Who Should I Start? Christian Kirk or Calvin Austin III

Friday, October 24, 6:06 PM

Houston Texans wide receiver Christian Kirk (hamstring) has been ruled out ahead of the Week 8 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers. Unsurprisingly, Kirk will sit out this weekend after not practicing all week. It has been an injury plagued season for Kirk who has only managed to play in three games. The Texans will also be without Nico Collins (concussion), which will leave them shorthanded on offense. The expectation is that Xavier Hutchinson, Jayden Higgins, and Jaylin Noel will be asked to step up. Between the three, Noel offers the most upside after hauling in four receptions for 77 yards last week.

Saturday, October 25, 1:15 PM

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Calvin Austin III (shoulder) was a full participant in practice all week and does not carry an injury designation into a Sunday night showdown with the Green Bay Packers. Operating as the team's WR2, Austin showed flashes of chemistry with quarterback Aaron Rodgers over the first four weeks of the season. While he's unlikely to outproduce DK Metcalf most weeks, Austin's explosiveness gives him big-play potential in the right matchups. The Packers have been middle-of-the-road against opposing receivers this season, and with this contest carrying a healthy projected point total, Austin could see a bump in usage. He's not quite on the fantasy radar in most formats, but the 26-year-old offers boom-or-bust flex appeal in deeper leagues.