Who Should I Start? Adam Thielen or Curtis Samuel

Monday, January 6, 3:37 PM

Carolina Panthers wide receiver Adam Thielen said that he will go through his normal process and evaluate whether he wants to continue his playing career this offseason. Thielen said he's leaning in a certain direction, "but I'm not going to tell you what that is." If the Panthers choose to do so, they can cut the 34-year-old with only a $5 million dead salary cap hit to get out of the final year of his deal. He missed time in 2024 due to a hamstring injury that landed him on Injured Reserve, but Thielen was productive when healthy as quarterback Bryce Young's favorite target, catching 48 passes on 62 targets for 615 yards and five touchdowns in 10 starts. Staying in Carolina is the likely outcome if Thielen chooses to play another season. His chemistry with Young would give him a solid fantasy floor as a flex, depending on what the rest of the WR room looks like in 2025.

Sunday, January 12, 6:03 PM

Buffalo Bills wide receiver Curtis Samuel caught three passes for 68 yards and a touchdown in the team's dominant win over the Denver Broncos in the Wild Card matchup. Samuel wasn't heavily involved (three targets) but led Buffalo in receiving yards thanks to a long catch-and-run in the fourth quarter. Already ahead two touchdowns entering the final frame, Josh Allen found Samuel for a 55-yard score on the quarter's first play to cement Buffalo's victory. Samuel doesn't hold much value the way Allen shares the love in the passing game. He was one of five receivers to earn three targets, which only trailed Khalil Shakir's six.