Is Chase Brown Being Overlooked Heading Into 2026 Season?

Chase Brown has emerged as the lead back in the Cincinnati Bengals offense since he was drafted in 2023, but he hasn't received much respect in preseason rankings across the media. He came in at No. 18 in Pro Football Focus' rankings of all 32 starting running backs entering the 2026 season, seven spots higher than where he was ranked before the 2025 season.

Bijan Robinson took the top spot, with Jahmyr Gibbs and Derrick Henry rounding out the top three. The Steelers' Jaylen Warren came in at No. 14, while the Browns' Quinshon Judkins landed at No. 25.

There were a few other names on the list that raised questions based on where they were positioned. Ashton Jeanty landed at No. 20, and David Montgomery slotted in at No. 26, both seeming a bit low after their production last season.

The biggest surprise, though, came within the AFC North, with Warren ranking four spots ahead of Brown. Brown finished with more rushing yards, more receptions, more receiving yards and more total touchdowns than his Steelers counterpart. The only notable statistic in which Warren topped Brown was yards per carry, averaging 4.5 compared to Brown's 4.4.

PFF isn't the end-all, be-all when it comes to projecting how players will perform, but the rankings do raise the question of whether Brown is receiving the respect he deserves.

PFF ranks running backs based on play-by-play grading that evaluates rushing, receiving and pass protection rather than relying solely on rushing yards or touchdowns. Brown finished last season with a 75.1 overall grade and a 77.2 rushing grade, which ranked in the bottom third of qualified NFL running backs, but his production exceeded those marks.

While he finished in the middle of the pack in rushing yards last season, he ranked sixth among running backs receiving yards with 437. Those numbers also placed him in the top 10 among running backs in yards from scrimmage and just outside the top 10 among all offensive skill players.

So yes, Brown may be ranked slightly lower than expected in PFF's running back rankings, but he appears poised for a huge 2026 season. The Bengals reacquired Samaje Perine before last season, but that did not affect Brown's workload, and he should face little competition for reps again this year. His ability to be a threat in the passing game makes him even harder to keep off the field, and with a fully healthy offense, Brown should leave no doubt that he can perform at the highest level at the running back position.