With Ja’Marr Chase, there is still some injury risk mostly from 2022, but the big factor is with his quarterback Joe Burrow and his health for the Cincinnati Bengals. If Jake Browning has to start again for whatever reason in 2024, the star receiver is downgraded based on what we saw in 2023 as a top-five projected receiver.
Some of this does hinge on when Chase gets a new contract, as he is absent from OTAs, along with Tee Higgins.
But will the potential target volume and touchdown equity be enough for Ja’Marr Chase to be worthy of a top-five selection in fantasy drafts heading into 2024?
Ja’Marr Chase 2023 Stats and Production
In 2022 and 2023, Ja’Marr Chase finished 11th at wide receiver in PPR fantasy leagues, despite various injuries to him and Joe Burrow at different times.
The 24-year-old All-Pro and Pro Bowler, even with a backup quarterback this past season, had a career-high in receptions with 100 ranking him top-10 in the NFL, despite not matching his rookie year with touchdowns or receiving yards.
His 1,216 from 2023 was 11th among wide receivers this past year, as his touchdowns were a career-low with seven, which is actually above average compared to most receivers.
However, for him to pay off his FantasyPros ADP compared to the past few seasons, Chase will have to reach his rookie year numbers, as he won Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2021 with 1,455 yards and 13 touchdowns.
However, his upside is at the top of the league with week-winning upside, as his best performance from 2023 was a 50-point explosion in Week 5. Along with one 30-plus point game in Week 13, Chase only had three other games over 20 but close to 25 points for each of those matchups.
The 11 other games from this past year had Ja’Marr Chase go for under 15 fantasy points each of those weeks.
Ja’Marr Chase 2024 Fantasy Outlook
The good thing about Ja’Marr Chase’s profile is the lack of target competition as the alpha pass catcher for Cincinnati and fantasy football.
The Bengals have a few young wide receivers who saw some playing time in 2023, including Andrei Iosivas, Trenton Irwin, and Charlie Jones. With Tyler Boyd signing with the Tennessee Titans in free agency, they are lacking a third reliable option.
Rookie Jermaine Burton could be the player who steps up in that role, as he was drafted in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft and is uber-talented but had red flags with off-field issues.
At tight end, the Bengals have some receiving options with free agent Mike Gesicki and last year’s group with Drew Sample and Tanner Hudson. In the fourth round, Cincinnati drafted Erick All Jr., a highly touted prospect who has upside if he stays healthy.
Final Thoughts On Ja’Marr Chase
Out of the top five consensus fantasy options for PPR drafts, I do think Ja’Marr Chase has the biggest boom, bust potential right next to Justin Jefferson, who just got paid. Despite playing with a rookie quarterback in J.J. McCarthy, Jefferson should still have a decent floor since he came back looking good after injury in 2023.
Chase is also comparable to other young stars like CeeDee Lamb, Tyreek Hill, Amon-Ra St. Brown, and A.J. Brown. In PPR, I would prefer the first three names over the number-one wide receiver from Cincinnati, especially when they got a new offensive coordinator Dan Pitcher replacing Brian Callahan, now the head coach for the Tennessee Titans.
It is still Zac Taylor’s offense, however, there were frustrations and predictability with how Chase was used over the past few seasons for the Bengals.
Currently, according to FantasyPros, he is rated as the fourth overall player in PPR leagues as the third receiver taken in fantasy drafts with the second hardest strength of schedule for the position. I might defer to other receivers or running backs potentially, just because his floor week-to-week is lower than the other top candidates.
Since Higgins hasn’t signed his franchise tag, if he does get moved sometime before the Week 9 trade deadline, then I would vault Chase up as a surefire top-three fantasy pick.
Ja’Marr Chase is worth a top-ten selection at least, as his ceiling is elite despite playing with a backup quarterback in Browning and even compared to the other wide receivers at times, especially with Burrow.
About the Author
Previously wrote for Fansided NFL Mocks, Pro Football Network, uInterview/ uSports, the Daily Culture, and Ironiq Media. Recent Journalism/ Media Studies Grad and wrote for Impact News, the award-winning news publication of Mercy College, now Mercy University.
Now writing for Total Apex Sports about the NFL, NFL draft, and fantasy football, along with Total Apex E&G about movies, shows, anime, and gaming. You can follow me on Instagram @kimandrew1357 and Twitter (aka X) @kookykim1357.
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