Cincinnati Bengals running back Zack Moss proved he had the potential to be a starter for a full season in 2023 with the Indianapolis Colts, starting eight games in the absence of Jonathan Taylor.
Now in a position to begin this season as the starter on a Bengals team that is a Super Bowl contender, will Moss actually be able to handle an increased workload and expectations?
Here is the fantasy outlook for Moss this season.
Zack Moss’ Fantasy Profile for the 2024 NFL Season
After starting just six times over his first three NFL seasons, Moss was pressed into a starting role, first because of Taylor’s contract holdout and later when Taylor was injured.
Over his first four starts of 2023 in place of Taylor (Moss was inactive for Week 1), Moss was solid, averaging 111.3 rush yards per game on 22 carries a game. He averaged 5.0 yards a carry and scored four total touchdowns (three rushing, one receiving).
In Week 3, Moss ran over arguably the league’s No. 1 defense, the Baltimore Ravens, to the tune of 122 rushing yards on 30 carries. Two weeks later against the Tennessee Titans, Moss had nearly 200 yards from scrimmage, rushing for 165 yards and adding 30 receiving yards.
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Moss’ production once Taylor returned to action in Week 5 was inconsistent, with his time on the field scattered. Over his final 10 games, Moss got less than 10 carries a game (9.4) and averaged under 35 rushing yards a game (34.9).
However, he still provided some value as a receiver out of the backfield, with 19 receptions for 120 yards (one touchdown reception) over his final 10 games.
Is Moss a Good Fantasy Pick?
Moss is the RB27 in Pro Football Network’s Consensus Fantasy Football Rankings.
Although the Bengals thought enough of Moss to sign him two a two-year deal and trade Joe Mixon, Moss will still be pushed by second-year running back Chase Brown.
While Brown did not see much action last season (44 total rush attempts in 12 games), he figures to be a bigger part of the offense in 2024.
Although Moss certainly has receiving skills out of the backfield, as shown by his career-high 27 receptions last season, there is the possibility that Brown could be brought in on passing situations.
Expect Moss to be there in goal-to-go situations, however, as he’s coming off a season with five rushing touchdowns and seven total in 2023, both career highs.
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The Bengals figure to be a better team than the Colts this season, with quarterback Joe Burrow appearing to be healthy and some key receivers back like Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins.
After a disappointing first three seasons of his NFL career, Moss enjoyed the best season of his career in 2023. Now, fantasy managers have to decide if he is really on the rise as a productive fantasy player, or if last season was an aberration.
Even if he remains No. 1 on the Bengals’ depth chart at running back, Moss should probably be a No. 2 running back in any fantasy league, at least until we see just how much he and Brown will be utilized this season.