Who Should I Start? CeeDee Lamb or Brian Thomas Jr.

Thursday, December 18, 4:09 PM

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb (illness) missed practice for the second straight day on Thursday due to an illness, per ESPN's Todd Archer. Archer notes that Lamb was present for team meetings, but was not present on the practice field. At this point, Lamb will likely need to get back to practice on Friday to avoid entering the weekend with a questionable designation. Across 11 games this season, the 26-year-old has recorded 63 catches for 976 yards and three touchdowns on 99 targets. If Lamb were to miss his team's Week 16 matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers, Cowboys wideout George Pickens would take over as the team's WR1, while wide receivers Ryan Flournoy and KaVontae Turpin would likely see an increase in playing time. Fantasy managers should check back for Lamb's practice status on Friday.

Thursday, December 18, 9:18 AM

Though this has been an undoubtedly frustrating season for Brian Thomas Jr., the Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver is coming off back-to-back solid performances as his team has ascended to the top of the AFC South. The second-year player, ranked as the No. 44 overall PPR receiver, is certainly in the conversation for the biggest fantasy disappointment of the season relative to draft position. However, managers who weathered modest outputs and an injury may have a light at the end of the tunnel, as Thomas has looked more like his rookie self with 13 targets, 7 catches, 153 yards, and a touchdown during the past two weeks. The Jags have a tough Week 16 matchup against a Denver Broncos defense that ranks ninth against PPR receivers, but Jacksonville and quarterback Trevor Lawrence are on such a hot streak that Thomas should carry WR3/flex consideration for managers deep in the playoffs.