Head to Head

Updated June 5, 2026 from live stats

Ja'Marr Chase vs James ConnerWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Ja'Marr Chase is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 15.7 PPG to James Conner's 11.0 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Ja'Marr Chase is the better fantasy play this season.

Cross-position decisions depend on league format. In half-PPR, Ja'Marr Chase (15.7 PPG) is the higher-floor play. James Conner (11.0 PPG) could win a specific week on touchdown variance. For FLEX spots, lean toward the player with the softer defensive matchup that week rather than defaulting to season averages.

Moderate confidence: stats favor the leader, but matchup variance could flip this weekly.

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WRCincinnati Bengals#3PPG LEADER

Ja'Marr Chase

PPG

15.7

Games

Rec

125

Rec Yds

1,412

Rec TDs

Targets

185

Bye

Week 6

RBArizona Cardinals#99

James Conner

PPG

11.0

Games

Rush Yds

752

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

218

Bye

Week 11

The Edge Chart

Ja'Marr Chase

James Conner

Head to Head

15.7 PPG11.0 PPG

16 GP14 GP

Bye: Week 6Bye: Week 11

Fantasy Tiers

Ja'Marr Chase: Tier 1 (Elite) WR (ranked #3 at the position). James Conner: Tier 5 (Deep League) RB (ranked #99 at the position). Comparing across positions, raw PPG is less useful than positional scarcity. A Tier 1 (Elite) WR is harder to replace on waivers than a Tier 5 (Deep League) RB in most league formats.

Ja'Marr Chase vs James Conner: The Full Breakdown

Comparing Ja'Marr Chase (WR, Cincinnati Bengals) against James Conner (RB, Arizona Cardinals) means weighing two different roles in your fantasy lineup. Ja'Marr Chase averaged 15.7 PPG in 2025 over 16 games, while James Conner posted 11.0 PPG across 14 games.

Cross-position FLEX decisions cannot be made on PPG alone. Positional scarcity, matchup quality, floor versus ceiling, and league scoring format all shift the answer. A 14 PPG tight end in a thin TE week is often worth more than a 16 PPG receiver in a deep WR week, because the opportunity cost on the waiver wire is wildly different.

DraftCall's AI engine weighs all of these signals and returns a verdict with clear reasoning, so you are not cross-referencing four different rankings tabs on a Sunday morning.

Ja'Marr Chase has his bye in Week 6, James Conner in Week 11. Plan your FLEX rotation around those weeks, especially if either player is anchoring your roster.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

Ja'Marr Chase is a buy in trades where the other manager is chasing upside at a different position. James Conner is a hold unless you can flip him for a positional upgrade elsewhere on your roster. Dynasty outlook: Ja'Marr Chase (age 26) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value. James Conner (age 27) is approaching the age where RB production historically drops. Sell-high window is open.

Did You Know?

•Ja'Marr Chase outscored James Conner by a projected 80 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Ja'Marr Chase played 16 games in 2025 compared to James Conner's 14. That durability gap means Ja'Marr Chase contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Ja'Marr Chase scored 8 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.5 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at wide receiver.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Ja'Marr Chase vs James Conner: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Ja'Marr Chase	James Conner
PPG (Half-PPR)	15.7	11.0
Games Played	16	14
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	251	154
Rushing Yards	14	752
Rush Yds/Game	0.9	53.7
Rushing TDs	0	5
Receptions	125	28
Receiving Yards	1,412	218
Targets	185	0
Total TDs	8	6
Age	26	-
Experience	4 yrs	-
Bye Week	Week 6	Week 11

Summary

15.7 PPG for Ja'Marr Chase versus 11.0 for James Conner in 2025. The baseline favors Ja'Marr Chase, though the right weekly matchup can flip the script. For a full breakdown that weighs matchup quality, form, and injury reports, try DraftCall's AI comparison engine.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Ja'Marr Chase or James Conner in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Ja'Marr Chase has the edge at 15.7 PPG compared to James Conner's 11.0 PPG. However, the best start depends on weekly matchup, recent form, and injury status. DraftCall's app provides real-time AI-powered verdicts that factor in all of these variables.

How many fantasy points did Ja'Marr Chase and James Conner average in 2025?▾

Ja'Marr Chase averaged 15.7 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 16 games in 2025. James Conner averaged 11.0 PPG over 14 games. That is a difference of 4.7 points per game.

When are Ja'Marr Chase and James Conner's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Ja'Marr Chase (CIN) has a bye in Week 6, and James Conner (ARI) has a bye in Week 11. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.