Bengals RB Chase Brown posted a 9-42 rushing line in Sunday's loss at Green Bay. That's not helping anyone win a fantasy matchup, but the 4.7 yards per rush at least marked a season high. Brown added 2 catches for 7 yards among two targets, season-low receiving production for Cincinnati's lead back. And perhaps most worrisome, he has spent the past two weeks nearly matching Samaje Perine in playing time.
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Brown played just five more snaps than Perine in the loss at Green Bay. He ran six more routes but trailed Perine by one target. Brown also led Perine by just three carries. Perine's six attempts marked a season high, while Brown's nine marked his second straight week with fewer than 10 rushes.
The Week 5 loss to Detroit found the two backs similarly close in playing time. Brown led Perine by four total snaps, and they matched in routes. Brown's 8-2 target lead masked the proximity in that contest. And Perine matched Brown's rushing yardage on half as many carries (8-4).
The past two games have marked a rise in Perine's playing time and a dip for Brown. Here's how Perine's snap shares have gone through six weeks:
And now Brown's snap shares:
Brown's season-low targets in Joe Flacco's first game wasn't encouraging either, especially with Cincinnati registering a season-high 45 pass attempts.
The Bengals get more favorable matchups with the Steelers, Jets, and Bears the next three weeks. But it's tough to feel good about Brown right now.
More positive game scripts against weaker defenses should at least keep him on the field more. We'll see about his work share and production, though.