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

Wednesday, January 28, 3:23 PM

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase wasn't as dominant in 2025 as he was in 2024, when he led the NFL in catches (127), targets (175), receiving yards (1,708), touchdowns (17), and yards per game (100.5). Chase had a league-high 185 targets, 125 catches, 1,412 yards, and eight touchdowns in his 16 games played in his fifth year in the league in 2025. Despite the step back, the 25-year-old wideout remains one of the best all-around receivers in the game. Chase was the WR4 in half-PPR scoring, behind only Puka Nacua, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, and Amon-Ra St. Brown. He has been a Pro Bowler in all five of his NFL seasons, as well as being named a first-team All-Pro in the last two years. The former fifth overall pick out of LSU is showing no signs of slowing down and has excellent chemistry with quarterback Joe Burrow. Chase already has a staggering 6,837 receiving yards and 54 touchdowns in his 78 games played for the Bengals.

Saturday, January 31, 5:22 AM

After topping 1,200 receiving yards and recording 10 touchdown catches as a rookie in 2024, Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. was expected to fully emerge as an elite player at his position in 2025. However, the 23-year-old battled through both injury and underperformance this past season, recording just 48 receptions for 707 yards and two touchdowns on 91 targets across 14 games played. As the season progressed, Thomas Jr. appeared to fall behind Jaguars wideouts Jakobi Meyers and Parker Washington on the team's pass-catching pecking order. Including the postseason, Thomas Jr. recorded fewer than five receptions in each of his final nine games of the year. Heading into 2026, the Jaguars' wide receiver depth chart will get even more crowded by wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter's (knee) return from injury. Thomas Jr. could re-emerge as the lead wideout in Jacksonville in 2026. However, his stock in both redraft and dynasty fantasy formats has taken a hit after his disappointing 2025 campaign.