Who Should I Start? Allen Lazard or Rashod Bateman

Tuesday, October 28, 9:53 PM

New York Jets wide receiver Allen Lazard has seen minimal usage so far this season, recording seven catches for 45 yards and a touchdown on 11 targets across six games played. However, Lazard got a chance to play 78% of New York's offensive snaps in Week 8 due to injuries to top Jets wideouts Garrett Wilson (knee) and Josh Reynolds (hip). Wilson is expected to return in Week 10 following the team's Week 9 bye, but Reynolds must miss at least three more games on Injured Reserve. Still, Lazard's lack of production to this point makes him difficult for fantasy managers to rely upon. Even with Wilson and Reynolds sidelined in Week 8, Lazard recorded one catch for five yards in a game where the Jets scored 39 points. Lazard should remain off the radar of fantasy managers.

Saturday, November 8, 10:11 AM

Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Rashod Bateman has been one of the biggest boom-or-bust options throughout his career, next to maybe Jameson Williams. So far this season, Bateman has one finish above a WR3 and finished just inside WR3 territory in half-PPR formats in Week 9. His ceiling is much higher with Lamar Jackson under center, but he's only amassed 29 targets so far this season and has turned that into 15 catches for 184 yards and two touchdowns. The Minnesota Vikings are currently ranked as the eighth-toughest defense against receiver groups, but they've been very vulnerable the last three weeks. That gives Bateman some flex appeal, but only in deeper leagues.