Who Should I Start? Adam Thielen or Travis Etienne Jr.

Monday, December 29, 10:11 PM

Across four games since signing with the Pittsburgh Steelers, veteran wide receiver Adam Thielen has recorded eight receptions for 74 yards on 11 targets. While the 35-year-old's overall numbers are modest, he has seen an uptick in usage lately. With Steelers wideouts DK Metcalf (suspension) and Calvin Austin III (hamstring) sidelined in Week 17, Thielen earned five targets in the team's 13-6 loss to the Cleveland Browns. Thielen also played 86% of Pittsburgh's offensive snaps, most among Pittsburgh wide receivers. Austin III has a chance to return for the team's Week 18 showdown against the Baltimore Ravens, but Metcalf will remain on the shelf. In PPR fantasy leagues with 12 or more teams, Thielen could be worth targeting on the waiver wire heading into Week 18.

Saturday, January 3, 3:38 PM

Jacksonville Jaguars running back Travis Etienne Jr. is the RB9 in Half-PPR formats after posting his third 1,000-yard season in four years, and he is a must-start for fantasy managers still competing into the final week of the season. The Jaguars can lock up the AFC South and a home playoff game with a win on Sunday against the Titans, with the AFC's number one seed also still in play, even if unlikely. With meaningful stakes on the line and a plus matchup against Tennessee's bottom-10 run defense, Etienne should be involved early and often, and if he is rested late in the game, things will have likely gone well for Jacksonville's offense. Etienne is RotoBaller's RB6 for the week.