Who Should I Start? Alec Pierce or Luther Burden III

Sunday, January 4, 5:09 PM

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce caught four of his seven targets for 132 yards and two touchdowns during Sunday's Week 18 loss against the Houston Texans. His touchdowns came from eight and 66 yards out. Pierce was having a great outing and operating as Riley Leonard's favorite target before a costly mistake late in the game. With less than two minutes remaining in the third quarter, Pierce failed to haul in a pass near the back of the end zone. He pleaded his case for a pass interference penalty, and while doing so, he made contact with the official. As a result, Pierce was automatically disqualified from the game. Amid the blemish on an otherwise spectacular Week 18, the 25-year-old put the finishing touches on the best season of his career. In 2025, he caught 47 passes for 1,003 yards and six touchdowns while ranking as a top-36 fantasy receiver.

Tuesday, January 6, 12:12 PM

Chicago Bears wide receiver Luther Burden III finished his rookie season with 47 catches (60 targets) for 652 yards and two touchdowns while adding six carries for 37 yards in 15 games. Burden posted an elite 2.71 yards per route run, which only trails Odell Beckham Jr. among rookie wideouts since 2013. The rookie second-rounder caught at least three balls in his final eight games and had his best game of the season in Week 17 at San Francisco with 138 yards and a touchdown. The Missouri product has seen his opportunities increase with Rome Odunze (foot) sidelined for the past five games with a stress fracture in his foot, and Odunze's potential return in the Wild-Card round could limit Burden's fantasy appeal. However, Burden looks like a future star and should be viewed as a high-upside WR2 on Saturday against the division-rival Green Bay Packers.