#187 overall · CIN · 103.8 projected half-PPR pts · -42.0 Draft Value
Cincinnati Bengals — 2026 Fantasy Outlook
The case for drafting him
The Cincinnati Bengals DST has shown genuine pass-rush production over the past three seasons. The unit averaged 38 sacks per year from 2023 through 2025, peaking at 44 in 2023. Turnover generation has been consistent as well: 15 interceptions per year on average, 8.7 fumble recoveries per year, and 12 forced fumbles per year over that same three-season stretch. Those are real playmaking numbers, and the touchdown production, averaging 2.3 per year, adds a floor of big-play upside. If you need a late-round DST with a track record of generating turnovers and pressure, the Bengals have the resume to support that conversation.
What the model projects
The projection is 103.8 half-PPR fantasy points for the 2026 season. The draft value is -42.0, meaning the unit projects below replacement level at the DST position in a 12-team half-PPR format. That places the Bengals DST at DST25 and #181 overall, sitting in Tier 9. The bye week falls in Week 6, which is an early absence drafters will need to plan around.
| Sacks | INT | FF | FR | TD | Saf | PA | PA 1-6 | PA 7-13 | PA 14-20 | PA 21-27 | PA 28-34 | PA 35+ | Half-PPR | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 44 | 17 | 11 | 9 | 2 | — | 384 | — | 1 | 7 | 5 | 4 | — | 126.0 |
| 2024 | 36 | 15 | 14 | 10 | 3 | 1 | 434 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 5 | 114.0 |
| 2025 | 34 | 13 | 11 | 7 | 2 | — | 492 | — | — | 4 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 78.0 |
| 3-yr avg | 38 | 15 | 12 | 8.7 | 2.3 | 0.3 | 436.7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 111.8 |
The range of outcomes
The three-season history gives a clear picture of the variance this unit carries. Points allowed climbed from 384 in 2023 to 434 in 2024 to 492 in 2025, a meaningful upward trend. The distribution of game scores tells the story: in 2025, five games saw opponents score 35 or more points, and three games landed in the 28-34 range. Only four games fell in the 14-20 range, and there were no shutout-range performances. Sacks have also declined from 44 to 36 to 34 over the same three years. The upside case rests on the interception and forced-fumble numbers holding near their three-year averages. The downside case is a unit that has allowed more points each successive season and whose sack total has trended in the wrong direction.
How to draft him
The Bengals DST is not being drafted consistently enough across platforms to carry a market ADP. That means there is no pick cost to plan around. At DST25 and #181 overall in Tier 9, with a negative draft value, this unit belongs at the very back of your draft if it belongs in your lineup at all. The early Week 6 bye is a practical concern: you will need a streaming option ready in that week regardless. Treat this as a last-resort fill if your preferred DST targets are gone, and keep the streaming wire in mind as a week-to-week alternative throughout the season.
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Questions drafters ask
The model projects 103.8 points and a draft value of -42.0, placing the unit at DST25 and #181 overall in Tier 9. That negative draft value means the projection sits below replacement level at the position in this format, so the facts do not make a strong case for spending a meaningful pick on this unit.
Over the 2023-2025 stretch, the unit averaged 15 interceptions, 8.7 fumble recoveries, and 12 forced fumbles per year. Interceptions ran 17, 15, and 13 in successive seasons, showing a gradual decline. Fumble recoveries were 9, 10, and 7 over the same span.
Points allowed rose from 384 in 2023 to 434 in 2024 to 492 in 2025. In 2025, five games saw opponents score 35 or more points, the highest single-season count in the three-year window. More points allowed generally means fewer fantasy-friendly defensive performances, and the game-score distribution in 2025 reflects that.
The bye falls in Week 6, which is one of the earlier byes in the season. Since the unit carries no market ADP and projects below replacement level, you should have a streaming plan ready for Week 6 regardless of whether you roster this DST.
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Beyond the rankings
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