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Updated September 8, 2026 from live stats

Ja'Marr Chase or Theo JohnsonWho should you draft or start in 2026 fantasy football?

DraftCall Analytics

Start Ja'Marr Chase over Theo Johnson in 2026.

Ja'Marr Chase averaged 15.7 PPG in 2025 to Theo Johnson's 7.0, a 8.7 point per game edge. Chase's 125-catch receiving role gives him a higher weekly floor in PPR and half-PPR. Ja'Marr Chase is Tier 1 among wide receivers, Theo Johnson is Tier 3 among tight ends.

The Bottom Line

Cross-position decisions depend on league format. In half-PPR, Ja'Marr Chase (15.7 PPG) is the higher-floor play. Theo Johnson (7.0 PPG) could win a specific week on touchdown variance. For FLEX spots, lean toward the player with the softer defensive matchup that week rather than defaulting to season averages.

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

TENew York Giants#24

Theo Johnson

PPG

7.0

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

528

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 8

The Edge Chart

Ja'Marr Chase

Theo Johnson

Head to Head

15.7 PPG7.0 PPG

16 GP15 GP

Bye: Week 6Bye: Week 8

Fantasy Tiers

Ja'Marr Chase: Tier 1 (Elite) WR (ranked #3 at the position). Theo Johnson: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) TE (ranked #24 at the position). Comparing across positions, raw PPG is less useful than positional scarcity. A Tier 1 (Elite) WR is harder to replace on waivers than a Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) TE in most league formats.

Ja'Marr Chase vs Theo Johnson: The Full Breakdown

Comparing Ja'Marr Chase (WR, Cincinnati Bengals) against Theo Johnson (TE, New York Giants) means weighing two different roles in your fantasy lineup. Ja'Marr Chase averaged 15.7 PPG in 2025 over 16 games, while Theo Johnson posted 7.0 PPG across 15 games.

Cross-position FLEX decisions cannot be made on PPG alone. Positional scarcity, matchup quality, floor versus ceiling, and league scoring format all shift the answer. A 14 PPG tight end in a thin TE week is often worth more than a 16 PPG receiver in a deep WR week, because the opportunity cost on the waiver wire is wildly different.

DraftCall's AI engine weighs all of these signals and returns a verdict with clear reasoning, so you are not cross-referencing four different rankings tabs on a Sunday morning.

Ja'Marr Chase has his bye in Week 6, Theo Johnson in Week 8. Plan your FLEX rotation around those weeks, especially if either player is anchoring your roster.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

Ja'Marr Chase is a buy in trades where the other manager is chasing upside at a different position. Theo Johnson is a hold unless you can flip him for a positional upgrade elsewhere on your roster. Dynasty outlook: Ja'Marr Chase (age 26) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value. Theo Johnson (age 25) has years of prime production ahead. Buy-and-hold dynasty asset.

Did You Know?

•Ja'Marr Chase outscored Theo Johnson by a projected 148 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Ja'Marr Chase played 16 games in 2025 compared to Theo Johnson's 15. That durability gap means Ja'Marr Chase 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 Theo Johnson: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Ja'Marr Chase	Theo Johnson
PPG (Half-PPR)	15.7	7.0
Games Played	16	15
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	251	105
Receptions	125	45
Rec/Game	7.8	3.0
Receiving Yards	1,412	528
Rec Yds/Game	88.3	35.2
Receiving TDs	8	5
Targets	185	74
Target Share/Game	11.6	4.9
Age	26	25
Experience	4 yrs	1 yrs
Bye Week	Week 6	Week 8

Summary

15.7 PPG for Ja'Marr Chase versus 7.0 for Theo Johnson in 2025. The baseline favors Ja'Marr Chase, though the right weekly matchup can flip the script. For a full breakdown that weighs matchup quality, form, and injury reports, try DraftCall's AI comparison engine.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Ja'Marr Chase or Theo Johnson in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Ja'Marr Chase has the edge at 15.7 PPG compared to Theo Johnson's 7.0 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.

Should I draft Ja'Marr Chase or Theo Johnson in 2026 fantasy football?▾

They come off the board at different positions, so weigh Ja'Marr Chase's 15.7 fantasy points per game against Theo Johnson's 7.0 and what your roster still needs at TE. Positional rank, fantasy tier, and bye week are broken down below.

How many fantasy points did Ja'Marr Chase and Theo Johnson average in 2025?▾

Ja'Marr Chase averaged 15.7 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 16 games in 2025. Theo Johnson averaged 7.0 PPG over 15 games. That is a difference of 8.7 points per game.

When are Ja'Marr Chase and Theo Johnson's bye weeks in 2026?▾

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