Who Should I Start? Allen Lazard or Devaughn Vele

Sunday, September 7, 12:39 PM

New York Jets wide receiver Allen Lazard is a healthy scratch for the Week 1 regular-season opener on Sunday against the Pittsburgh Steelers. With Davante Adams departing for the Los Angeles Rams in the offseason, Lazard was expected to be a starter behind Garrett Wilson in 2025, but that doesn't appear to be the case early on. The 29-year-old was a major disappointment in 2023 after signing a four-year, $44 million deal but bounced back slightly last year by catching 37 passes for 530 yards and six touchdowns in 12 games. Josh Reynolds has secured WR2 duties in New York with a strong training camp and preseason, and with Lazard being a healthy scratch in Week 1, it looks like Tyler Johnson will get first crack at WR3 duties in what is expected to be a run-heavy offense under first-year head coach Aaron Glenn.

Wednesday, August 20, 7:13 PM

The New Orleans Saints have acquired wide receiver Devaughn Vele from the Denver Broncos for a 2026 fourth-round pick and a 2027 seventh-round selection. Vele was a seventh-rounder in 2024 who exceeded expectations as a rookie, catching 41 of 55 targets for 475 yards and three touchdowns in 13 games. However, the former Utah standout's role in the Denver offense diminished late in the season as Marvin Mims Jr. started receiving more targets. With Mims, Courtland Sutton, and Troy Franklin all returning and rookie third-rounder Pat Bryant coming in this year, the Broncos have decided to move on from Vele for a solid return on investment. Going from Bo Nix to either Spencer Rattler or Tyler Shough will be a major downgrade at quarterback for Vele, but he could be a bigger part of a Saints offense that doesn't have much at receiver after Chris Olave, Rashid Shaheed, and Brandin Cooks.