Who Should I Start? Calvin Ridley or George Pickens

Saturday, December 14, 12:21 PM

Tennessee Titans wide receiver Calvin Ridley enters the Week 15 matchup against the visiting Cincinnati Bengals as the WR28 in half-PPR points through 14 weeks of the season. He's coming off a seven-catch, 59-yard performance in last week's loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars in which he had 12 targets, just the second time all season he's seen double-digit looks. The efficiency has not been there (50.5% catch rate) in Tennessee's low-volume passing offense, which can make Ridley a very frustrating fantasy play. The 29-year-old is averaging 9.7 half-PPR points a game, which ranks 43rd among wideouts. The good news is he could have a boom week for fantasy managers on Sunday against a porous Bengals defense that has allowed 235.2 passing yards per game (sixth-most in the NFL). Ridley has opportunity, but he's also had fewer than 60 yards in three of his last four games. It's why he's a volatile WR2 for fantasy managers.

Friday, December 20, 6:15 PM

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens (hamstring) didn't officially practice this week and was ruled out for Saturday's game against the division-rival Baltimore Ravens for the third straight game, but he is running and did make an effort to be cleared this week. The Steelers are optimistic that Pickens will be ready to go next Wednesday on Christmas Day to face the Kansas City Chiefs. The 23-year-old picked the worst possible time to miss games for fantasy managers relying on him in the postseason, but he could be back next week to resume his role as Pittsburgh's No. 1 wideout. If Pickens is active next week, fantasy managers will be hard-pressed not to throw him back in their starting lineups, even in a tough matchup against the Chiefs' stingy defense. Calvin Austin III, Van Jefferson and Mike Williams have done little in Pickens' absence, with tight end Pat Freiermuth being the biggest beneficiary.