Fantasy Football Player Notes

Ja'Marr Chase had another stellar season last year. He was the WR3 in fantasy points per game while finishing sixth in red zone targets and 18th in deep targets (tied). Again this season, Chase will lead an offense that will live and die by their passing game. Last year, Cincy was third in neutral passing rate and fifth in red zone passing rate. I don't see either of those numbers changing much in 2026 with Joe Burrow back under center. Last year, Chase remained a volume and efficiency monster, ranking third in target share (30.2%) and receiving yards per game (88.3), 18th in yards per route run (2.30), 14th in first downs per route run (0.119), and third in first-read share (40.3%, per Fantasy Points Data). Among 109 qualifying receivers, he was ninth in separation score and 23rd in route win rate. Chase has WR1 overall upside again this season.

Over the last two seasons, Tee Higgins has been the WR13 and WR5 in fantasy points per game. Last season, with Joe Burrow under center in Weeks 14-18, Higgins had an 18.8% target share with 67.8 receiving yards per game, 2.20 yards per route run, a 25.6% first-read share, and 0.106 first downs per route run (per Fantasy Points Data). Those are all incredibly impressive per-route metrics. For context, if Higgins had kept up that pace for an entire season with Burrow, he would have ranked 12th in receiving yards per game, 19th in yards per route run, 28th in first-read share, and 17th in first downs per route run among wideouts (minimum 200 routes). Higgins is a strong bet for fantasy again this season. If Joe Burrow can stay healthy this season, Higgins should be a locked-in top-15 wideout with WR1 upside again.