Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Ja'Marr Chase vs Ricky PearsallWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Ja'Marr Chase is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 15.7 PPG to Ricky Pearsall's 7.8 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. Ricky Pearsall (7.8 PPG) is a hold, not a sell, but roster Ja'Marr Chase as the starter and Ricky Pearsall 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

WRSan Francisco 49ers#52

Ricky Pearsall

PPG

7.8

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

528

Targets

Bye

Week 8

The Edge Chart

Ja'Marr Chase

Ricky Pearsall

Head to Head

15.7 PPG7.8 PPG

16 GP9 GP

Bye: Week 6Bye: Week 8

Fantasy Tiers

Ja'Marr Chase: Tier 1 (Elite) WR (ranked #3 at the position). Ricky Pearsall: Tier 5 (Deep League) WR (ranked #52 at the position). Among the top 50 wide receivers this season, Ja'Marr Chase is producing at 71% of elite pace and Ricky Pearsall at 35%. That ranking gap means Ja'Marr Chase carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Ja'Marr Chase vs Ricky Pearsall: 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 Ricky Pearsall (San Francisco 49ers, 7.8 PPG) by 7.9 points per week. That separation would need a significant matchup swing to overcome.

A 7.9-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 Ricky Pearsall drew 53. That workload gap usually translates into a higher weekly floor for Ja'Marr Chase, even in weeks where Ricky Pearsall 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 Ricky Pearsall Week 8. 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. Ricky Pearsall 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. Ricky Pearsall (age 25) has years of prime production ahead. Buy-and-hold dynasty asset.

Did You Know?

•Ja'Marr Chase outscored Ricky Pearsall by a projected 134 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Ja'Marr Chase played 16 games in 2025 compared to Ricky Pearsall's 9. That durability gap means Ja'Marr Chase contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•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 Ricky Pearsall: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Ja'Marr Chase	Ricky Pearsall
PPG (Half-PPR)	15.7	7.8
Games Played	16	9
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	251	70
Receptions	125	36
Rec/Game	7.8	4.0
Receiving Yards	1,412	528
Rec Yds/Game	88.3	58.7
Receiving TDs	8	0
Targets	185	53
Target Share/Game	11.6	5.9
Age	26	25
Experience	4 yrs	1 yrs
Bye Week	Week 6	Week 8

Summary

Ja'Marr Chase outscored Ricky Pearsall by 7.9 PPG in 2025 (15.7 to 7.8). That production gap is the baseline, but weekly context shifts the answer. DraftCall analyzes matchup difficulty, scoring trends, and health data to deliver a clear start or sit recommendation backed by real reasoning.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Ja'Marr Chase or Ricky Pearsall in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Ja'Marr Chase has the edge at 15.7 PPG compared to Ricky Pearsall's 7.8 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 Ricky Pearsall average in 2025?▾

Ja'Marr Chase averaged 15.7 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 16 games in 2025. Ricky Pearsall averaged 7.8 PPG over 9 games. That is a difference of 7.9 points per game.

When are Ja'Marr Chase and Ricky Pearsall's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Ja'Marr Chase (CIN) has a bye in Week 6, and Ricky Pearsall (SF) has a bye in Week 8. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Ja'Marr Chase or Ricky Pearsall a better fantasy wide receiver in 2026?▾

Ja'Marr Chase outscored Ricky Pearsall by 7.9 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.