Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Ja'Marr Chase vs Zay FlowersWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Ja'Marr Chase is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 15.7 PPG to Zay Flowers's 11.8 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

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

Ja'Marr Chase has the edge, but it is not a runaway. The 3.9-PPG advantage is real (15.7 to 11.8), and Ja'Marr Chase's 8 touchdowns show scoring upside. Zay Flowers is the buy-low candidate if recent production has dipped, because the talent gap is smaller than the numbers suggest.

Moderate confidence: stats favor the leader, but matchup variance could flip this weekly.

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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

WRBaltimore Ravens#15

Zay Flowers

PPG

11.8

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

1,211

Rec TDs

Targets

118

Bye

Week 13

The Edge Chart

Ja'Marr Chase

Zay Flowers

Head to Head

15.7 PPG11.8 PPG

16 GP17 GP

Bye: Week 6Bye: Week 13

Fantasy Tiers

Ja'Marr Chase: Tier 1 (Elite) WR (ranked #3 at the position). Zay Flowers: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) WR (ranked #15 at the position). Among the top 50 wide receivers this season, Ja'Marr Chase is producing at 71% of elite pace and Zay Flowers at 54%. That ranking gap means Ja'Marr Chase carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Ja'Marr Chase vs Zay Flowers: The Full Breakdown

Ja'Marr Chase and Zay Flowers 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 Zay Flowers posted 11.8 PPG in 17 appearances for the Baltimore Ravens.

A 3.9-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 Zay Flowers drew 118. That workload gap usually translates into a higher weekly floor for Ja'Marr Chase, even in weeks where Zay Flowers 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 Zay Flowers Week 13. 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. Zay Flowers 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. Zay Flowers (age 25) has years of prime production ahead. Buy-and-hold dynasty asset.

Did You Know?

•Ja'Marr Chase outscored Zay Flowers by a projected 66 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Zay Flowers played 17 games in 2025 compared to Ja'Marr Chase's 16. That durability gap means Zay Flowers 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 Zay Flowers: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Ja'Marr Chase	Zay Flowers
PPG (Half-PPR)	15.7	11.8
Games Played	16	17
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	251	201
Receptions	125	86
Rec/Game	7.8	5.1
Receiving Yards	1,412	1,211
Rec Yds/Game	88.3	71.2
Receiving TDs	8	5
Targets	185	118
Target Share/Game	11.6	6.9
Age	26	25
Experience	4 yrs	2 yrs
Bye Week	Week 6	Week 13

Summary

Ja'Marr Chase outscored Zay Flowers by 3.9 PPG in 2025 (15.7 to 11.8). 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 Zay Flowers in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Ja'Marr Chase has the edge at 15.7 PPG compared to Zay Flowers's 11.8 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 Zay Flowers average in 2025?▾

Ja'Marr Chase averaged 15.7 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 16 games in 2025. Zay Flowers averaged 11.8 PPG over 17 games. That is a difference of 3.9 points per game.

When are Ja'Marr Chase and Zay Flowers's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Ja'Marr Chase (CIN) has a bye in Week 6, and Zay Flowers (BAL) has a bye in Week 13. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Ja'Marr Chase or Zay Flowers a better fantasy wide receiver in 2026?▾

Ja'Marr Chase outscored Zay Flowers by 3.9 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.