Who Should I Start? Amon-Ra St. Brown or Brian Thomas Jr.

Sunday, December 14, 9:27 PM

Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown had one of the most productive games of his career in his team's Week 15 loss to the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday, recording 13 receptions for 164 yards and two touchdowns on 18 targets. The 26-year-old has now hauled in 94 catches for 1,140 yards and 11 touchdowns on 135 targets across 14 games this season. With tight end Sam LaPorta (back) on IR, the Lions' passing game is now highly concentrated around St. Brown, wide receiver Jameson Williams, and running back Jahmyr Gibbs. In Week 15, those three players earned 34 targets on 41 pass attempts from Lions quarterback Jared Goff. If Detroit's defense continues to struggle and consistently puts the team in pass-heavy game scripts, St. Brown could continue to see a high volume of targets down the stretch of the season. The Lions will host the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 16.

Thursday, December 18, 9:18 AM

Though this has been an undoubtedly frustrating season for Brian Thomas Jr., the Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver is coming off back-to-back solid performances as his team has ascended to the top of the AFC South. The second-year player, ranked as the No. 44 overall PPR receiver, is certainly in the conversation for the biggest fantasy disappointment of the season relative to draft position. However, managers who weathered modest outputs and an injury may have a light at the end of the tunnel, as Thomas has looked more like his rookie self with 13 targets, 7 catches, 153 yards, and a touchdown during the past two weeks. The Jags have a tough Week 16 matchup against a Denver Broncos defense that ranks ninth against PPR receivers, but Jacksonville and quarterback Trevor Lawrence are on such a hot streak that Thomas should carry WR3/flex consideration for managers deep in the playoffs.