Who Should I Start? Adam Thielen or Devaughn Vele

Thursday, November 21, 3:10 PM

Carolina Panthers wide receiver Adam Thielen (hamstring) was limited in practice for the second straight day this week on Thursday as he looks to make his return to game-day action this Sunday against the Kansas City Chiefs for the first time since injuring his hamstring in Week 3. Thielen was activated from Injured Reserve during the team's bye week, but he's still not in the clear to return for Week 12. An upgrade to a full practice session on Friday could do the trick. The 34-year-old veteran expects to play against KC, although the Panthers could monitor his workload on Sunday if that's the case given his long layoff. When he's fully up to speed, though, Thielen should be one of quarterback Bryce Young's top targets opposite rookie Xavier Legette. Thielen is worth stashing for WR depth in deeper leagues, but he's trending as a shaky fantasy play against a tough Chiefs defense if he's active on Sunday.

Monday, November 18, 10:12 AM

Denver Broncos rookie wide receiver Devaughn Vele quietly had a strong performance in the 38-6 blowout win over the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday in Week 11, although he wasn't on the receiving end of one of rookie quarterback Bo Nix's career-high four touchdown passes. Vele finished with four receptions on five targets for 66 receiving yards. Both his targets and yards were second on the team behind Courtland Sutton. The 26-year-old seventh-rounder out of Utah has had some impressive moments in his first NFL season, and while his 66 yards were his second-highest yardage total of the year, he's also failed to reach 40 yards in five of his seven games. Vele will continue to develop alongside Nix but can't realistically be trusted in starting fantasy lineups as anything more than a boom/bust WR5/flex in deeper leagues.