Ja’Marr Chase’s impossible productivity has continued in the NFL
Cincinnati Bengals rookie wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase has miraculously continued his borderline impossible level of productivity from college to the NFL.
The Cincinnati Bengals made what many felt was a foolish decision to pass on offensive linemen with their top pick in the 2021 NFL Draft to take former LSU wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase. After Joe Burrow went down with a bad knee injury last year as a result of horrendous pass protection, the outrage was at least somewhat warranted.
With that being said, a team like the Bengals wasn’t in a position to draft for need like that, and the value of the prospects simply did not match what Ja’Marr Chase brings to the table.
Not only did Chase have a strong rapport with Burrow at LSU in their legendary 2019 season, but he was also undoubtedly the top available player on the board.
Some may have disagreed and said it was Kyle Pitts, others may have stuck their necks out for Penei Sewell, Pat Surtain II, or Micah Parsons. There were probably plenty of people that would have taken DeVonta Smith or Jaylen Waddle over Chase based on the fact that he opted out of 2020.
Ja’Marr Chase’s ridiculous college production carrying over to the NFL
The Cincinnati Bengals stuck with the tape and took the explosive, physical, aggressive alpha at receiver, and it’s paying off for them early on.
At LSU, Chase won the Biletnikoff Award as the best wide receiver in the country while averaging a whopping 21.2 yards per reception. He had 20 touchdowns on 84 receptions and was flat-out unstoppable.
Would you believe me if I told you that production was translating to the NFL two years later?
Because it is.
Ja’Marr Chase was recently named AFC offensive rookie of the month after catching 11 passes in three games for 220 yards and four touchdowns.
For those who hate doing math, let me do it for you.
He’s averaging 20 yards per reception and with four touchdowns on just 11 receptions, his TD percentage is even higher than the ridiculous 20 percent it was in the 2019 season at LSU.
It seems we’ve come a long way from the preseason issues Ja’Marr Chase was having regarding the missing white stripe on the football.
Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase have picked up right where they left off at LSU, putting together some really nice performances in the first month of the season and they will have an opportunity to sneak in one more game in the month of September as they take on the Jacksonville Jaguars on Thursday Night Football.