Fresh off a 1,000-yard season, Cincinnati’s dynamic dual-threat weapon aims to leapfrog the league's elite. With a veteran offensive line and explosive teammates, the breakout star’s moment is now.
The Cincinnati Bengals are three practices into their 2026 training camp. There have never been higher expectations or more pressure on a Joe Burrow- and Zac Taylor-led team.
Among the weapons on an offense expected to be one of the best units in the NFL is running back Chase Brown, who is entering his fourth season after being drafted out of Illinois. He has steadily put up better numbers year after year.
After Friday's practice, Jeremy Rauch of FOX19 spoke with Brown and asked him a pointed question about his abilities and whether he sees himself as a top-10 or top-five running back in the NFL.
Chase Brown was humble, saying he sees himself as a very good player. However, his teammate, Andrei Iosivas, chimed in from off-camera, telling Rauch that everyone would see after this season.
Like the expectations surrounding the entire offense, there are especially high expectations for Brown. He has put together back-to-back strong seasons and surpassed 1,000 rushing yards in 2025. He also set career highs in receptions and receiving yards in 2025, finishing with 69 catches for 437 yards.
Is there a case for Brown to be a top-10 running back in the NFL? Brown received votes in ESPN's running back rankings. I do not think he has a case to be in the top 10 at the moment, but there is absolutely a possibility he could become a top-10 running back after this season if he lives up to expectations. Players like Josh Jacobs, Kyren Williams, and Quinshon Judkins ranked ahead of Brown in the honorable mention category.
At No. 10 is Breece Hall, who has struggled with injuries while playing in a New York Jets offense that has also struggled. At No. 9 is Kenneth Walker, who has also dealt with injuries and now plays for the Kansas City Chiefs.
Brown's hybrid ability makes him just as effective as a receiver as he is a runner, which should maximize his impact in a Bengals offense that will obviously remain pass-first. He also runs behind an offensive line that returns all five starters from last season, while sharing the field with Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. Higgins would likely be a No. 1 receiver on more than half of the NFL's teams. Brown will have ample opportunity to prove himself as a top-10 running back in the league. The question is whether he will take advantage of those opportunities.
