The Cincinnati Bengals spent the fifth overall pick on Ja’Marr Chase because they expected him to be a game-changing wide receiver. While things haven’t gone swimmingly for the LSU rookie so far, there’s little reason to panic.
Pro Football Focus College revealed their list of which rookies they thought would lead the league in receiving yards and Chase came in at No. 1 on the list. Not only was he the top rookie receiver per PFF College but they had him as the only rookie receiver to go for over 1,000 yards.
If Chase ended his rookie season with 1,060 yards, Bengals fans would be elated. This would be especially impressive considering that he’d have done so with a stacked receiver room and competing with Tyler Boyd and Tee Higgins for targets.
Most projected receiving yards by #NFL rookie WRs
— PFF College (@PFF_College) August 25, 2021
1. Ja'Marr Chase, Bengals - 1,060
2. Jaylen Waddle, Dolphins - 854
3. DeVonta Smith, Eagles - 813
4. Elijah Moore, Jets - 698
5. Rashod Bateman, Ravens - 556 pic.twitter.com/QdYQVk4cNt
PFF believes that Bengals rookie Ja’Marr Chase will have a good year
It’s easy to get overworked about Chase’s disappointing preseason but it’s preseason. The games don’t count and this is exactly when Chase should be trying to shake off the rust and get back to what made him a top-notch receiver at LSU.
The Bengals offense has the ability to be one of the best in the league this year, especially with how dominant their receivers are. Chase being reunited with Joe Burrow gives him a chance to find that 2019 magic he had at LSU and that’s why the Bengals took him over guys like Penei Sewell and other positions they needed to address more than receiver.
Out of this group listed in the tweet above, all but one were first-round picks (Elijah Moore went in the second round). Chase was the highest receiver taken in the draft so it wouldn’t be crazy at all to see him total the highest amount of receiving yards amongst the rookies.
Do you think these numbers are doable for Chase?