Who Should I Start? Adam Thielen or Mecole Hardman

Thursday, December 25, 3:41 PM

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Adam Thielen has become a moderately more intriguing fantasy option for the final few weeks of the campaign following the suspension of teammate DK Metcalf. Thielen joined Pittsburgh ahead of the team's 27-22 win over their division-rival Baltimore Ravens in Week 14. Despite logging roughly 50% of snaps over the two ensuing contests (48/58), the veteran could only come away with one catch on one target in each appearance. However, Thielen saw his workload elevate in last Sunday's victory against Detroit (4/49) and is poised to see a decent target share with Metcalf set to sit for the next two games. Moreover, if fellow WR Calvin Austin III (hamstring) is unavailable for Week 17, then Thielen, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, and Scotty Miller would operate in three-wide-receiver sets, significantly raising the floor of the trio. It's a situation worth monitoring as the Steelers gear up for a road clash with the Browns this Sunday.

Sunday, December 21, 12:14 PM

Buffalo Bills wide receiver Mecole Hardman (calf) is officially active for Sunday's game against the Cleveland Browns. Hardman was activated off Injured Reserve on Saturday and will play in place of Keon Coleman, who will serve as a healthy inactive for the third time this season. Hardman was upgraded to a full participant in practice on Thursday and Friday after being limited on Wednesday. The former Kansas City Chiefs wideout landed on IR after injuring his calf in his first game with the Bills in Week 11's win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Hardman is unlikely to play a major role in the Bills' spread-out passing attack and shouldn't be in any fantasy lineups in Week 16.