Ja'Marr Chase vs Puka Nacua: Who Should You Start?
Deciding between Ja'Marr Chase and Puka Nacua is a common lineup dilemma for fantasy managers. The Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver put up 15.7 PPG in 2025 over 16 games; Puka Nacua of the Los Angeles Rams averaged 19.4 in 16. A 3.7-point margin that could shift on any given week.
The per-game difference of 3.7 points favors Puka Nacua, though savvy managers know that gap can shrink or widen depending on the weekly slate. Defensive matchup, recent scoring trends, and health status all shift the calculus from one wide receiver to the other.
Both are workload receivers with similar target shares. Ja'Marr Chase turned 185 targets into 1412 yards and 8 touchdowns, while Puka Nacua converted 166 looks into 1715 yards and 10 scores. When target volume is this close, game script and defensive matchup typically decide the weekly winner.
One scheduling note: Ja'Marr Chase is off Week 12 and Puka Nacua Week 6. 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.
