Who Should I Start? Ja'Marr Chase or Rashee Rice

Sunday, March 16, 11:33 PM

The Cincinnati Bengals signed wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase to a four-year, $161 million deal with $112 million guaranteed on Sunday to make him the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history, according to FOX Sports' Jordan Schultz. The 25-year-old All-Pro wideout is now under contract with the Bengals for the next five years for $182.816 million. The former fifth overall pick in 2021 out of LSU was deserving of the record contract after leading the league in receptions (127), receiving yards (1,708), touchdowns (17) and yards per game (100.5) in 17 games (16 starts) for the Bengals in his fourth year in the league in 2024. Chase has now been a Pro Bowler in each of his four years in the NFL and has put up at least 1,046 yards and seven touchdowns every year. With Tee Higgins also coming back and with Joe Burrow throwing him the football, Chase will be the unquestioned top receiver in fantasy this fall.

Thursday, May 29, 3:31 PM

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice (knee) was limited to just three full games last season before suffering a major knee injury in Week 4 against the Los Angeles Chargers. Before his injury, he looked like a fantasy football league winner while securing 24 receptions for 288 yards and two scores. According to quarterback Patrick Mahomes, he is healing up nicely. "He looks like Rashee," Mahomes said after Thursday's OTAs. "I think he can be one of the best receivers in the league." Rice seemed to be locked into the WR1 role early in last year's campaign, so if he is fully healthy for the start of the 2025 season, he could be one of the best value picks at his low-end WR2 cost in fantasy drafts. That said, uncertainty surrounding his handful of off-the-field incidents from last offseason remains. It is unknown if he will face a suspension that will affect his 2025 availability.