• Ja’Marr Chase’s triple-crown win results in PFF’s “Finest Receiver” honor: Chase led the league in catches, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns in 2024 because the league’s finest receiver.
• The Bengals have some selections to make: With Tee Higgins’ contract expired and Chase set to play on a fifth-year choice, the crew might want to pay as much as retain its elite wideouts.
• 2025 NFL Draft season is right here: Strive PFF’s best-in-class Mock Draft Simulator and find out about 2025’s high prospects whereas buying and selling and drafting to your favourite NFL crew.
Estimated Studying Time: 4 minutes
PFF’s award winners are chosen by way of a voting course of unique to twenty-eight senior analysts, contributors and members of the PFF employees, making certain the choices replicate the insights and experience of these deeply concerned within the sport.
This yr’s Finest Receiver is Ja’Marr Chase, who earned 17 votes to say the distinction. The runner-up was Puka Nacua, with 5 votes, whereas Justin Jefferson rounded out the highest three, with 4 votes.
To view all 2024 award winners, click on right here.
Ja’Marr Chase, the No. 5 total draft choose in 2021, grew to become the youngest receiver (24) within the Tremendous Bowl period to win the “triple crown” — securing first place in catches, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns — and the primary since Cooper Kupp in 2021.
Chase edged out Puka Nacua, who missed 5 video games resulting from damage, and Justin Jefferson for PFF’s Finest Receiver honor. Jefferson’s case is intriguing, as he completed sixth in PFF receiving grade (88.8), whereas Chase ranked twelfth (84.9). Chase, nonetheless, held a bonus in a number of areas. He caught extra touchdowns (17 to 10) and gained extra first downs (75 to 62), yards after the catch (797 to 482) and yards after contact (370 to 161). Chase additionally created extra alternatives, with extra missed tackles pressured (24 to 11). Nacua’s case was derailed merely resulting from damage.
Ja’Marr Chase’s 2024 PFF Recreation Grades
The Cincinnati Bengals star ranked within the high 10 in lots of statistical classes and was a menace at each degree of the sphere. He gained 31 first downs (fourth most) on his league-leading variety of targets inside 9 yards of the road of scrimmage, and he recorded 90.0-plus PFF receiving grades on the intermediate and deep ranges. Chase recorded three or extra touchdowns at each degree, together with a league-best six between 10 and 19 yards.
The crimson zone was no secure haven for opposing defenses, as Chase paced the league in red-zone targets (36), catching 22 passes for eight touchdowns and 14 first downs (each second most). He was focused 37 occasions on late downs and transformed 18 of his 23 catches. He earned an 85.3 PFF receiving grade within the second half of video games (tied fifth), catching 62 passes for 944 yards (each high two), and was the one receiver to document double-digit touchdowns in second halves (10).
Groups struggled to comprise him. He torched zone protection with 73 catches for 1,065 yards (most). He made single-coverage defenders pay to the tune of 38 catches for 423 yards whereas main all receivers in first downs (28) and landing catches (eight) in such conditions. Double protection did not restrict him, too. He was the NFL’s most-targeted receiver in opposition to doubled appears to be like (43), securing 33 catches for 649 yards. Not solely did he place first once more in touchdowns (seven) and first downs (24), however he additionally ranked first in yards after the catch (250), first in yards after contact (91) and second in positive factors of 15-plus yards (17).
Ja’Marr Chase’s Profession PFF Grades
With Tee Higgins set to enter free company and Chase on a fifth-year choice, the Bengals should dole out some severe money to retain their elite receiving corps. The crew’s negotiations with Chase this previous offseason have been nicely documented, however the two sides by no means reached an settlement.
Now, Chase’s elite, career-best season probably has the 24-year-old’s price ticket far larger than it was 5 or 6 months in the past.