Bengals’ playmaker keeps proving he was a great investment

Bengals' playmaker keeps proving he was a great investment

The NFL is a passing league now which makes wide receivers as important as they have ever been. Fortunately for the Cincinnati Bengals, they have one of the best in Ja’Marr Chase.

 

 

Bengals' playmaker keeps proving he was a great investment

 

 

In his rookie season, he set the franchise record for receiving yards (1,455) and was named a second-team All-Pro. Despite missing four games with a hip injury in 2022, Chase still went over 1,000 yards and hauled in six more passes than his rookie campaign.

That level of consistency helped Chase land the No.4 spot in the top wide receiver list by Pro Football Focus this week.

 

 

Bengals' playmaker keeps proving he was a great investment

 

 

Chase didn’t quite replicate the crazy performance of his rookie season in 2022, but what he did manage was to show that he can be just as effective without the element of surprise, even if some of the unsustainable big plays went away.

Passes thrown toward Chase over his first two seasons in the league are generating Joe Burrow a 112.4 passer rating, and that number actually went up to 118.2 during the playoffs last season.

 

 

Chase is a dominant receiver and is just getting started. Chase raised his level of play in the 2021 playoffs also.

 

 

Bengals' playmaker keeps proving he was a great investment

During the regular season, Chase averaged 85.6 yards per game. However, that went up to 92 yards per contest in the postseason which included multiple 100-yard performances. Chase racked up five 100-yard games as a rookie. Although he missed a month last season, Chase registered four more in 2022, including three in the first seven games.

So, had Chase not gotten hurt there’s no telling how many he would have tallied. When it comes to the 2023 season, Chase has some lofty expectations.

“Cincinnati stuff. Stuff to have my name written around this whole facility. Every receiver record they have,” Chase said. If anyone can make that happen, Chase can.