• The Baltimore Ravens can’t stop Ja’Marr Chase: Chase has 20 receptions for 457 yards and four touchdowns against the Ravens in two games this season.

• Newly traded players have minimal impact: The Cincinnati Bengals recently traded for running back Khalil Herbertwhile the Ravens traded for a wide receiver Diontae Johnsonbut neither has played much offensively yet.

• Unlock your edge with a PFF+ subscription: Get full access to all of our pre-season fantasy tools, including weekly rankings, WR/CB matchup charts, weekly projectionsthe Start-Sit Optimization and more. Register now!

Estimated reading time: 5 minutes

PFF’s fantasy football overview focuses on player usage and statistics, providing all the essential information you need to achieve fantasy success in 2024.

Cincinnati Bengals @ Baltimore Ravens

Keaton Mitchell returns: The Ravens’ second-year running back was activated from injured reserve before the game.

Mitchell, an undrafted rookie last season, posted the second-highest rushing grade among running backs in 2023, albeit on a limited 47 carries. He led the league with 8.4 yards per carry, with an impressive 40.4% of his runs resulting in first downs. His 0.32 avoided tackles per carry ranked second among running backs.

Unfortunately, his season was cut short by an ACL tear. After starting this season on injured reserve, Mitchell recently returned to practice. In his first game back, he played primarily on special teams and only registered two offensive snaps toward the end of the first quarter.

Although Mitchell’s return may have a small impact on his playing time Dirk Hendrik And Justice Hill if everyone is healthy, the Ravens can turn to him more when protecting a lead. Mitchell also remains a valuable handcuff option because of the talent he showed last year and Baltimore’s commitment to the run.

Diontae Johnson‘s role does not expand: Johnson saw limited involvement, with only a few snaps spread throughout the game – fewer than he played last week.

Johnson was traded from the Panthers to the Ravens nine days ago and played a limited role in his first game (Week 9), playing 17 of 51 possible offensive snaps. The majority of his playing time came in the second half, as he logged just three snaps in the first half, with the rest coming after the Ravens had a two-score lead.

Many expected Johnson to get at least as much playing time this week, given extra time to learn the playbook Isaiah Probably‘s injury. Although he played a higher percentage of snaps with 11 players, he did not play in sets with one or two wide receivers, with all of his snaps replacing Nelson Agholor.

Ideally, Johnson will soon take over most of Agholor’s snaps with 11 personnel and earn additional snaps in two-wide receiver sets. The Ravens face a tough schedule in the coming weeks, followed by a bye, before a more favorable stretch in the fantasy playoffs. While Johnson isn’t a starting option in the near future, he could be a valuable lottery ticket at Wide Receiver for a potential breakout closer to the playoffs.

Ravens adapt without it Isaiah Probably: The Ravens’ rotational tight end was inactive due to a hamstring injury.

The Ravens have followed a predictable tight end rotation through the first nine weeks. With 11 employees, Mark Andries typically plays 65% of snaps, with Isaiah Probably handle the remaining 35%.

The two share the field in 12 men; with 21 employees, Charlie Kolar sees 54% of the snaps, Andrews 30% and probably 17%. Likely and Kolar took the most photos of 22 personnel packages.

With Likely out, the Ravens didn’t activate a tight end practice squad. Instead, Andrews took all the 11-man snaps, while Kolar filled in for Likely with 12 men, increasing playing time for both. The Ravens’ use of 22 personnel has also decreased significantly, from an average of 14 plays per game (Weeks 3-7) to minimal usage since Week 8. In the few 22 personnel cuts, Andrews replaced Likely.

Andrews finished the game with six catches for 68 yards and a touchdown, leading the Ravens in receiving yards to Tylan Wallace‘s 84-yard touchdown. If Likely remains sidelined, Andrews becomes an even more reliable fantasy option than he was through the first nine weeks.

Khalil Herbert makes brief debut for Cincinnati: Herbert was the only running back traded at the trade deadline on Tuesday, arriving from the Chicago Bears.

Bengals RB Bag Mos landed on injured reserve earlier this week and is likely out for the season, prompting the Bengals to trade for a running back from Chicago. Despite having only completed 60 hours with the team, he was made active for the competition.

Herbert played primarily on special teams, but made his offensive debut early in the third drive. However, he mishandled a handoff, resulting in a fumble that was credited Joe Burrow, but in the end it was Herbert’s mistake. Then he didn’t see offensive snaps again until late in the third quarter.

With more practice time, Herbert could potentially become the team’s third down back and step in Chase Brown‘s play time. Herbert has shown similar effectiveness as a runner per game as Brown, suggesting he could eventually earn a more important role. For now, the Bengals are relying on Drew monster And Tanner Hudson in the backfield on clear passing downs. Sample has served in this role on and off throughout the year and may continue to do so in the future.

Jermaine Burton starts for the Bengals: Cincinnati was down two wide receivers for another week, with Tee Higgins And Charlie Jones inactive due to injury.

Higgins missed time early in the season with Trenton Irwin to fill in as his primary replacement. When Higgins was sidelined again in Week 8, Burton stepped up and played 24 of 55 offensive snaps. Although reports suggested Burton would play a bigger role last week, he missed Saturday’s walkthrough and was ultimately inactive.

This week, Burton was active and started the game as the third wide receiver, similar to his role in Week 8, alternating with Irwin at times, especially on rushing plays. While Burton is unlikely to be of major importance in the reshuffle competitions this season, he does have the potential to play a big role, especially with Higgins still sidelined.

Bengals adapt without it Erik All: The Bengals tight end landed on injured reserve after tearing his ACL.

Erik All played 21% of 11-person snaps and 76% of 12-person snaps during the season. This week, however, all three Bengals tight ends saw increased usage due to several contributing factors. Tanner Hudson stepped in as the primary replacement for 12 personnel and played several snaps Mike Gesicki also saw extra snaps in that formation. In 11 staff members, Gesicki and Drew monster split snaps.

Injuries on Bag Mos And Tee Higgins further strengthened the tight ends’ involvement. The Bengals regularly deploy 03 personnel in third-and-long situations (3rd-and-7-plus), using this package more in this game than any other team all season. In these sets, Gesicki would often line up — where a third wide receiver would normally be — and some combination of Hudson, Sample or both would take snaps in the backfield and fill in for Moss.

While the running back and wide receiver rotations stabilize, Hudson’s snap count should remain high, with slight increases expected for Gesicki and Sample compared to earlier in the season.

Various comments

Ravens’ rookie fifth-round running back Rasheen Ali was inactive for the fourth game in a row due to an ankle injury. He can be a healthy inactive person if he is ready now Keaton Mitchell is back.

The Bengals signed undrafted rookie Kendall Milton to the active roster a week ago to become the team’s third running back. With Herbert on the roster, Minton was a healthy inactive. He will likely be released and then re-signed to the practice squad.

Bengals rookie in the sixth round Tanner McLachlan had been a healthy inactive all season and was the fifth tight end on the depth chart. Instead of making him part of the gameday roster this week, they signed an undrafted rookie Cam Grandy from the practice squad to serve as the fourth tight end in this game.

Table notes

• Snaps include plays called back due to penalties, including offensive holding or defensive pass interference. These plays have been removed from the other three statistics.