Who Should I Start? Allen Lazard or Henry Ruggs III

Wednesday, May 7, 10:34 AM

As the Pittsburgh Steelers continue to navigate the offseason, trading for New York Jets wide receiver Allen Lazard is "in play," according to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. As Florio notes, the move likely hinges on whether the Steelers sign quarterback Aaron Rodgers. This wouldn't be the first time a team has pursued a receiver to satisfy the veteran signal caller. The Green Bay Packers once re-acquired Randall Cobb as part of Rodgers' demands during a contract holdout, and the Jets signed Lazard after trading for Rodgers in 2023. The 29-year-old would likely slot in as Pittsburgh's No. 2 receiver behind DK Metcalf after they traded George Pickens to Dallas. He typically plays much better with Rodgers throwing him the football, as he commanded 100 targets from the future Hall of Famer in 2022. He also opened last season with 412 yards and five touchdowns over his first seven games, all of which featured Rodgers under center. Any sort of Lazard trade likely won't happen until Rodgers makes a decision on his future. While nothing is imminent, fantasy managers should keep tabs on Rodgers, as his eventual decision will surely have a ripple effect on many players across the league.

Wednesday, June 25, 3:16 PM

NFL reporter Albert Breer said he believes we could see Henry Ruggs III in an NFL uniform again. The former Las Vegas Raiders wideout pleaded guilty to felony DUI resulting in death and misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter after a deadly crash in November of 2021 and has been behind bars for the last few years. Ruggs recently spoke as part of a Hope for Prisoners event in Las Vegas and said he wished he could "turn back the hands of time." "It was a horrific, horrific accident, and that's always the first thing to consider on it." Breer wrote. "But eventually, people will start to look forward, and Ruggs's public appearance was at least a reminder that he's eligible for parole in early August 2026, a little over a year from now. At that point, he'll be 27 and, at least on paper, he'd be in the heart of his athletic prime. It's unclear whether the NFL would suspend him. I checked in with the league office and was told the matter would be "reviewed" ahead of reinstatement." Breer mentioned the two-year prison sentence served by former NFL quarterback Michael Vick as the closest comparison to the situation. It would be up to an NFL team to decide if he is deserving of a second chance, but deservedly so, it would be a controversial development.