Who Should I Start? Christian Kirk or Deebo Samuel Sr.

Wednesday, July 9, 3:34 PM

Houston Texans wide receiver Christian Kirk was dealt from the division rival Jacksonville Jaguars for a late-round NFL Draft pick this offseason. The 28-year-old had a fantastic first season with Jacksonville in 2022, but injuries and offensive woes limited his production in 2023 and 2024. Last year, he tallied just 27 receptions for 379 yards and one score in eight games while Brian Thomas Jr. took over the WR1 role. Now in Houston, he is seemingly competing with rookies Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel for the WR2 job behind Nico Collins. ESPN's DJ Bien-Aime believes Kirk might be the favorite to win that job. "The best way to step into the No. 2 or No. 3 role is building chemistry with CJ.. Stroud," Bien-Aime wrote. "And Kirk looked like a potential safety blanket for the third-year signal-caller." While this is promising for Kirk's fantasy prospects, the veteran has eclipsed 800 yards in just two of his seven NFL campaigns, and Houston's acquisitions of Higgins and Noel could suggest they were not comfortable with Kirk in the clear WR2 role. That said, his cost in drafts outside the top 50 WRs makes him an interesting dart throw in all formats.

Tuesday, July 29, 3:08 PM

The Washington Commanders have been lining up wide receiver Deebo Samuel Sr. in various spots as they look to take advantage of his versatility, according to John Keim of ESPN. Not only has Samuel caught passes and run the ball, but the Commanders have paired him with running back Austin Ekeler on kickoff returns. Samuel was a big-time all-around weapon for the San Francisco 49ers earlier in his career, but they traded him to Washington in the offseason after his production went backward. Samuel caught 51 of 81 targets for 670 yards and three touchdowns in 15 games last year. As a runner, he totaled just 136 yards on 42 attempts and added another score. The 29-year-old still believes he has "a lot left in the tank," and he'll have a chance to show it as a key piece in a talented Commanders offense led by second-year quarterback Jayden Daniels.