Fantasy Football Player Notes

Last year, Ja'Marr Chase finished as the WR1 in fantasy points per game, crushing the competition. He ranked first in targets (175), red zone targets (36), total touchdowns (17), receptions (127), receiving yards (1,708), and yards after the catch (787). If those numbers weren't enough, Chase also ranked 14th in yards per route run and 19th in first downs per route run (per Fantasy Points Data). It was an extraordinary season, and Chase is in a good position to attempt to match those numbers in 2025. The Bengals' defense remains a work in process, and Joe Burrow will be tossing Chase the rock. Volume and efficiency shouldn't be a problem for Chase in 2025 in his quest to repeat as the WR1 overall.

Tee Higgins is staying in Cincinnati - and that's a win for his fantasy value. When healthy in 2024, he averaged 15.5 points per game (WR3 behind only Ja'Marr Chase and Justin Jefferson) and had one of the highest WR1 finish rates in the league. Still, drafters shouldn't overreact to that efficiency. As long as Chase is active, Higgins' realistic outlook remains that of a high-end WR2 - a role he's consistently filled throughout his career. He's failed to finish as a WR2 just once in four seasons, though injuries have limited him to 12 games in each of the last two years. There's massive upside if Chase ever misses time again, but Higgins' true value comes with steady WR2 production with high-end WR1 insurance baked in.