#280 overall · CIN · 47.5 projected half-PPR pts · -69.4 Draft Value
Samaje Perine — 2026 Fantasy Outlook
The case for drafting him
Samaje Perine has been a fixture in Cincinnati's backfield across three seasons, and his 2025 campaign showed a meaningful shift in his usage profile. He logged 84 rush attempts for 382 yards and 3 rushing touchdowns — all three-year highs in carries and scores. That touchdown production is the clearest argument in his favor: he has demonstrated the ability to find the end zone on the ground, and in a half-PPR format, touchdowns are the currency that elevates a back like Perine from roster filler to a usable piece. His receiving work has been consistent enough to add a floor, averaging 31.7 receptions and 288 receiving yards per season over the past three years.
What the model projects
The projection for Perine is 47.5 half-PPR fantasy points. His draft value sits at -69.4, meaning he projects below replacement level at the running back position. That places him at RB61 and #280 overall, in Tier 9 on the board. These numbers reflect a player whose role, even at its most active, has not produced at a volume that clears the replacement-level bar in a 12-team half-PPR league.
| Att | Comp | Pass yds | Pass TD | INT | Car | Rush yds | Rush TD | Tgt | Rec | Rec yds | Rec TD | Fum | FG | XP | Half-PPR | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 53 | 238 | 1 | 56 | 50 | 455 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 96.3 |
| 2024 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 92 | 1 | 35 | 28 | 322 | 1 | — | 0 | 0 | 67.4 |
| 2025 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 84 | 382 | 3 | 21 | 17 | 87 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 69.4 |
| 3-yr avg | — | — | — | — | — | 52.3 | 237.3 | 1.7 | 37.3 | 31.7 | 288 | 0.3 | 2 | — | — | 80.4 |
The range of outcomes
Perine's three-year averages tell a story of limited but real variance. On the ground, his carry totals have ranged from 20 rush attempts in 2024 to 84 in 2025. His receiving targets have ranged from 21 to 56 across the same window. That spread — from a near-invisible 2024 to a more active 2025 — defines the realistic outcome band. In a best-case season, the 2025 carry and touchdown rates hold or improve. In a worst-case season, the usage collapses back toward his 2024 line of 20 carries, 28 receptions, and 2 combined touchdowns. Fumble risk is also present: he has lost 2 fumbles in both 2023 and 2025, which can erode value in any scenario. The gap between his floor and ceiling is wide, driven almost entirely by role rather than efficiency.
How to draft him
Perine does not have a market ADP across public 2026 draft platforms, which means he is not being consistently drafted in standard snake formats. He is a late-waiver or post-draft addition in most leagues. At RB61 and #280 overall in Tier 9, he is a depth option — someone to stash if your roster has room and you want exposure to a Cincinnati backfield role that, in 2025, produced three rushing touchdowns. Do not count on him for a starting lineup spot at draft time; his value, if it materializes, will come from in-season opportunity.
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Questions drafters ask
The model projects him at 47.5 fantasy points with a draft value of -69.4, placing him at RB61 and #280 overall in Tier 9. He projects below replacement level, so he is not a player to target for a starting role. He is a depth stash at best.
He carried the ball 84 times for 382 yards and 3 rushing touchdowns, while adding 17 receptions for 87 receiving yards on 21 targets. That was his most active rushing season across the three years on record.
Over the 2023–2025 window, he averaged 37.3 targets, 31.7 receptions, and 288 receiving yards per season. His 2023 season was the peak (56 targets, 50 receptions, 455 yards); 2025 was the lightest (21 targets, 17 receptions, 87 yards).
He has fumbled 3 times and lost 2 in both 2023 and 2025, making fumble risk a real consideration. In a half-PPR format, lost fumbles subtract directly from his point total and represent a meaningful downside in any active-role scenario.