Head to Head

Updated May 14, 2026 from live stats

Brian Thomas Jr. vs Ja'Marr Chase

Fantasy Football Comparison for the 2026 NFL Season

The Bottom Line

Ja'Marr Chase is the better fantasy play this season.

Ja'Marr Chase is clearly the better fantasy option heading into 2026. With 15.7 PPG and 1,426 total yards in 2025, the production separation is too wide to overcome on matchup alone. Brian Thomas Jr. (8.2 PPG) is a hold, not a sell, but roster Ja'Marr Chase as the starter and Brian Thomas Jr. as depth.

High confidence: stats strongly favor the leader, and the gap is unlikely to close on matchup alone.

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WRJacksonville Jaguars#47

Brian Thomas Jr.

PPG

8.2

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

707

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 8

WRCincinnati Bengals#3PPG LEADER

Ja'Marr Chase

PPG

15.7

Games

Rec

125

Rec Yds

1,412

Rec TDs

Targets

185

Bye

Week 10

The Edge Chart

Brian Thomas Jr.

Ja'Marr Chase

Head to Head

8.2 PPG15.7 PPG

14 GP16 GP

Bye: Week 8Bye: Week 10

Fantasy Tiers

Brian Thomas Jr.: Tier 5 (Deep League) WR (ranked #47 at the position). Ja'Marr Chase: Tier 1 (Elite) WR (ranked #3 at the position). Among the top 50 wide receivers this season, Brian Thomas Jr. is producing at 37% of elite pace and Ja'Marr Chase at 71%. That ranking gap means Ja'Marr Chase carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Brian Thomas Jr. vs Ja'Marr Chase: Who Should You Start?

The numbers tell a clear story here. Ja'Marr Chase put up 15.7 fantasy points per game for the Cincinnati Bengals in 2025, while Brian Thomas Jr. managed 8.2 across 14 games with the Jacksonville Jaguars. A 7.5-point weekly edge is substantial at the wide receiver position.

Ja'Marr Chase carries a 7.5-point PPG advantage from the 2025 season. That baseline matters, but it is one input among several. Matchup difficulty, scoring trends, and injury reports move the needle week to week, which is why the best answer changes depending on when you are asking.

Target volume is the story here. Ja'Marr Chase saw 185 targets in 2025, while Brian Thomas Jr. drew 91. That workload gap usually translates into a higher weekly floor for Ja'Marr Chase, even in weeks where Brian Thomas Jr. posts the bigger ceiling game. Consistency-minded managers lean toward target share; boom-bust managers chase the upside.

Bye weeks matter for roster construction: Brian Thomas Jr. sits Week 8 while Ja'Marr Chase is off Week 10. If you are deciding between the two as a season-long roster hold, the staggered byes actually work in your favor.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

If you can acquire Ja'Marr Chase at a discount because your league-mates undervalue wide receiver production, do it. Brian Thomas Jr. is a reasonable sell-high candidate if his recent games have spiked above his season average. Dynasty outlook: Brian Thomas Jr. (age 23) has years of prime production ahead. Buy-and-hold dynasty asset. Ja'Marr Chase (age 26) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value.

Did You Know?

•Ja'Marr Chase outscored Brian Thomas Jr. by a projected 128 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Ja'Marr Chase played 16 games in 2025 compared to Brian Thomas Jr.'s 14. That durability gap means Ja'Marr Chase contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Ja'Marr Chase scored 8 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.5 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at wide receiver.
•Ja'Marr Chase saw 185 targets in 2025. Target volume is the single strongest predictor of weekly PPR production at the wide receiver position.

Detailed Stat Breakdown▾

StatJr.Chase

PPG (Half-PPR)8.215.7

Games Played1416

Total Fantasy Pts (est.)115251

Receptions48125

Rec/Game3.47.8

Receiving Yards7071,412

Rec Yds/Game50.588.3

Receiving TDs28

Targets91185

Target Share/Game6.511.6

Age2326

Experience1 yrs4 yrs

Bye WeekWeek 8Week 10

Summary

Based on 2025 production, Ja'Marr Chase holds the PPG edge with solid output at 15.7 points per game. Brian Thomas Jr. averaged 8.2 PPG. Season averages are a starting point, not the final word. For a full AI analysis factoring matchup quality, recent form, injury impact, and game script, download DraftCall and get a verdict backed by real data.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Brian Thomas Jr. or Ja'Marr Chase in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Ja'Marr Chase has the edge at 15.7 PPG compared to Brian Thomas Jr.'s 8.2 PPG. However, the best start depends on weekly matchup, recent form, and injury status. DraftCall's app provides real-time AI-powered verdicts that factor in all of these variables.

How many fantasy points did Brian Thomas Jr. and Ja'Marr Chase average in 2025?▾

Brian Thomas Jr. averaged 8.2 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 14 games in 2025. Ja'Marr Chase averaged 15.7 PPG over 16 games. That is a difference of 7.5 points per game.

When are Brian Thomas Jr. and Ja'Marr Chase's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Brian Thomas Jr. (JAX) has a bye in Week 8, and Ja'Marr Chase (CIN) has a bye in Week 10. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Brian Thomas Jr. or Ja'Marr Chase a better fantasy wide receiver in 2026?▾

Ja'Marr Chase outscored Brian Thomas Jr. by 7.5 PPG in 2025, which gives him the edge heading into 2026. For a week-by-week verdict, DraftCall's AI analyzes matchup quality and recent trends in real time.