short of a lineup lock. You knew that when you drafted him, and that will not change, no matter the matchup.
