Who Should I Start? Brandon Powell or Austin Ekeler

Wednesday, March 13, 12:31 AM

The Minnesota Vikings agreed to terms to re-sign wide receiver Brandon Powell to an undisclosed one-year deal on Tuesday night, according to a source. Powell caught 29 passes for a career-high 324 yards and a key touchdown against the Atlanta Falcons on 44 targets in 17 games (two starts) in 2023 in his first year with the Vikings and fifth year in the NFL. Normally more of a punt returner, Powell was relied on more often due to injuries to Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison and K.J. Osborn. The 28-year-old former undrafted free agent out of Florida has bounced around with four different teams in his five NFL seasons, but he'll stay put in Minnesota in 2024 and could be the team's starting slot wideout if Osborn doesn't re-sign. Still, with quarterback Sam Darnold potentially Minnesota's starter under center in 2024, Powell will be off the fantasy radar in most leagues.

Monday, March 11, 7:05 PM

Veteran free-agent running back Austin Ekeler is signing with the Washington Commanders on Monday on a two-year deal worth up to $11.43 million, according to sources. Ekeler is headed to the East coast after seven seasons and 69 total touchdowns with the Los Angeles Chargers. The 28-year-old was extremely productive in his time with the Bolts, but he's coming off one of his worst statistical seasons in 2023 and is now heading to a Commanders backfield where he'll be expected to split the workload with Brian Robinson. On a side note, former Commanders RB Antonio Gibson agreed to join the New England Patriots. Gone are the days of Ekeler being a no-doubt RB1 for fantasy managers, although he still has the talent to be a highly productive RB3/flex option, especially in PPR leagues. In addition, the Commanders' signing of Ekeler is going to be bad news for B-Rob's fantasy ceiling.