Who Should I Start? Allen Lazard or Marquise Brown

Friday, February 14, 5:38 PM

The Athletic's Zack Rosenblatt writes that New York Jets wide receiver Allen Lazard is fully expected to be released after Year 2 of his disastrous four-year, $44 million contract he signed as a free agent in 2023. Lazard was downright bad in 2023 and played only slightly better with quarterback Aaron Rodgers last year before getting hurt late in the season. The 29-year-old was one of the most drop-prone receivers in the league and admitted that he struggles when Rodgers isn't on the field. The Jets will sav $6.6 million in salary cap space if/when they cut Lazard while taking on $6.5 million in dead money. If he's a post-June 1 cut, the Jets would save $11 million with a $2.1 million dead-cap penalty. Lazard was a major miss, catching 60 passes for 841 yards and seven touchdowns in his two seasons with the Jets. If Rodgers retires this offseason, Lazard would be pretty bummed.

Tuesday, February 25, 9:00 PM

Kansas City Chiefs general manager Brett Veach said on Tuesday at the NFL Combine that the team "will look to get Marquise Brown back." The Chiefs had big plans for Hollywood when they signed him last offseason, but the 27-year-old suffered a shoulder injury in the preseason that required surgery and caused him to miss 15 regular-season games. He eventually returned to play in two games at the tail end of the regular season and caught nine of 15 targets for 91 yards and no touchdowns as he got back up to speed. Brown added five catches on 13 targets for only 50 yards in three playoff games. Despite a disappointing 2024 campaign, the speedy wideout could be a prime bounce-back candidate in fantasy at a cheap cost if he returns to the Chiefs as a starter in three-wide sets with Xavier Worthy and Rashee Rice (knee).