Who Should I Start? Alec Pierce or Quentin Johnston

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, 10:01 PM

Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Quentin Johnston took fantasy managers on a rollercoaster ride in 2025. After recording 28 receptions for 407 yards and five touchdowns over his first six games of the season, Johnston hauled in just 14 catches for 126 yards and two scores over his next six contests. However, Johnston re-emerged late in the year. Across his final two games played of the regular season, the 24-year-old recorded nine catches for 202 yards and a touchdown on 13 targets. Johnston was also among the players Los Angeles chose to rest in Week 18 in preparation for the playoffs, signifying his value in the eyes of Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh. Los Angeles will face one of the league's better pass defenses in their Wild Card Weekend matchup against the New England Patriots. Still, Johnston has proven he can have success against challenging opponents, recording at least 14.9 PPR fantasy points in matchups during the regular season against the Denver Broncos, Houston Texans, and Kansas City Chiefs. Fantasy managers in playoff leagues should view Johnston as a high-upside wide receiver option entering the postseason.