Who Should I Start? Ja'Marr Chase or Brian Thomas Jr.

Sunday, February 22, 4:21 AM

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase had another strong season in 2025. While he wasn't able to replicate his WR1 finish from 2024, he still had a big year with 125 catches, 1,412 yards, and eight touchdowns across 16 games. He was the WR4 in PPR leagues, extending his streak to five consecutive finishes within the top 12. It was impressive to see Chase thrive even without Joe Burrow throwing him passes for the whole season. He spent plenty of games with Joe Flacco and Jake Browning, which limited his upside on a week-by-week basis. That partial-season quarterback downgrade is likely why Chase only scored eight touchdowns, relative to his 17 from the year before. Burrow's health is never a guarantee, but if the quarterback can stay healthy for most of 2026, Chase and fellow receiver Tee Higgins should both benefit. He's still a top-three receiver with overall WR1 upside in both redraft and dynasty leagues. If there's ever a time to get him at a slight discount in dynasty trades, it might be now.

Wednesday, February 25, 1:40 PM

ESPN's Dan Graziano writes that there hasn't been an indication that the Jacksonville Jaguars are planning to trade wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. this offseason, but there "are teams monitoring the situation" in case the former first-rounder has fallen far enough down their depth chart that the "front office would consider a move." The 23-year-old LSU product was a draft choice of the previous administration two years ago and still has two more years for a total of $4.9 million on his contract, plus a fifth-year team option for 2028. Thomas was excellent in 2024, posting an 87-1,282-10 line in 17 regular-season games, but he regressed in 2025 and finished with 48 catches for 707 yards and only two TDs in 14 regular-season games. The Jags traded for Jakobi Meyers and then signed him to a long-term deal, and Parker Washington also broke out. Thomas finished in more of a WR3 field-stretching role last year, and the best chances of him returning to his rookie form might be with a change of scenery.