Who Should I Start? Calvin Austin III or Kyle Williams

Wednesday, October 15, 2:41 PM

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Calvin Austin III (shoulder) has been ruled out for Thursday night's matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals, marking his second straight missed game. Before suffering the injury, Austin had started all four contests, recording 10 receptions on 17 targets for 139 yards and two touchdowns. In his absence, tight end Darnell Washington has seen an increased target share, while D.K. Metcalf continues to build strong chemistry with quarterback Aaron Rodgers. The Steelers will face a favorable matchup against a Bengals defense ranked 31st overall, giving their passing attack an opportunity to stay productive even without Austin on the field.

Friday, October 10, 4:05 PM

New England Patriots rookie receiver Kyle Williams has yet to take 15 snaps in a game, and he hasn't seen a target since Week 3 against the Steelers, but his speed and quick release have shown up on film, and there's a chance his role could increase shortly. In Sunday night's win against the Bills, 90% of Williams' snaps came on passing plays, with the majority coming in the second half. Representing an element of speed that the Patriots' receivers room is otherwise lacking, he helped to create space for teammate Stefon Diggs on a night in which the veteran was targeted a season-high 12 times. With the Patriots traveling to New Orleans on Sunday, it's unlikely that Williams sees a breakout against a defense whose objective has been to keep everything in front of them, but should the rookie continue to do the things asked of him, he may see an increase in targets in the coming weeks.