Roughly a quarter into the NFL regular season, Cincinnati Bengals star WR Ja’Marr Chase is just the WR21 overall in fantasy football. Should Chase owners look to trade the third-year veteran this week?
Looking to make a trade in your fantasy league? Having trouble deciding who to start and who to sit? Check out PFN’s Free Fantasy Football Trade Analyzer and Start/Sit Optimizer to help you make the right decision!
Should Fantasy Football Managers Trade Ja’Marr Chase?
Fantasy managers that own Chase almost certainly used their first-round pick on the wide receiver, who was a consensus top-five selection in PPR formats. The Bengals’ offense has struggled as a whole so far, and Chase has not come close to producing at his ADP value.
Despite Cincinnati’s struggles, Chase has turned in respective outings in each of the past two weeks. In Week 3, he finished with 12 catches for 141 yards (26.1 PPR points). This past Sunday against the Tennessee Titans, Chase totaled seven catches for 73 yards (14.3 PPR points), despite the Bengals scoring just three total points.
A lot of Chase’s production is tied to QB Joe Burrow, who has played the first four games while being significantly limited by a calf injury. Until the QB returns to full health, Chase’s WR1 overall upside takes a slight hit.
Part of the reason Chase is currently the WR21 overall is that he has yet to find the end zone. He has the most targets (41) of any pass-catcher who has yet to score a touchdown this season. He’s due to score, which obviously helps his fantasy value.
With Chase currently underperforming relative to his ADP, he’s an attractive buy-low candidate. It’s hard to imagine Chase will be outside the top-10 WRs when the fantasy season concludes.
MORE: 2023 WR Fantasy Football Rankings
For now, Chase owners should hold onto the star wide receiver. It’s unlikely that trading Chase at this time will return equal value. The best bet is holding onto Chase for now and hoping that several top-10 weekly finishes are in his near future.
What Should Fantasy Managers Look To Acquire When Trading Chase?
Holding onto Chase remains the best option for his fantasy managers unless they receive an offer they simply can’t refuse.
Any offer for Chase must start with another top wide receiver, plus a decent second piece. Think of a package consisting of a player that has WR1 potential, like CeeDee Lamb, DK Metcalf, or A.J. Brown, plus a solid Flex-tier receiver like Christian Kirk or Terry McLaurin. An RB2 like James Conner, Alexander Mattison, or Aaron Jones might work as the second piece, too.
Otherwise, it’s way too early to move Chase. He went in the top five in most fantasy drafts this season for a reason, and he’s trending in the right direction, as well. Unless the offer is one you can’t decline, Chase should remain penciled in your WR1 slot every week.