Moss rushed 12 times for 34 yards and brought in his only target for 13 yards in Sunday's 26-25 loss to the Chiefs.
The Bengals lost a hard-fought defensive battle against last year's Super Bowl champions, resulting in several underwhelming fantasy lines Sunday. Moss was one of the victims after averaging just 2.8 yards per tote in the last-second defeat. After two weeks of unfortunate game scripts for fantasy managers, Cincinnati's new starting tailback may finally receive the amount of touches against the Commanders next Monday that Moss's hopeful draftees envisioned when selecting the upside play coming into the 2024 season.
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Bengals' Zack Moss: Sleeper RBs
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Moss only had 11 total touches in Week 1 against New England, but he played the majority of the snaps ahead of Chase Brown. Moss played 65 percent of the snaps compared to 33 percent for Brown, and Moss finished with nine carries for 44 yards and a touchdown and two catches for 17 yards on four targets. We'll see if the Bengals give Moss more work in Week 2, and I would use him as a flex at Kansas City. Last week, the Chiefs allowed Derrick Henry and Justice Hill to each score at least 10.6 PPR points.
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Bengals' Zack Moss: Finds end zone in team debut
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Moss rushed nine times for 44 yards and a touchdown and brought in two of four targets for 17 yards in the Bengals' 16-10 loss to the Patriots on Sunday.
There was no close split in the Bengals' backfield timeshare for Week 1, as Moss outpaced Chase Brown by six carries and 33 rushing yards. The veteran offseason addition also contributed a five-yard touchdown run early in the third quarter, and he saw his opportunities capped by a surprising game script in which Cincinnati trailed throughout. Moss's rushing touches could be limited once again in Week 2, as the Bengals will travel to Arrowhead Stadium to take on the defending champion Chiefs.
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Bengals' Zack Moss: Sleeper RBs
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I like Moss and Chase Brown as flex options this week against the Patriots. Both running backs should get plenty of opportunities to touch the ball in a game the Bengals are favored to win by eight points. I would give a slight lean toward Moss over Brown this week since the veteran will probably get more touches, but both could perform well against a New England defense missing Christian Barmore (illness) and Matthew Judon from last year.
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Bengals' Zack Moss: Primed to split touches
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Moss and Chase Brown are expected to split snaps this Sunday against New England, but they won't necessarily have predetermined roles based on situations, Paul Dehner of The Athletic reports.
In other words, it may not be a traditional early/late-down split with one running back getting most of the carries and the other dominating targets. The Bengals may instead use both backs in a variety of situations, perhaps preferring Brown's speed for some passing downs and Moss' superior blocking for others. Moss seems to be the favorite to handle short-yardage work and a majority of the other carries between the tackles, but that doesn't mean he'll dominate early down snaps in a pass-first Cincinnati offense directed by head coach Zac Taylor and quarterback Joe Burrow. A slightly better idea about the backfield roles should emerge after Week 1, even if fluidity throughout the season is a strong possibility.
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Bengals' Zack Moss: Sitting out Thursday
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Moss isn't slated to play in Thursday's preseason game versus the Colts, Kelsey Conway of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
Moss and the rest of the Bengals' starters won't suit up in the team's exhibition finale. Beyond Moss, it's unclear if No. 2 RB Chase Brown will be included among the regulars who won't dress Thursday, but if he does, Cincinnati's backfield would be composed of Trayveon Williams, Noah Cain and Elijah Collins. Moss himself is in line to be the Bengals' lead runner this season after a 2023 campaign in which he posted 986 yards from scrimmage and seven TDs on 210 touches in 14 regular-season games with the Colts.
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Bengals' Zack Moss: Back on practice field
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Moss (illness) returned to practice Monday, Ben Baby of ESPN.com reports.
Moss didn't suit up for Saturday's preseason opener against the Buccaneers due to an illness, but he's now moved past the ailment and resumed running with the first-team offense at practice. The 26-year-old's next chance to log exhibition reps will come on the road at Chicago this Saturday. Chase Brown got the starting nod versus Tampa Bay with Moss sidelined but rushed only five times for 10 yards while securing his only target for no gain.
