Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow will have surgery on his toe. He expects to go through at least three months of recovery. This unfortunate development comes as Burrow was considered a frontrunner in fantasy football, being the consensus No. 1 quarterback in preseason drafts. His serious injury is alarming news for Bengals as well as fantasy managers who have favored his production.
The course of surgery has been decided and will take place early next week. Burrow should be back in 12-14 weeks post-surgery. Many factors specific to Burrow’s recovery will affect this timeline, so it remains up in the air when he’ll next be on the field. The Bengals now will try to get through a full half of the season without their star quarterback.
Impact on the Bengals’ Offense
With Burrow out of the picture, Jake Browning has taken over as his replacement. Analysts will have to look closely at how Browning answers these questions. They pointed to the fact he averaged 19.1 ppg when he filled in for Burrow earlier this season. Browning has a big arm and is known as an aggressive thrower who excels in the two-minute drill.
“When Browning relieved Burrow in ’23, he averaged 19.1 points per game. An aggressive thrower, Browning will attack tight windows and push the ball to the third level of the defense.”
As bright as Browning’s future looks, Cincinnati still has a very tough slate of games coming up. Tristan H. Cockcroft remarked on the timing of Burrow’s injury, stating, “comes at a terrible time in the schedule for the quarterback, with games against the Vikings, Broncos, Lions, and Packers in the next four weeks representing the position’s toughest upcoming slate.”
It’s yet to be seen how well Browning can hold the fort and keep up the offensive production that Burrow usually brings. The Bengals’ offensive scheme will have to make some serious adjustments in a hurry to lessen the damage from losing their playmaking quarterback.
Fantasy Football Implications
Burrow’s unfortunate and severe injury shakes up the fantasy football world drastically, especially for his teammates. Of course, wide receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins will attract all the attention. Still, a big emphasis will be on them adjusting to life without their starting QB. Experts believe that Chase will remain a great catch with immense promise. On the other hand, Higgins could experience a reduction in his fantasy appeal.
“That works for Chase, who will remain a volume target with top-3 upside in weekly rankings. Higgins still has breakout-game ability with Browning at QB, due to his formation flexibility and vertical presence; however, Higgins will slide into the WR3 range.”
For those managing their fantasy teams, Eric Karabell advised caution: “We start with this career backup, but many fantasy managers can do better in single-QB formats.” There will be plenty of opportunities for big plays on Bengals receivers. Managers need to take a step back and rethink how they will proceed from here on out.
Chase Brown should have an increased workload as he adjusts to Browning’s style. Analysts are already speculating that Brown will be a key piece, serving as a true lead runner and short-to-intermediate passing threat.
“In the run game, Brown will get the touches to stick in the RB2 mix, while he has the traits to produce as an underneath outlet for Browning on checkdowns and screens.”
Looking Ahead
Burrow is likely already in surgery and beginning his recovery process. As OTAs get underway, the entire Bengals organization and the most loyal Bengals fans will be watching his progress. Whether or not he succeeds, the next three months will be Burrow’s moment. The rest of the team needs to raise their game to continue to compete after losing their best player.
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