We’re about a third of the way through the fantasy regular season, here’s what I’ve learned so far in the AFC North.

AFC North
Cincinnati
Joe Burrow has been solid with 11 TDs in five weeks. Our very own Derek Favret was very high on Burrow coming into 2026 and has been proven right so far. At RB, it’s been a different story. With the exception of the Jaguars’ game, Chase Brown has been a major disappointment for fantasy owners. He’s tallied only 1 TD so far. Drafters were counting on more from Brown who typically went in the 2nd round….At WR, Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins have both done well….TE Mike Gesicki has been one of the surprises so far. Much of that has been TD dependent. That said, he has 4 TDs through five weeks and is currently the 13th highest scoring TE in Half-Point PPR….Evan McPherson was the 3rd best kicker prior to the Bengals bye week… He’s one of the better kickers in the league…...One of the preseason bold predictions I made on FantasyPros was for the Bengals’ defense to finish as a Top 5 defense. I liked their revamped defensive line. Their average consensus ranking by analysts in August was 27th. Cincinnati is the 5th best defense through five games. Even a blind squirrel finds a nut. Hopefully, the Bengals' defense can keep it up. Just an fyi- I like cashews and almonds.

Baltimore
Every year I rank Lamar Jackson high and every year I seem to regret it. He tends to miss more time than other QBs and this year is no exception. Prior to the injury he was only the 9th ranked QB. Part of the reason for Jackson’s struggles might be the switch to a new offense. Offensive coordinator Declan Doyle seems to want to run the offense through Derrick Henry. Who can blame him? I'm convinced Henry isn’t human. Most RBs slow down as they get in their thirties, but not Henry. He’s the 4th best RB in Half-Point PPR. He was a steal in the 2nd round for drafters who pledged their allegiance to the king……Zay Flowers continues to prove the naysayers wrong, including yours truly. Every year, I struggle to pick him, but all he does is produce. Flowers is currently the 10th highest scoring WR in Half-Point PPR……At TE, I thought Mark Andrews was a nice sleeper to target late with the departure of Isaiah Likely, but he’s been mostly quiet so far. Perhaps that will change, however, my confidence in the veteran is waning. Maybe the whispers about Andrews losing a step are true?......The Ravens traded with the Eagles for all-pro center Cam Jurgens. That should help fortify what was a shaky spot on their line after injuries took a toll.

Pittsburgh
It looks like this is the farewell tour for one of the all-time greats- Aaron Rodgers. Rodgers gets a bad rap from many analysts, but they clearly don’t appreciate how talented he truly is. Rodgers is one of the most accurate passers I’ve ever seen. He’s clearly lost some mobility, but if he has time, he can still sling it…..Rico Dowdle’s injury forced Jaylen Warren into a bell-cow role. Warren performed well, but Dowdle is back now which is probably a good thing. I’m not sure if the undersized Warren would hold up over the rigors of a long, demanding season.……Meanwhile at WR, DK Metcalf has been the go-to-guy for Rodgers. The two worked together in the offseason and that timing is showing up now. It’s clear they’ve developed good chemistry. Michael Pittman Jr. hasn’t been as fortunate. He’s been struggling with a foot injury. He tried to play through it but was limping noticeably in the locker room after week 4 and was eventually put on the injured reserve list… Rookie Germie Bernard has picked up the slack and been a factor for fantasy owners trying to boost their WR room....TEs Pat Freiermuth and Darnell Washington have also been pitching in. They’re ranked 8th and 23rd respectively. The bigger surprise for me is Washington. Darnell is known as a glorified blocker because of his huge size, but he’s demonstrated a ferocity for breaking tackles which no doubt has impressed both his teammates and coaches. During our RazzBall Supporters League 2 Draft I drafted several players named Washington and the guys joked that I should grab Darnell to stay consistent. At this point, I wish I would have. Darnell has done a nice job.

Cleveland
Cleveland is believeland! Naturally, the year I finally gave up on listing DeShaun Watson as a sleeper he plays his best ball. I literally had him in my sleepers article the last several years- ugh! Whether that continues remains to be seen, but there’s a new vibe in Cleveland. It’s clear that the coaching staff has emphasized to Watson to get the ball out quickly. Watson has listened and it’s meant less sacks, as well as getting the ball out to his playmakers....At RB, Quinshon Judkins has been solid as usual…..The surprise has been at WR where it’s the rookie WR Denzel Boston who has been the story. Boston looks like an emerging star. He’s continued his strong summer by lighting up the stat sheet. He and Watson have developed a strong connection. Boston is currently the 19th ranked WR in Half-Point PPR! He’s been one of the picks of the year and drafters who took a shot on the rookie are reaping their rewards now. KC Concepcion has shown flashes, but has been mostly quiet. Maybe he should change his name to Cleveland Concepcion?.....Ahem, I digress. Veteran Jerry Jeudy has been a non-factor. Don’t be surprised if Jeudy is traded by the trade deadline…..TE Harold Fannin Jr. has been up and down. He’s scored 3 TDs in weeks three and four, but has been quiet since. Fannin Jr. is one of the most talented young TEs in the league. Whatever happens in 2026, this much is clear. The Browns are building a strong, young nucleus for the future.

-Mark Ringo