Is Ja’Marr Chase playing? This is the million-dollar question in Cincinnati right now. We have spent the entirety of training camp wondering whether Chase will suit up with or without a contract. He has held out, shown up randomly, and then sat out again, saying that he wants to crush the most significant NFL contract in the game’s history; it’s been a whirlwind surrounding Chase.
Update: Per Jay Morrison, Chase is going through warmups ahead of the Bengals Week 1 game and is expected to be active.
Will Ja’Marr Chase Be Active in Week 1?
The Bengals face the New England Patriots, and Vegas has them as the heavy favorites to win this game. As much as the organization loves to have him out there, they are notorious for having stingy pockets in these moments. With Chase digging in due to his last interview, we are trending toward the superstar wide receiver missing the game.
Chase was listed as questionable on Friday’s injury report due to a non-injury-related rest. On Saturday afternoon, the Bengals added an illness to his injury designation. As of 4 a.m. ET Sunday morning, there has been no confirmation of whether Chase is expected to play or not. We may have to wait for inactive at 11:30, and even that might not give the full picture.
READ MORE: Chase Takes Circuitous Route To Define Contract Situation, Willingness To Play
Last year we saw Bijan Robinson active with an illness but not involved. If Chase or the Bengals have any hesitancy around the star WR this week, we could see him dress for the game but used only as an emergency option for the offense.
If Chase misses Week 1, the Bengals have a huge void to fill. Chase received the 11th most targets last season while recording the 12th most receiving yards. TruMedia has Chase as one of the best chain movers in the NFL. His 63 receptions that created a first down or touchdown were seventh-best in the league. Joe Burrow trusts his alpha wide receiver and would love to have him running routes this Sunday.
Potential Fantasy Options if Chase is Out
Normally, if Chase were out, we would be all-in on Tee Higgins, but Higgins is doubtful for this week. That leaves a huge void at WR for the Bengals. It is likely their starters in three WR sets will be a combination of Andrei Iosivas, Trenton Irwin, Charlie Jones, Jermaine Burton, and Charlie Jones.
In theory, any one of them could have a high ceiling because they are a touchdown or two away from a 15+ point return, as we saw from Xavier Worthy on Thursday. However, none of them have the same raw speed as Worthy, limiting that. Additionally, their chances of putting up those 15+ fantasy points are significantly lower than Chase or Higgins.
Iosivas has been considered the favorite to be the third WR this year, which is why he was our favorite fantasy option of the Bengal’s second-tier receivers this week. Irwin is expected to take the X receiver role if Chase is out, while Burton could play in Higgins’ role. Burton has enticing potential, but all of them are somewhat a shot in the dark.
Burton received some negative reports coming out of training camp. Those were about his focus on plays, which could limit his opportunities as a rookie. Therefore, it would be a tremendous risk to put him in lineups this week.
Normally we would now look to the tight end position, but that does not fill me with confidence either. Mike Gesicki has struggled to have fantasy relevance throughout his career, and that is unlikely to be any different this week. Additionally, he is not a like-for-like fill-in at WR for Chase.
Ultimately, if you are looking for a WR fill-in for Chase this week, you would be better looking outside of the Bengals in this game.
Kyle Soppe’s Fantasy Outlook for Chase in Week 1
His status for this game has become a talking point, as he and head coach Zach Taylor are pretty clearly not on the same page.
Last week, Taylor indicated that Chase would be a full participant in practice despite a contract “hold in,” and less than 24 hours later, the team’s WR1 showed up late for practice wearing street clothes and not pads.
With two years left on his deal, this appears to be more of a power play by Chase than the use of much leverage, but the fact remains that his status is uncertain. If he plays, you play him. I hate to make it that simple, but he has seven of the top-10 WR games produced over the past two seasons when Burrow is under center, including four better than Higgins’ best over that stretch.
Jermaine Burton and Andrei Iosivas should be added to the back end of your roster whether you roster Chase or not – free pieces of a Burrow-led offense are worth a roll of the dice should this situation get uglier.