3 under-the-radar Bengals who must contribute vs. Chiefs in Week 17

Bengals offense will need to stay balanced and spread the ball out to key playmakers. Time for Tyler Boyd to shine!

Cincy has been electric on offense all season. Rookie of the Year candidate Ja’Marr Chase has been everything he was advertised on draft day, and then some. He has made incredible catches and made an instant connection with Joe Burrow.

Last year’s rookie wideout, Tee Higgins, has continued to impress by winning contested catches and jump balls. He has gone over 1,000 yards receiving for the season and has been a great compliment to Chase.

But, the player who needs to step up for the Bengals to beat the Chiefs is Tyler Boyd. The Pittsburgh product broke out in 2018 and has been a key part of the Cincinnati offense ever since. With two big-time receivers taking snaps though, Boyd is usually the forgotten player on offense.

This week, Boyd needs to make it two weeks in a row where he has a big play. Not only will this mean the Bengals are connecting on big plays, but this will also take the attention off of Chase and Higgins and allow everyone to enjoy looser coverage.

The Bengals offense is going to score points, but to truly reach their potential, Boyd is going to need a big game.

These three players might not typically be listed as x-factors but they are for this game.