Ja'Marr Chase matches NFL legend through first five games

The Cincinnati Bengals rookie receiver finds himself seated at a statistical table with receiver royalty. Although the Bengals lost Sunday, Ja’Marr Chase’s touchdown places him in a group of receivers 21 or younger with 400+ yards receiving and five touchdowns through their first five games. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, that list includes Hall of Famer, Randy Moss, and now the rookie.

Over the first five games of his career, Chase has had 23 receptions on 35 targets or 456 yards. His 35 targets tie fellow Bengals receiver Tyler Boyd for most on the team. Only Boyd has more receptions with 27. However, his 456 yards are nearly 200 yards better than the second-most on the team. Not only that but Chase has picked up where he left off two years ago at LSU with his big-play ability. He is averaging 19.8 yards per catch and has seven of the team’s 16 big plays through the air.

Right now, Chase is averaging one touchdown per game with five on the season. Not only does his five touchdowns put him in first place of all rookie receivers, but it has him tied for second in the NFL. Only Mike Williams of the Los Angeles Chargers with six is ahead of the rookie receiver from LSU.

Chase can claim a record or two

At his current pace, Chase could see himself claim two NFL rookie records. If he can maintain his average of 91 yards receiving per game, he will break the record for most receiving yards in a rookie season by more than 100 yards. That record is currently held by his former LSU teammate and current Minnesota Viking wide receiver Justin Jefferson. Jefferson set the record last year with 1,400 yards over 16 games. And if he keeps the average of one touchdown per game, he will tie Moss with the most receiving touchdowns in a rookie season (17).

The only major rookie receiving record which currently seems to be a long shot right now is the record for most receptions. That record is owned by Anquan Boldin with 101 catches on 165 targets. Boldin set the mark in 2003 with the Arizona Cardinals. He is also the only rookie receiver in history to have more than 100 receptions in their first season.

Chase is the next great receiving talent to come out of LSU. He joins a list of star-studded receivers, most recently his friend Jefferson, to trade in purple and gold for NFL colors. But if he continues on the path he’s on, he could go down as the greatest of them all.