Projected Bengals WR1 with Joe Burrow.
Staff and depth chart are unchanged.
- ADP
- 1.03 (3)
- Target
- 1.03
- Move
- 0
- As of
- 2026-08-25
What changed
1 real change. The rest held.
Backfield
Was Chase Brown
Now Chase Brown remains the lead; pass-game RB usage is the relevant split
Pass-game RB usage is the relevant split.
Continuity
Quarterback
Was Joe Burrow
Now Joe Burrow
Locked starter.
Play caller
Was 2025 Bengals staff
Now Same caller structure
Continuity year.
Head coach
Was Zac Taylor
Now Zac Taylor
Same HC.
Scheme & pace
Was 2025 2nd in plays, 6th in yards
Now Projected ~55% pass, 65 plays/game
No regression expected in pace or identity.
Pass blocking
Was 2025 Bengals five
Now All five starters return
First time since Burrow arrived that all five return. Health is the variable.
Run blocking
Was Same five
Now Same five
Run-block continuity.
Pass catchers
Was Chase / Higgins
Now Chase remains WR1; Higgins WR2
No WR1-level addition or departure in public reporting.
Tight end
Was 2025 TE room
Now 2026 TE room
No headline TE change.
Team environment
Was AFC North slog
Now Same
Competitive scripts.
Vacated volume
- Targets
- —
- Carries
- —
- Red zone
- —
- Air yards
- —
No high-confidence vacated-volume number published. Role change matters more than a target count.
Competition added
No meaningful new competition sourced.
This player
- Projected role
- Projected Bengals WR1 with Joe Burrow.
- Usage
- Primary receiver. Joe Burrow is the quarterback.
- Injury
- No Week 1 absence reported as of August 20, 2026.
- Contract
- Not flagged as a 2026 hold-in.
- Camp
- Training camp underway as of August 2026. Week 1 is September.
Upside
First time since Burrow arrived that all five return. Health is the variable. No WR1-level addition or departure in public reporting.
Downside
Camp could still change the job before Week 1.
Risks
- Most of this looks like last year. Watch for a quiet camp role change.low
Sources
No source URLs were returned with this brief.
Notes come from the 2026 coaching and roster board (team sites, NFL.com, ESPN, The Athletic). Hold is the default when ADP already has the news.