Fant's Bengals Spotlight: Tight End Poised for Big Game

It's a tough spot for any player to step into, especially when the team is dealing with injuries and a revolving door at quarterback. That's precisely the situation Noah Fant finds himself in with the Cincinnati Bengals. With both Mike Gesicki and Tanner Hudson sidelined due to injury, Fant is suddenly looking like the go-to guy at tight end for quarterback Joe Flacco. It's a scenario that’s been a long time coming for Fant, who has shown flashes of chemistry with Flacco, as CBS Sports noted from their Week 6 performance.

You can’t help but feel a little bit of empathy for Fant. He’s been battling through less-than-ideal quarterback play and competition within his own position group for much of the season. Yet, as DraftKings contributor Ciaran Doyle points out, Fant has still managed to hit a certain reception threshold in most of his games, showing a surprising level of consistency. Now, with the other tight ends out, the expectation is that his target share will only increase. It’s a chance for him to potentially have that breakout game everyone’s been waiting for, especially on a primetime stage.

The Bengals are facing an uphill battle against the Steelers, and it’s likely they’ll be trailing, which means Flacco will be throwing the ball a lot. As Article 3 suggests, Flacco has a history of leaning on his tight ends, and with the other options limited, Fant should see plenty of opportunities. While Drew Sample is still on the roster, his role leans more towards blocking, leaving Fant as the primary pass-catching tight end. It's a situation ripe with potential, and it will be fascinating to see if Noah Fant can seize this elevated role and make a significant impact. Can this finally be the moment where the Bengals' tight end situation stabilizes, at least for this week?