NFL fans send the Cincinnati Bengals a loud message about which player they think will win the WR3 battle in training camp
Dynasty fantasy football fans are buying the hype when it comes to Cincinnati Bengals fourth-round wide receiver Colbie Young. They’re showing the team they believe he’ll emerge victorious in the battle for WR3 behind Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins.
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Colbie Young, the team’s fourth-round pick out of the University of Georgia, is generating significant buzz ahead of training camp.
The 6-foot-5 and 218-pound rookie has become one of the fastest-rising Dynasty fantasy football assets in recent weeks, with nearly 9,000 users on the Sleeper Fantasy Football app adding him to their rosters. His roster percentage has climbed to roughly 20% after being available in the vast majority of leagues just days ago.
The surge in interest traces back to a report from ESPN’s Ben Baby, who wrote that Young stood out during spring workouts. Baby noted that the Bengals are still searching for a more consistent No. 3 receiver behind Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, and Young appears to be right in the thick of that competition as training camp approaches. He also noted this quote from OC Dan Pritcher.
“I think he’s going to fight and battle,” Pitcher said. “He’s a young player, but there are things that I think he can do quickly and help us.”
Colbie Young’s path to playing time with the Cincinnati Bengals
What’s clear about this situation is that Young doesn’t need to be an elite talent to carve out a fantasy-relevant role. He needs to beat out Andrei Iosivas, Charlie Jones, tight end Mike Gesicki, and a handful of other options for the No. 3 spot. Young’s size and college production give him a legitimate shot to win snaps.
Young finished his college career split between Miami and Georgia with 1,437 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns over four seasons. Cincinnati traded back early in the fourth round to acquire two picks. They used the first on Auburn C Connor Lew, then the second on Young. The Bengals clearly identified him as a target and maneuvered to get him.
Young is not without question marks. He ran a 4.49-second 40-yard dash, which isn’t terrible for his size. It still raises questions about his ability to separate from press-man coverage at the NFL level. Long speed is not considered a strength of his game. That matters for a receiver who will need to threaten vertically to keep defenses honest.
Opportunity matters more than the talent ceiling for Young in Cincinnati
Let’s say that Young does earn the opportunity to be the WR3 in Cincinnati. Everyone knows Chase and Higgins will command the lion’s share of attention from defensive coordinators and top cornerbacks. Young would be facing off against the No. 3 cornerback on most opposing defenses, which significantly raises the bar for production.
The Bengals’ receiving corps behind their top two options lacks a clear separator. Iosivas has flashed but hasn’t locked down consistent targets. Jones is a factor, but not a dominant one. Young’s frame at 6-foot-5 gives him a different dimension than anyone else competing for that role, and quarterback Joe Burrow has historically elevated receivers who can win contested catches.
For Dynasty fantasy football managers, the calculus here is simple. Young was essentially free in most leagues a week ago. The cost of acquisition remains low even after his roster percentage jumped. If he wins the No. 3 job and the Bengals’ offense operates at the level it did before Burrow’s injuries derailed things, the WR3 in Cincinnati could produce meaningful fantasy numbers. Will he be super valuable in PPR formats where target volume matters? That I can’t say. But he’d see enough opportunity as a WR3 to be valuable in deep keeper leagues.
The risk is that Young’s limitations are tangible. He’s never going to be a burner. He’s going to always rely on size and plus athleticism. At his current acquisition cost in Dynasty leagues, though, the upside of a starting role opposite Chase and Higgins makes him one of the more appealing late-round stashes of the summer.