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Bengals' Zack Moss: Dealing with illness
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Moss didn't play in Saturday's preseason loss to the Buccaneers due to an illness, Kelsey Conway of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
According to coach Zac Taylor, Moss became sick Friday night, so the Bengals exercised caution with their top running back as they kicked off exhibition season. Chase Brown, Moss's primary competition for RB reps, didn't fare too well Saturday, notching five carries for 10 yards while catching his only target for no yards. Moss will aim to get healthy ahead of next Saturday's preseason contest at Chicago.
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Bengals' Zack Moss: Heading to Cincy
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Moss agreed to terms on a two-year, $8 million contract with the Bengals on Monday, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports.
Moss vaults to the No. 1 spot on the running back depth chart for Cincinnati, as the team also released Joe Mixon on Monday. The 26-year-old is cashing in after an impressive showing during Jonathan Taylor's absence from the Colts last season. Moss finished the 2023 campaign with a career-high 794 yards and five touchdowns on the ground to go along with 192 yards and two touchdowns across 27 receptions.
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Colts' Zack Moss: Interested in re-signing
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Moss said Tuesday that he would be interested in re-signing with the Colts this offseason, Nate Atkins of The Indianapolis Star reports.
The 2020 third-round draft pick enjoyed a mini-breakout in the final year of his rookie contract, making eight starts for an Indianapolis offense that didn't have Jonathan Taylor in Weeks 1 through 4 and 13 through 15. Taylor's absences allowed Moss to set career highs for snaps, carries, targets, rushing yards and touchdowns, though the 26-year-old finished out his season with only six touches on 11 snaps in a 23-19 loss to the Texans in Week 18 while Taylor took on 32 touches for 196 yards across 51 snaps. It's hard to say if free agency will offer Moss a chance to compete for a starting job elsewhere, but he would have to settle for a clear reserve role if he returns to Indianapolis and if Taylor is healthy to begin the 2024 season.
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Colts' Zack Moss: Healthy finish to solid season
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Moss (forearm) carried the ball six times for 30 yards and was not targeted as a receiver in Saturday's 23-19 loss to the Texans.
Jonathan Taylor (ankle) literally carried the offense with a 30/188/1 rushing line Saturday, but his brief exit near the end of the third quarter allowed Moss to earn a few extra carries as the Colts' primary backup. The latter was returning from a two-game layoff from an injury of his own, so it was a positive sign to see him produce in a limited role to end the season. Moss was an early season stud in fantasy while filling in for Taylor -- who was holding out over a contract dispute -- producing 445 out of the backup's 764 rushing yards this year over his first four games. Moss should be a desirable free agent this upcoming offseason after averaging 4.3 yards per carry and producing 986 combined yards and seven touchdowns in a hybrid backup/starting role with the Colts.
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Colts' Zack Moss: Practicing fully Wednesday
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Moss (forearm) was a full participant in Wednesday's practice.
Moss was estimated as a limited participant on Tuesday's report, but his upgrade to full activity clears the way for him to play in Saturday's all-important game against the Texans, with the winner of the contest claiming a wild-card berth. Jonathan Taylor should serve as the Colts' workhorse back in Week 18, but Moss will likely step back in as his top backup after missing both of the past two contests.
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Colts' Zack Moss: Begins week listed as limited
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Moss (forearm) was limited at Tuesday's walkthrough.
Moss hasn't logged much on-field work and also missed the Colts' last two games due to a right forearm injury. For a second week in a row, though, he's being listed as limited on the first practice report of the week. During Week 17 prep, he ended it with a DNP before the team ruled him out for this past Sunday's game against the Raiders. As a result, Moss may need to maintain limited listings all of this week or even log a full session in order to put himself in a position to play in Saturday's season finale versus the Texans.
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Colts' Zack Moss: Downgrades to DNP on Friday
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Moss (forearm) isn't practicing Friday, James Boyd of The Athletic reports.
