Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Ja'Marr Chase vs Michael PittmanWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Ja'Marr Chase is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 15.7 PPG to Michael Pittman's 9.6 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

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. Michael Pittman (9.6 PPG) is a hold, not a sell, but roster Ja'Marr Chase as the starter and Michael Pittman as depth.

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

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WRCincinnati Bengals#3PPG LEADER

Ja'Marr Chase

PPG

15.7

Games

Rec

125

Rec Yds

1,412

Rec TDs

Targets

185

Bye

Week 6

WRIndianapolis Colts#33

Michael Pittman

PPG

9.6

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

784

Rec TDs

Targets

111

Bye

Week 13

The Edge Chart

Ja'Marr Chase

Michael Pittman

Head to Head

15.7 PPG9.6 PPG

16 GP17 GP

Bye: Week 6Bye: Week 13

Fantasy Tiers

Ja'Marr Chase: Tier 1 (Elite) WR (ranked #3 at the position). Michael Pittman: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) WR (ranked #33 at the position). Among the top 50 wide receivers this season, Ja'Marr Chase is producing at 71% of elite pace and Michael Pittman at 44%. That ranking gap means Ja'Marr Chase carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Ja'Marr Chase vs Michael Pittman: The Full Breakdown

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 Michael Pittman (Indianapolis Colts, 9.6 PPG) by 6.1 points per week. That separation would need a significant matchup swing to overcome.

Ja'Marr Chase carries a 6.1-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 Michael Pittman drew 111. That workload gap usually translates into a higher weekly floor for Ja'Marr Chase, even in weeks where Michael Pittman posts the bigger ceiling game. Consistency-minded managers lean toward target share; boom-bust managers chase the upside.

One scheduling note: Ja'Marr Chase is off Week 6 and Michael Pittman Week 13. If these two are on your roster, you will need a fill-in wide receiver for both weeks. DraftCall flags bye conflicts so you can plan ahead rather than panic on waivers.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

If you can acquire Ja'Marr Chase at a discount because your league-mates undervalue wide receiver production, do it. Michael Pittman is a reasonable sell-high candidate if his recent games have spiked above his season average. Dynasty outlook: Ja'Marr Chase (age 26) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value. Michael Pittman (age 28) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value.

Did You Know?

•Ja'Marr Chase outscored Michael Pittman by a projected 104 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Michael Pittman played 17 games in 2025 compared to Ja'Marr Chase's 16. That durability gap means Michael Pittman 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

Ja'Marr Chase vs Michael Pittman: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Ja'Marr Chase	Michael Pittman
PPG (Half-PPR)	15.7	9.6
Games Played	16	17
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	251	163
Receptions	125	80
Rec/Game	7.8	4.7
Receiving Yards	1,412	784
Rec Yds/Game	88.3	46.1
Receiving TDs	8	7
Targets	185	111
Target Share/Game	11.6	6.5
Age	26	28
Experience	4 yrs	5 yrs
Bye Week	Week 6	Week 13

Summary

Based on 2025 production, Ja'Marr Chase holds the PPG edge with solid output at 15.7 points per game. Michael Pittman averaged 9.6 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 Ja'Marr Chase or Michael Pittman in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Ja'Marr Chase has the edge at 15.7 PPG compared to Michael Pittman's 9.6 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 Ja'Marr Chase and Michael Pittman average in 2025?▾

Ja'Marr Chase averaged 15.7 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 16 games in 2025. Michael Pittman averaged 9.6 PPG over 17 games. That is a difference of 6.1 points per game.

When are Ja'Marr Chase and Michael Pittman's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Ja'Marr Chase (CIN) has a bye in Week 6, and Michael Pittman (IND) has a bye in Week 13. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Ja'Marr Chase or Michael Pittman a better fantasy wide receiver in 2026?▾

Ja'Marr Chase outscored Michael Pittman by 6.1 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.