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Head to Head

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

Ja'Marr Chase is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 15.7 PPG to Theo Johnson's 7.0 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Ja'Marr Chase is the better fantasy play this season.

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
16
Rec
125
Rec Yds
1,412
Rec TDs
8
Targets
185
Bye
Week 6
TENew York Giants#24
Theo Johnson
PPG
7.0
Games
15
Rec
45
Rec Yds
528
Rec TDs
5
Targets
74
Bye
Week 8

The Edge Chart

VolumeEfficiencyTD UpsideFloorCeilingDurability
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.
StatJa'Marr ChaseTheo Johnson
PPG (Half-PPR)15.77.0
Games Played1615
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)251105
Receptions12545
Rec/Game7.83.0
Receiving Yards1,412528
Rec Yds/Game88.335.2
Receiving TDs85
Targets18574
Target Share/Game11.64.9
Age2625
Experience4 yrs1 yrs
Bye WeekWeek 6Week 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.

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.