Who Should I Start? Allen Lazard or Michael Pittman Jr.

Saturday, December 14, 12:40 PM

New York Jets wide receiver Allen Lazard made his return from Injured Reserve due to a chest injury in the Week 14 overtime loss to the division-rival Miami Dolphins and caught his only target for an 18-yard pickup. Lazard did play 78 percent of the offensive snaps, but as expected, he was the clear WR3 behind Garrett Wilson and Davante Adams. There's no discounting the 29-year-old's rapport with quarterback Aaron Rodgers, and he should see more involvement down the stretch as he gets further away from his chest injury. However, it's going to be hard to count on him for consistent fantasy production as long as Wilson and Adams stay healthy. In Week 14, Wilson and Adams combined for 223 yards and a score on 21 targets, with Lazard seeing just the lone target. Lazard should be on the waiver wire in 12-team fantasy leagues and should be benched in Week 15 in deeper formats against the Jaguars.

Friday, December 20, 10:52 PM

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. was a full participant in practice on Friday. The 27-year-old did not practice on Wednesday, but was back to a full participant the following two sessions to close out the week. The 6-foot-4 wideout has dealt with back issues seemingly all season long, but it has cost him just one week of playing time. The former second-round draft pick has been Anthony Richardson's preferred target in the passing game over the last four weeks since being reinstated as the starting QB, averaging over five catches per contest, albeit for just 60 yards per game. The fifth-year pro hasn't scored a touchdown since Week 6, which happened to be against his Week 16 opponent, the Tennessee Titans. Although he found paydirt in that first meeting, he did so on just three catches for 35 yards. With the Titans allowing the fifth-fewest fantasy points to opposing receivers and with Richardson completing less than 50% of his passes on the season, expectations for Sunday's divisional showdown should be tempered. While the Colts are 3.5-point favorites in this one, there is a low expected total of 42.5 and Pittman Jr. projects as a WR4 this week, so hopefully fantasy managers have other options.