Who Should I Start? Christian Kirk or Quentin Johnston

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.

Thursday, July 24, 5:17 PM

Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Quentin Johnston had five touchdown catches in the first five days of training camp, according to The Athletic's Daniel Popper, and his ball-tracking looked vastly improved on throws down the field over his shoulder. However, Johnston took a step back on Wednesday and dropped a pass that hit him in the chest when he was wide open in the middle of the field. Popper writes that the fact that these type of lapses are still happening for the former first-rounder in his third season is concerning. The confidence that the 23-year-old showed early in camp appears to have dissipated somewhat. Mike Williams retired just before the start of camp, but Ladd McConkey will remain a target hog in L.A, and the Bolts also drafted Tre Harris and Keandre Lambert-Smith. Johnston must prove it to earn substantial playing time in 2025.