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After catching 81 passes for 1,455 yards and 13 touchdowns during his inaugural campaign, Ja'Marr Chase took a step back in 2022-23. In all fairness, he was limited to only 12 games due to injury, so fantasy managers were expecting a bounce-back 2023-24 season.
Unfortunately, that didn’t happen (in some ways), with the former LSU Tiger pulling in a career-low seven end zone grabs. Without question, Joe Burrow’s inability to stay healthy was the likely cause of Chase’s dip in production. Yet, fantasy managers were still disappointed.
With that in mind, the question remains about when to pick Chase in fantasy football drafts. Also, what could his season look like?
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Ja'Marr Chase Fantasy Football Outlook
With Burrow recently vowing he feels better than ever, Chase’s ceiling should be as high, if not higher, than in previous years. However, the 2021 No. 5 overall pick is looking for a raise despite having a few years left on his rookie agreement.
Joe Burrow was asked about a potential Bengals window to win after today’s game. His response: “The window is my whole career…Our window is always open.”
Boss answer. pic.twitter.com/AlNJ7q4d41
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) January 8, 2023
As a result, he has mostly been spectating throughout training camp, which hasn’t kept him as the coveted draft target he was before camp began. With Week 1 around the corner and a contract dispute still ensuing, fantasy managers are wondering when to draft Chase, especially since there's a chance he may not suit up for the opener.
When Should I Draft Ja'Marr Chase in Fantasy Football?
CeeDee Lamb, Tyreek Hill, and Amon-Ra St. Brown are the only wideouts ranked higher than Chase (Yahoo, PPR) but does he still deserve the No. 4 spot? Or should players like Justin Jefferson, Garrett Wilson, or A.J. Brown move up and surpass him? There are multiple ways to view this situation.
However, the Bengals are reportedly increasing their efforts to get a deal done, meaning an end to the stand-off could be on the horizon. With that said, would anyone feel comfortable drafting Jefferson, Wilson, or Brown over Chase had there not been a contract dispute? It depends.
My sense is the #Bengals have intensified efforts in recent days to place Ja’Marr Chase among the NFL’s highest-paid receivers on an extension. Can they beat the clock?
(@SportsCenter with @garystriewski) pic.twitter.com/lMBG56wAdk
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) August 31, 2024
While a case could be made for Jefferson to go before Chase, it’s important to remember that Sam Darnold, who is taking over under center for the Vikings this season, isn't nearly as talented as Kirk Cousins. It will also take time for Jefferson and Darnold to establish a rapport.
Along those same lines, Wilson and Aaron Rodgers also don't have much time together, and Saquon Barkley's arrival in Philly severely compromises Brown's potential as a pass-catcher.
Without question, Chase and Burrow have a strong connection dating back to their collegiate days at LSU, with the duo already taking the team to a Super Bowl. With the potential for a healthy Burrow in 2024-25, Chase must remain a first-round fantasy option, primarily since the contract situation could (hopefully) be resolved very soon.
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