Ja'Marr Chase vs Michael Pittman: 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 Michael Pittman (Pittsburgh Steelers, 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 12 and Michael Pittman Week 9. 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.
