Who Should I Start? Adam Thielen or Zay Flowers

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.

Monday, January 5, 12:14 AM

Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers delivered one of his best performances of the season in Week 18's loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, catching four of six targets for 134 yards and two touchdowns. His touchdowns both came on similar coverage busts by the Pittsburgh secondary, going for 50 and 64 yards. Quarterback Lamar Jackson only attempted 18 passes in the game, but he targeted Flowers on a third of them. It marked the 25-year-old wideout's highest yardage total in a game since Week 1 against the Bills and the third two-touchdown game of his career. It was also Flowers' first touchdown of at least 30 yards since Week 9 of last season. Flowers closed the 2025 season with career highs in targets (118), receptions (86), and receiving yards (1,207), while matching his previous career best with five touchdowns.