Cincinnati prepares for a critical road test as they look to bounce back from their recent struggles. Ja’Marr Chase has made an unexpected late-week appearance on the team’s injury report. For fantasy football managers counting on the elite receiver’s production, what does this surprising development mean for Sunday’s game?
Is Ja’Marr Chase Playing Week 6?
Chase has been fully healthy throughout the entire week of practice, showing no signs of physical limitations or injury concerns. He participated in all team activities and appeared ready for Sunday’s matchup with Green Bay.
The situation changed dramatically on Friday morning when Chase was added to the injury report for the first time this week. The designation came not from any physical injury, but rather an illness that developed overnight.
He has been listed as questionable for Sunday’s game due to the sudden illness. The timing of the designation suggests Chase woke up Friday morning not feeling well, prompting the team to add him to their final injury report.
While seeing a top player like Chase listed as questionable always creates anxiety among fantasy managers, there is no legitimate cause for concern regarding his availability. NFL players rarely miss games due to standard illness issues, especially star players who are critical to their team’s success.
The medical staff has multiple ways to help players manage illness symptoms and ensure they can perform on game day. From IV fluids to symptom management medications, teams are well-equipped to get players ready for competition even when dealing with minor illnesses.
Chase’s situation appears to be nothing more than a common cold or flu-like symptoms that should resolve themselves by Sunday. Even if he continues feeling under the weather, the team will take necessary steps to ensure he can take the field.
Fantasy managers should not worry about Chase’s status for Sunday’s game and can confidently include him in their lineups without hesitation.
Chase’s Fantasy Football Outlook
I’m happy for you, I really am.
Chase posted a big number on Sunday with a 6-110-2 stat line against the Lions, 29 PPR points that have to have you feeling all warm-and-fuzzy inside.
It couldn’t be less predictive.
The highlight plays were great, and great players make great plays, but relying on a YOLO offensive structure because the game is no longer in doubt is a dangerous way to live. Chase averaged 73.3 air yards per game in September, but with nothing to lose for most of the second half on Sunday, he finished with 185.6.
Over the past three weeks, Jake Browning has supported Chase, who scored 44.3 PPR points, and 49.4% of them (21.9) came in the fourth quarter last week.
Do the math, and that means he was averaging a tick over two PPR points per quarter prior, and for the less mathematically inclined, that’s under 8.5 PPR points per four quarters. If you need a reference point, that’s the same range as the feared duo of Elijah Moore (8.6) and Calvin Ridley (8.4) in Tennessee this season.
MORE: Free Fantasy Football Start/Sit Optimizer
I hate to be the wet blanket, but I’m just as worried about Chase’s forecast for the next 2+ months now as I was this time last week. He’s outside of my top 20 this week, behind the upward-trending Stefon Diggs and A.J. Brown, a struggling big name, but one where I’m not nearly as worried about the quality of throw coming his direction.
This all changes if Joe Flacco (acquired on Tuesday) is labeled as QB1 this week. If that’s the case, what would you label Chase’s target floor to be? He’s averaging nine per game this season, roughly seven if you remove the big game in Week 2 against the Jaguars.
Since 2020, here are the per game averages (PPR) based on target floors when it comes to passes thrown by Flacco in a game:
- 7+ targets: 15.6 PPG
- 8+ targets: 16.3 PPG
- 9+ targets: 17.0 PPG
- 10+ targets: 19.2 PPG
— Kyle Soppe, PFSN Fantasy Analyst