Ja'Marr Chase

Chase's rookie season remains his best statistical effort through three years, but there's no shortage of signs that the best may still be ahead. He missed five games in his second season whilst averaging a league-high 11.1 targets per game, and then in 2023 he was on pace for 130-1,551-9 on 187 targets prior to the week in which QB Joe Burrow suffered a season-ending wrist injury. Backup QB Jake Browning kept the offense afloat, but not Chase's fantasy production, in part because the WR missed one game with an AC joint sprain and then played fewer snaps than usual the final two weeks. Injuries haven't been the only factor, to be fair. Chase was perhaps the best deep threat in the NFL as a rookie -- 15 catches for 576 yards and eight TDs on 34 targets of 20-plus yards -- but has seen just 37 deep passes across two subsequent seasons even though his efficiency on those throws has remained impressive (15-of-37 for 528 yards and six TDs). His aDOT has dropped with each passing year (12.6 to 9.3 to 8.4) on account of the Bengals giving him fewer deep shots and peppering him with screens, slants, hitches, etc. The hope now for anyone drafting Chase early in the first round is that he can combine his rookie-year fireworks with the short-area volume from Years 2 and 3. The Bengals anticipate having Burrow healthy well before training camp, and they seemingly plan to let No. 3 receiver Tyler Boyd leave in free agency while ignoring No. 2 receiver Tee Higgins' trade request. Read Past Outlooks