Can Rookie Tahj Brooks Power His Way Into The Bengals’ Backfield Rotation?
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After a pair of dominant seasons at Texas Tech, Tahj Brooks heads to the Cincinnati Bengals hoping to prove he belongs in an NFL rotation. While his power-running style and vision stand out, he'll need to overcome concerns about his burst to carve out a meaningful role in the Bengals' crowded backfield.
Tahj Brooks, Cincinnati Bengals
After two successful seasons (575/3,047/27 with 57 catches for 268 yards and one touchdown) at Texas Tech, the Bengals drafted Brooks in the sixth round of the 2025 NFL Draft. He brings league-average running back speed while relying on more power than quickness to make winning plays. His vision is a plus, and Brooks can make defenders miss in tight quarters. Even with 102 catches on his college resume, he gained only 5.3 yards per catch.
"Two-time captain. First team Academic All-American. Best blocking back in this Draft. That's the stuff you don't get in YouTube highlight reels. It's what you learn in conversations here in Indy."@pschrags on @TexasTechFB RB Tahj Brooks pic.twitter.com/BhJBAzKjP0
— NFL GameDay (@NFLGameDay) March 1, 2025
Tahj Brooks Fantasy Football Outlook
A volume opportunity helped his college stats in 2023 and 2024, but his overall explosiveness caps his ability to steal a starting job in the NFL. Player to watch over the summer, just in case Brooks plays his way into a backup role behind Chase Brown and Zack Moss.
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