DJ Moore vs Ja'Marr Chase: Who Should You Start?
Ja'Marr Chase and DJ Moore are at different tiers heading into 2026. The Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver averaged 15.7 PPG in 2025, a full 7.2 points per game ahead of DJ Moore's 8.5 with the Buffalo Bills. That kind of gap doesn't close on matchup alone.
A 7.2-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 DJ Moore drew 85. That workload gap usually translates into a higher weekly floor for Ja'Marr Chase, even in weeks where DJ Moore 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.
