Who Should I Start? Terry McLaurin or Ja'Marr Chase

Wednesday, May 28, 10:08 PM

Washington Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin was absent for voluntary organized team activities this week, according to The Washington Post's Nicki Jhabvala. The All-Pro wideout had been a full participant previously but is entering the final year of his three-year, $68.2 million contract that he signed in 2022. The 29-year-old is coming off a huge season in 2024 in which he caught 82 passes for 1,096 yards and 13 touchdowns in 17 regular-season games, so he's most likely angling for a new contract. General manager Adam Peters said in March that the organization would likely to work something out with McLaurin before the start of the 2025 regular season, but it remains to be seen if it will actually happen. TD regression is expected for McLaurin, and Deebo Samuel Sr. will take some targets away, but he will be a fine WR2 target going into fantasy drafts this fall.

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.