This is a step back for Moss, who was listed as a limited participant Wednesday and Thursday after sitting out the Week 16 loss in Atlanta. Moss will likely carry a questionable designation into Sunday's game against the Raiders, though official confirmation on that front will come later Friday when the Colts post their injury report. Regardless of Moss's availability, Jonathan Taylor is expected to handle the majority of touches out of the backfield for Indianapolis.
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Colts' Zack Moss: Remains listed as limited
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Moss (forearm) was a limited participant at practice Thursday.
Moss didn't practice at all last week before being ruled out ahead of the Colts' 29-10 loss to the Falcons, but he's now been listed as limited on both of the team's first two Week 17 injury report. Though the running back appears to be trending in the right direction ahead of Sunday's game against the Raiders, Moss will presumably need to practice fully Friday in order to avoid taking a designation into the weekend.
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Colts' Zack Moss: Deemed limited Wednesday
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Moss (forearm) was listed as a limited participant on Wednesday's practice estimate.
Moss didn't practice at all last week before being ruled out for this past Sunday's 29-10 loss to the Falcons. With a limited listing to begin Week 17 prep, Moss looks as though he'll have a better chance at returning to action this weekend against the Raiders. If he does play versus Las Vegas, he'll rejoin a Colts backfield that welcomed lead runner Jonathan Taylor back from a three-game absence in Week 16.
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Colts' Zack Moss: Unable to practice all week
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Moss (forearm) wasn't spotted at practice Friday, Mike Chappell of FOX59 Indianapolis reports.
Moss hasn't practiced in any fashion throughout the week, which suggests it's unlikely that he'll be healthy enough to suit up for Sunday's game against the Falcons, though Friday's injury report could provide clarification on his status. Jonathan Taylor (thumb) has been practicing without limitations, so Taylor will likely return from a three-week absence Sunday, with Trey Sermon and Tyler Goodson on hand to provide backfield depth. Sermon and Goodson combined for 157 rushing yards in last Saturday's 30-13 win over the Steelers, which Moss exited in the first half.
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Colts' Zack Moss: Misses Thursday's practice
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Moss (forearm) didn't practice Thursday.
Given that Moss was listed as a non-participant on Wednesday's practice estimate, what the running back is able to do Friday -- if anything -- will be pivotal with regard to his chances of suiting up Sunday against the Falcons. While Moss looks iffy for Week 16 at this stage, fellow back Jonathan Taylor (thumb) logged a full practice Thursday and appears poised to return from a three-game absence this weekend.
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Colts' Zack Moss: Estimated as non-participant
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Moss (forearm) was listed as a non-participant on Wednesday's practice estimate.
Moss exited this past Saturday's 30-13 win over the Steelers with what was originally termed a shoulder injury, but the Colts have since clarified that the running back is dealing with an injury to his right forearm. The fourth-year running back notably missed the Colts' Week 1 loss to the Jaguars while recovering from a fracture of the same forearm suffered during training camp, but Indianapolis hasn't indicated that his latest injury to the forearm is nearly as serious. In fact, Moss expressed optimism Monday about his potential availability for Sunday's game against the Falcons. Even if he suits up, however, Moss could be relegated to a backup role behind Jonathan Taylor (thumb), who was listed as a full participant at Wednesday's walkthrough. Taylor missed the past three games but had been getting the majority of backfield reps at Moss's expense prior to having surgery on his thumb.
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Colts' Zack Moss: Hopes to play Week 16
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Moss (shoulder) intends to suit up for Sunday's game against the Falcons despite having been forced out of Saturday's 30-13 win over the Steelers with an injury, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Moss had X-rays on his shoulder to determine the severity of his injury, with results thankfully coming back negative. The running back's actual chances of playing Week 16 likely will come down to the extent of his participation in practice, with the same potentially being true for Jonathan Taylor, who has been sidelined the past three games while recovering from thumb surgery. That leaves Indianapolis' backfield murky for the time being. Tennessee also has Trey Sermon and Tyler Goodson available as depth options.
