Who Should I Start? Calvin Ridley or Zay Flowers

Friday, October 17, 2:54 PM

When the Tennessee Titans welcome former coach Mike Vrabel and his New England Patriots back to Nashville on Sunday, they will be without top wide receiver Calvin Ridley (hamstring). Ridley has dealt with knee and elbow injuries over the past two weeks, but it is the hamstring injury sustained in the team's Week 6 loss to the Raiders that held him out of practice this week, and he has now been ruled out. In a week with headlines already swirling around Vrabel's return, the Titans fired head coach Brian Callahan after less than a season and a half at the helm and could have used a steadying presence on offense. While rookie Elic Ayomanor should see an increase in target share with Ridley sidelined, it's hard to trust any Titans pass catchers. However, for fantasy managers in a pinch, Chigoziem Okonkwo, coming off a six-catch game, could be a sneaky start against a Patriots defense that has struggled to defend tight ends.

Sunday, October 12, 11:39 AM

Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers (shoulder), who was listed as questionable for the Week 6 game against the visiting Los Angeles Rams, is officially active for Sunday's contest. Flowers was limited in practice all week but will suit up as the Ravens look to avoid falling to 1-5 on the season. They'll have to do it without star quarterback Lamar Jackson (hamstring) for the second straight week, which won't be easy against L.A. Flowers caught all five of his targets for 72 yards in last week's blowout loss to the Houston Texans, with quarterback Cooper Rush making the start. It wasn't a bad showing for fantasy purposes, all things considered, but expecting a repeat of that performance from Flowers might be wishful thinking this weekend. He's definitely a fade candidate in DFS, and fantasy managers might want to consider benching him in regular leagues, too, as he's expected to play fewer snaps as he battles through his shoulder injury.