Coach Steve Borthwick has remained loyal to the overhauled backline that misfired in the 23-18 defeat by Italy in Rome, with Fin Smith continuing at fly-half for Saturday's game in Paris.
Instead, Borthwick has tinkered with his back row by installing Chessum at six and moving Guy Pepper to openside at the expense of Sam Underhill, who drops to the bench for the climax to the Championship.
Underhill was promoted to the starting XV at the Stadio Olimpico when Tom Curry suffered a calf injury during the warm-up, but against France he will act as a replacement as part of a six-two split between forwards and backs.
By starting Chessum, Borthwick is strengthening England's line-out and giving his pack greater ballast to take on France's giant forwards.
The 25-year-old Leicester captain has played the bulk of his rugby for club and country in the second row and his most recent international appearance at blindside was in the 2024 Six Nations.
England (15-1)
Elliot Daly; Tom Roebuck, Tommy Freeman, Seb Atkinson, Cadan Murley; Fin Smith, Ben Spencer; Ben Earl, Guy Pepper, Ollie Chessum; Alex Coles, Maro Itoje (capt); Joe Heyes, Jamie George, Ellis Genge
Replacements: Luke Cowan-Dickie, Bevan Rodd, Trevor Davison, Chandler Cunningham-South, Sam Underhill, Henry Pollock, Jack van Poortvliet, Marcus Smith
Coach: Steve Borthwick (ENG)