Who Should I Start? Ashton Jeanty or Jayden Higgins

Sunday, December 28, 7:55 PM

Las Vegas Raiders rookie running back Ashton Jeanty was held to single-digit fantasy points in Sunday's 34-10 loss to the New York Giants in Week 17. Jeanty has been held to 10 or fewer fantasy points in three of his last four games, disappointing fantasy managers in the playoffs. Despite the great matchup, he had a relatively inefficient day, turning his 16 rush attempts into 60 yards and corralling both of his targets for just 13 yards. The rookie ball carrier was the Raiders' workhorse back, with Raheem Mostert (ankle, knee) ruled inactive before gametime, but he did cede some third-down snaps to running back Zamir White in the second half. The Las Vegas Raiders will host the reeling Kansas City Chiefs in Week 18, whose defense is a top-10 matchup for opposing running backs. Jeanty still has big play potential and, as the Raiders' bell cow back, should continue to see starting lineups in Week 18.

Monday, December 29, 2:39 PM

Houston Texans rookie wide receiver Jayden Higgins got things started in Saturday's Week 17 win over the Chargers with a 75-yard touchdown strike from C.J. Stroud less than two minutes into the game. Four minutes later, it was Higgins' college teammate and fellow rookie Jaylin Noel on the receiving end of a 43-yard touchdown. While neither contributed much during a second half that saw the Texans struggle to maintain drives, Higgins, who finished the day with two catches for 88 yards and the aforementioned score, is still the player to roster heading into any Week 18 fantasy championships. While Saturday was easily his best performance of the season, he has strung together usable weeks in the past, including a stretch from Weeks 8-12 that saw him finish with double-digit points in Half-PPR formats in three of five games. Against a reeling Indianapolis defense in Week 18, Higgins has the potential for one more meaningful flex performance as a plug-and-play option available on most waiver wires.