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


Week 1 Projections

Fant.
Pts.
Rush.
Yds.
Rush
TD
Rec. Rec.
Yds.
Rec
TD
18.7 1.0 0.0 6.7 84.8 0.6

Ja'Marr Chase News

Ja'Marr Chase Remains a Viable Overall WR1 Candidate Entering 2026

Monday, July 13, 11:38 AM

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase turned in another highly productive season in 2025, recording 125 catches for 1,412 yards and eight touchdowns on 185 targets across 16 games. The 26-year-old has now led the NFL in targets in back-to-back seasons, and he should be the focal point of the Cincinnati offense once again in 2026. While Chase's touchdown production fell from 17 in 2025 to eight in 2026, he showed an ability to remain a highly impactful fantasy wideout even in a season where Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow played just eight games. Chase finished 2026 as the WR3 in per-game PPR scoring, behind only Puka Nacua and Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Chase may have the highest floor of any player in fantasy football, making him a logical choice as the number one overall player off the board in redraft leagues ahead of 2026.


Week 1 Projections

Fant.
Pts.
Rush.
Yds.
Rush
TD
Rec. Rec.
Yds.
Rec
TD
10.3 1.0 0.0 3.4 51.1 0.3

Brian Thomas Jr. News

Brian Thomas Jr. is Capable of Outperforming His Current Redraft ADP

Friday, July 17, 12:17 PM

After recording 1,282 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns as a rookie in 2024, Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. entered 2025 as a consensus top-12 fantasy wideout. Unfortunately, Thomas Jr. put together a disappointing season, hauling 48 catches for 707 yards and two touchdowns on 91 targets across 14 games. Entering 2026, Thomas Jr. has plenty of target competition in Jacksonville between wide receivers Jakobi Meyers, Parker Washington, and Travis Hunter, as well as tight end Brenton Strange. However, Thomas Jr. is clearly the highest-upside pass-catcher on the Jaguars' roster. He also should be healthier this season than he was in 2025, at least to open the year. Thomas Jr. played through early-season shoulder and wrist issues in 2025 and then missed time with a high-ankle sprain late in the season. As the WR31 by current redraft ADP, Thomas Jr. has the potential to significantly outperform his draft-day price.


Ja'Marr Chase vs. Brian Thomas Jr.

Still trying to decide between Chase and Thomas Jr.? Check on the latest news to make sure both players are active and healthy. Our PPR projections show that Ja'Marr Chase is projected to score 18.7 points this week while Brian Thomas Jr. is projected to score 10.3 points.