Who Should I Start? Justin Jefferson or Ja'Marr Chase

Tuesday, February 17, 9:11 AM

For the first time since the end of his explosive rookie season, Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson is being priced outside the top five of the position in dynasty startups. Still only 26 years old, the dip in value is in no way indicative of a decline in talent but rather stems from the poor quarterback play that contributed to his career-worst 9.4 fantasy points per game in 2025. Unfortunately for Jefferson and the Vikings, no quick fix appears to be coming to Minnesota, with the team likely to give third-year signal-caller J.J. McCarthy one more shot to lock down the starting job for 2026. It should come as no surprise if the team also brings in a veteran presence for a training camp competition, though the free agent market is relatively barren. Head coach Kevin O'Connell has long been regarded as a quarterback whisperer, but unless he's able to draw a drastic improvement from McCarthy or whomever he deems worthy of leading the team moving forward, Jefferson's value could continue to slide.

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.