Who Should I Start? Christian Kirk or DeMario Douglas

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.

Wednesday, August 6, 11:51 AM

New England Patriots wide receiver DeMario Douglas was "popping" during New England's practice session on Wednesday, according to reports from Mike Reiss of ESPN. During a scrimmage against the Washington Commanders, Douglas was credited for "having a day" against their secondary. The 24-year-old is competing alongside Stefon Diggs for the top role in the wide receiver room. Last season, Douglas began to establish a strong connection with Drake Maye over the final stretch. In his last eight games, he saw just under five targets per game and eclipsed the 50-yard mark three times. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status during camp as he could continue to establish himself, as the top pass catcher. For now, he is worth a look as a WR4 with upside in standard formats.