What’s the ideal target distribution for the Bengals, and can it be historically balanced?

One of the frontrunners for Bengals quote of the year came on draft night when first-round pick Ja’Marr Chase brashly proclaimed, “I’m going to break every record they’ve got.” And who knows, maybe 12 years from now the local TV stations will be re-racking that clip after Chase fulfills his prophecy and breaks Chad Johnson’s records for receptions, receiving yards or receiving touchdowns — maybe all three. 5 Players With 50+ Catches Team Year Players Cowboys 2020 A.Cooper 92, C.Lamb 74, D.Schultz 63, M.Gallup 59, E.Elliott 52 Cowboys 2019 A.Cooper 79, M.Gallup 66, J.Witten 53, R.Cobb 55, E.Elliott 54 Lions 2016 G.Tate 91, A.Boldin 67, E.Ebron 61, M.Jones 55, T.Riddick 53 Broncos 2013 D.Thomas 92, E.Decker 87, W.Welker 73, J.Thomas 65, K.Moreno 60 Saints 2011 J.Graham 99, D.Sproles 86, M.Colston 80, L.Moore 52, P.Thomas 50 Patriots 1994 B.Coates 96, M.Timpson 74, L.Thompson 65, V.Brisby 58, K.Turner 52 Browns 1980 M.Pruitt 63, R.Rucker 52, O.Newsome 51, D.Logan 51, G.Pruitt 50 “We never set out to have a distribution of targets like that, but what ends up happening if you have enough good players like we did in both of those offenses, and a good quarterback, which we have here, you have an ability to spread the ball around your offense simply because you don’t have to try to gameplan necessarily,” Callahan said. “When you’ve got a guy who’s an All-Pro receiver, he should be getting the most targets,” Taylor said. “If your back is getting 50 or more catches, he’s a threat out of the backfield, he’s a threat in the play-action game, he’s a threat in the screen game,” Callahan continued.