Brian Thomas vs Ja'Marr Chase: Who Should You Start?
There is a real production gap between these two wide receivers. Ja'Marr Chase (Cincinnati Bengals) averaged 15.7 PPG over 16 games in 2025, outscoring Brian Thomas (Jacksonville Jaguars, 8.2 PPG) by 7.5 points per week. That separation would need a significant matchup swing to overcome.
A 7.5-PPG gap gives Ja'Marr Chase the edge on paper, but paper does not account for Thursday night matchups, weather games, or a star defender returning from injury. The real question is not who was better in 2025, but who is the better start this specific week.
Target volume is the story here. Ja'Marr Chase saw 185 targets in 2025, while Brian Thomas drew 91. That workload gap usually translates into a higher weekly floor for Ja'Marr Chase, even in weeks where Brian Thomas posts the bigger ceiling game. Consistency-minded managers lean toward target share; boom-bust managers chase the upside.
One thing to note: both players share a Week 12 bye. That means you need a backup plan at wide receiver for that week, especially if one of these two is your starter.
