Remember when Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase drew much flak for his struggles with catching the football?
Well, it was a prank.
His surname is appropriate for him because no one can seem to chase him down through seven weeks of his rookie season.
It was like LSU all over again when Chase reunited with quarterback Joe Burrow.
Joe Burrow has 4 touchdown passes of 30+ air yards this season, most in the NFL. All of them have been thrown to Ja'Marr Chase.
Burrow had zero such completions as a rookie.
Elite chemistry. pic.twitter.com/CvI5dsVcq5
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) October 20, 2021
They picked up where they left off in Baton Rouge to terrorize the NFL.
But Chase alone is making a run for history.
The Louisiana native had eight receptions for a franchise rookie record of 201 yards and a touchdown against the Baltimore Ravens.
If he can do this against All-Pro Marlon Humphrey, other cornerbacks don’t stand a chance.
Ja'Marr Chase vs Marlon Humphrey:
🔥 7 targets
🔥 5 completions
🔥 165 yards
🔥 1 TD pic.twitter.com/kZCs458cw0— PFF (@PFF) October 25, 2021
This Week 7 game made him the first rookie wide receiver with a 200-yard, one-touchdown performance since Mike Evans in 2014.
His biggest play was an in-route that he turned into an 82-yard score after beating multiple tackles.
That play helped Chase gain 754 receiving yards through seven games, breaking Anquan Boldin’s 621 yards during the same stretch in his 2003 rookie year.
Chase is also the first player in NFL history to have at least 50 receiving yards in each of his first seven games.
Ja'Marr Chase became the 2nd-youngest player in NFL history with a 200-yd receiving game, and has the most receiving yards through a player's first 7 career games in NFL history. pic.twitter.com/S0rDi5oEJS
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) October 25, 2021
His lowest output was 54 against the Chicago Bears, but he needed only two catches to gain that many yards.
If he maintains his production, Chase is on pace for 1,831 receiving yards which will obliterate Justin Jefferson’s Super Bowl-era rookie record of 1,400.
That number is also way past Bill Groman’s record of 1,473 yards set in 1960.
He might not reach that projection, but he will easily destroy Groman’s mark.
The Chase For Greatness
It’s not that Chase is playing perfectly in his young NFL career.
He did drop two catchable balls in 25 targets through five weeks.
However, he steps up during the most significant moments and gives his contemporaries a run for their money.
Chase trails only Cooper Kupp in receiving yards even if he has fewer receptions than Evans, Jefferson, Adam Thielen, Terry McLaurin, Keenan Allen, and Davante Adams.
JA'MARR. CHASE.
Running away with Offensive Rookie of the year!@Real10jayy__ @Bengals pic.twitter.com/WM0kxZcLq9
— NFL UK (@NFLUK) October 25, 2021
He is also one of four wide receivers averaging at least 100 yards per game and ranks third in receiving touchdowns with six.
Chase has the second-longest touchdown catch so far this season behind Quez Watkins’ 91-yard score.
But he is the king of yards per catch at 21.5, in front of second-placed Deonte Harris at 19.7.
His quickness has also helped him gain 267 yards after the catch, fifth-best in the NFL behind Kupp, Deebo Samuel, Travis Kelce, and D’Andre Swift.
Keeping up this historic run can make him Offensive Rookie Of The Year, a Pro Bowler, and a First-Team All-Pro in his first year.
Ja'Marr Chase: "I'm going to break every record they have." #Bengals @fox19 pic.twitter.com/XufVFQUQBx
— Jeremy Rauch (@FOX19Jeremy) April 30, 2021
More importantly, he can help the Bengals clinch a playoff spot for the first time since 2015.
Not a bad start for someone who people thought couldn’t catch footballs.
Now, not only is Chase receiving Burrow’s throws with ease.
He’s also catching more spots to put his name into the history books.
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