The NFL season is in full swing. As happens every year, injuries are rearing their ugly heads. As fantasy football managers prepare to set Week 13 lineups, it’s important to stay informed on the latest injury news. Ja’Marr Chase missed last week’s game due to a suspension. What is his current status and outlook for this week?
Is Ja’Marr Chase Playing Week 13?
Chase missed last week’s game against the New England Patriots due to a suspension handed down by the NFL. The suspension stemmed from an incident during the Bengals’ Week 11 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers on November 16.​
The league suspended Chase without pay for one game for unsportsmanlike conduct after reviewing footage that clearly showed him spitting on Pittsburgh Steelers defensive back Jalen Ramsey. The incident incited a fracas that led to Ramsey’s ejection from Pittsburgh’s Week 11 victory over Cincinnati.​
The altercation was not initially seen by officials during the game. Ramsey was observed throwing a punch at Chase, resulting in his ejection from the contest. Ramsey subsequently claimed he retaliated with the punch after being spit upon, a statement that Chase initially denied.​
Despite Chase’s denial of Ramsey’s allegations, footage of the incident revealed inconsistencies in his account. The league conducted a thorough review of the video and imposed the suspension on November 17.​
Chase and Ramsey had previously been flagged in the game for offsetting unsportsmanlike conduct penalties. Both players were warned by head referee Bill Vinovich following the scuffle that preceded the second altercation. Ramsey was fined $14,191 for his role in the incident, while Chase lost more than $500,000 in wages by not playing against New England.​
Chase appealed the suspension early last week, but it was denied. Hearing officer Jordy Nelson, the former Packers receiver who is now one of three jointly appointed hearing officers, upheld the one-game ban. This marked the first true suspension for a spitting incident in NFL history.​​
The suspension is now over, and Chase is set to return for Thursday night’s Thanksgiving matchup against the Baltimore Ravens. Chase was back inside the Bengals’ facilities on Monday after serving his suspension. Head coach Zac Taylor said he saw Chase briefly Monday as the team prepared for the short week.​
Chase issued a public apology on Monday via Instagram for his actions. “What I did was wrong,” Chase stated. “The circumstances don’t matter. My passion for the game is no excuse. There’s zero place in our sport or in life for that level of disrespect”.​
Chase did not specifically mention Ramsey by name but did reference the Steelers organization. “I want to personally apologize to everyone within the Pittsburgh Steelers organization,” Chase said. “I let my emotions in the moment get the better of me. I can only hope and trust you know none of it represents who I am not as a competitor, teammate, or person”.​
Chase teased his return on Instagram with a post that included a picture reading, “Ja’Marr, you are cordially invited to the rarest table of them all. Let’s eat”. The star receiver is ready to get back on the field tonight.​
Chase’s Fantasy Football Outlook
Chase served his one game suspension last week as a result from #SpitGate and will be back in the mix this week with Joe Burrow under center.
This is an era of short-term memory, so if last season is too long ago for you, here’s a friendly reminder that Chase won the triple crown last season (127-1708-17) with Burrow under center and that landed him as the consensus 1.01 in August.
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Last season, Cincy’s WR1 had double digit receptions in both games against Baltimore (totals: 21 catches for 457 yards and five scores). Sure, if you want to tell me that Baltimore’s defense is trending up, I’ll bite, but the level of improvement it would take to make me the least bit nervous on Thanksgiving night is non-existent.
Chase is a Tier 1 receiver this week and you shouldn’t be the least bit worried about either his week off or rust on the side of Burrow.
— Kyle Soppe, PFSN Fantasy Analyst
