{"id":236805,"date":"2025-07-27T09:00:13","date_gmt":"2025-07-27T13:00:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/?p=236805"},"modified":"2025-07-26T22:48:23","modified_gmt":"2025-07-27T02:48:23","slug":"the-battle-for-the-bengals-wr3-is-heating-up","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/2025\/07\/27\/the-battle-for-the-bengals-wr3-is-heating-up\/","title":{"rendered":"The Battle for the Bengals WR3 is Heating Up"},"content":{"rendered":"

Last year, the Cincinnati Bengals had the top passing offense in the NFL thanks to an MVP-worthy season from Joe Burrow<\/a> and a Triple Crown from Ja’Marr Chase<\/a>. Of course, how much of that is due to the fact that the defense was in the bottom third in everything, and Burrow had no choice but to put the team on his back? While it could be argued (and argued well) that the Bengals did not massively upgrade the guard deficiencies<\/a>, the offense is mostly the same heading into 2025.<\/p>\n

On one hand, returning all of the major players on the league’s top offense is great. Burrow, Chase, Tee Higgins<\/a>, Chase Brown<\/a>, Mike Gesicki<\/a>, and the three good offensive linemen from last year return. On the other hand, the league’s defenses spent all offseason preparing to thwart their efforts. Sure, locking down the top one-two punch in the NFL is easier said than done, but it would be ignorant to think the Baltimore Ravens, Buffalo Bills, and the rest of the elite teams on the schedule haven’t taken strides to slow them down.<\/p>\n

They are set to improve the guard situation<\/a>, at least marginally (if Cody Ford<\/a> is the starting right guard, we reserve the right to rescind such a statement), and raised the floor in the running back room with Samaje Perine<\/a> and Tahj Brooks. The question remains, will Gesicki be the de facto WR3, or will one of the Bengals’ two uber-athletic youngsters finally step up?<\/p>\n

Who Steps Up, Iosivas or Burton?<\/h2>\n

Outplaying Draft Capital<\/h3>\n

To this point, the fact that Andrei Iosivas<\/a> is still a relevant member of the team is impressive. Getting to year three as a sixth-round pick from Princeton is objectively incredible. The best part is that he’s not a pity selection or a back-of-the-roster guy with a cult following like Auden Tate<\/a> was or Matt Lee<\/a> currently is. Iosivas is a borderline stash on deep dynasty rosters, if fantasy football is your thing.<\/p>\n

To this point, “Yoshi” has been a surprisingly reliable option for Burrow. As a rookie in 2023, Iosivas garnered 25 targets and turned 15 receptions for 116 yards and four touchdowns. He closed out the year with a two-touchdown effort in a Week 18 win.<\/p>\n

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Joe Burrow with his best throw of the day and maybe the offseason\u2026 he finds Andrei Iosivas in the middle of the field with three defenders around him. Elite placement. pic.twitter.com\/J1t1I8QQeI<\/a><\/p>\n

— James Rapien (@JamesRapien) June 11, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n