Andrei Iosivas
Iosivas is a No. 3 receiver on injured reserve after thumb ligament surgery. The earliest he can return is Week 8, and he is only a depth piece behind Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins once he is back.
Role
Before the injury he was the Bengals' third starting WR behind Chase and Higgins (Yardbarker, citing the depth chart). In 2026 he had three catches on four targets for 19 yards in two games, so his usage was small. While he is out, NBC Sports' Week 6 injury report (two days old) says Colbie Young and Dohnte Meyers will compete for the No. 3 job. CBS also named rookie Young, Meyers and Ke'Shawn Williams as the beneficiaries. A Fox Sports headline says Williams was later cut and Mitchell Tinsley added, but I did not read that article. I have not read a current depth chart or any snap-share data. Taylor said he expects Iosivas back this season, but no return date has been given beyond the minimum window.
Taylor expects him to return this season, with a four-week IR window and a little more (via Fox Sports/RotoWire). He had held the No. 3 job, and that role gets some work. When Higgins was sidelined in an earlier game (NBC Sports player news), Iosivas moved up to operate as the No. 2. He is a 6-foot-3 receiver with 12 career touchdowns. If the replacements do not take the job, he could regain it after his return.
He had only four targets in two games before the injury, and NBC Sports noted that with Chase and Higgins healthy he is not much of a fantasy play. He is also in the final year of his rookie contract (Yardbarker). He will miss at least four games, and the injury is a torn thumb ligament that needed surgery. Others are now getting his snaps, so he may not walk back into the same role. Fox Sports lists him as out until at least Nov. 1, and ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reported 4-6 weeks.
Where analysts split
The open question is who owns the No. 3 WR job in the meantime and whether Iosivas takes it back when he returns. NBC Sports has Young and Meyers competing for it, while CBS also names Williams. A Fox Sports headline suggests the Bengals later changed the group. I found no source arguing either way about his role after the return.
Injury: IR: assessed avoid
Thumb surgery, on IR, targeting Week 10-11 return
He remains on injured reserve recovering from thumb surgery with only an outside chance of returning Nov. 8 and a more likely Week 10 target; not rosterable in fantasy lineups until he's actually activated and shows usage.
What would change this: Confirmation of activation from IR and his practice/role once back.
Research confidence: reported. Outlooks are grounded in web search over current reporting and refreshed through the season.
Others at WR
Fantasy Memo reads your league and answers that every Tuesday, and checks again before kickoff.
Connect your league: 14 days free