Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Ja'Marr Chase vs Tetairoa McMillanWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Ja'Marr Chase is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 15.7 PPG to Tetairoa McMillan's 10.5 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. Tetairoa McMillan (10.5 PPG) is a hold, not a sell, but roster Ja'Marr Chase as the starter and Tetairoa McMillan 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

WRCarolina Panthers#26

Tetairoa McMillan

PPG

10.5

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

1,014

Rec TDs

Targets

122

Bye

Week 5

The Edge Chart

Ja'Marr Chase

Tetairoa McMillan

Head to Head

15.7 PPG10.5 PPG

16 GP17 GP

Bye: Week 6Bye: Week 5

Fantasy Tiers

Ja'Marr Chase: Tier 1 (Elite) WR (ranked #3 at the position). Tetairoa McMillan: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) WR (ranked #26 at the position). Among the top 50 wide receivers this season, Ja'Marr Chase is producing at 71% of elite pace and Tetairoa McMillan at 48%. That ranking gap means Ja'Marr Chase carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Ja'Marr Chase vs Tetairoa McMillan: The Full Breakdown

Ja'Marr Chase and Tetairoa McMillan are both viable fantasy wide receivers heading into 2026, but their 2025 production tells two different stories. Ja'Marr Chase averaged 15.7 PPG across 16 games with the Cincinnati Bengals, while Tetairoa McMillan posted 10.5 PPG in 17 appearances for the Carolina Panthers.

A 5.2-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 Tetairoa McMillan drew 122. That workload gap usually translates into a higher weekly floor for Ja'Marr Chase, even in weeks where Tetairoa McMillan posts the bigger ceiling game. Consistency-minded managers lean toward target share; boom-bust managers chase the upside.

Bye weeks matter for roster construction: Ja'Marr Chase sits Week 6 while Tetairoa McMillan is off Week 5. If you are deciding between the two as a season-long roster hold, the staggered byes actually work in your favor.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

If you can acquire Ja'Marr Chase at a discount because your league-mates undervalue wide receiver production, do it. Tetairoa McMillan 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. Tetairoa McMillan (age 23) has years of prime production ahead. Buy-and-hold dynasty asset.

Did You Know?

•Ja'Marr Chase outscored Tetairoa McMillan by a projected 88 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Tetairoa McMillan played 17 games in 2025 compared to Ja'Marr Chase's 16. That durability gap means Tetairoa McMillan 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 Tetairoa McMillan: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Ja'Marr Chase	Tetairoa McMillan
PPG (Half-PPR)	15.7	10.5
Games Played	16	17
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	251	179
Receptions	125	70
Rec/Game	7.8	4.1
Receiving Yards	1,412	1,014
Rec Yds/Game	88.3	59.6
Receiving TDs	8	7
Targets	185	122
Target Share/Game	11.6	7.2
Age	26	23
Experience	4 yrs	-
Bye Week	Week 6	Week 5

Summary

Ja'Marr Chase outscored Tetairoa McMillan by 5.2 PPG in 2025 (15.7 to 10.5). 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 Tetairoa McMillan in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Ja'Marr Chase has the edge at 15.7 PPG compared to Tetairoa McMillan's 10.5 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 Tetairoa McMillan average in 2025?▾

Ja'Marr Chase averaged 15.7 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 16 games in 2025. Tetairoa McMillan averaged 10.5 PPG over 17 games. That is a difference of 5.2 points per game.

When are Ja'Marr Chase and Tetairoa McMillan's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Ja'Marr Chase (CIN) has a bye in Week 6, and Tetairoa McMillan (CAR) has a bye in Week 5. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Ja'Marr Chase or Tetairoa McMillan a better fantasy wide receiver in 2026?▾

Ja'Marr Chase outscored Tetairoa McMillan by 5.2 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.