Who Should I Start? Christian Kirk or Rashod Bateman
Week 1 Projections
| Fant. Pts. |
Rush. Yds. |
Rush TD |
Rec. | Rec. Yds. |
Rec TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4.8 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 1.8 | 21.5 | 0.1 |
Christian Kirk News
Monday, August 3, 5:51 PM
San Francisco 49ers veteran wide receiver Christian Kirk (calf) was observed running on a side field during Monday's training camp practice, according to Matt Barrows of The Athletic. Kirk wasn't running full speed, but the fact that he was doing anything at all suggests that he could be back at practice with the rest of the team sooner rather than later. The 49ers are all kinds of banged up in camp at the receiver position, with Ricky Pearsall (knee) out for the season already and veteran Mike Evans (quadriceps) and rookie second-rounder De'Zhaun Stribling (hamstring) sidelined with minor injuries. The 29-year-old Kirk could have a bigger role in San Fran's passing attack in his first year with the team in 2026 with Pearsall out, but the Niners' recent signing of veteran Deebo Samuel Sr. probably makes Kirk a non-factor for fantasy managers in 12-team leagues to begin the season. At best, Kirk will be a late-round flier as RotoBaller's No. 85-ranked fantasy WR. The former second-rounder by the Arizona Cardinals in 2018 from Texas A&M has played in only 21 games due to injuries the last two years with the Jacksonville Jaguars and Houston Texans, and he had a 28-239-1 line in 13 regular-season games with Houston in 2025.
Week 1 Projections
| Fant. Pts. |
Rush. Yds. |
Rush TD |
Rec. | Rec. Yds. |
Rec TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.9 | 28.8 | 0.2 |
Rashod Bateman News
Friday, August 7, 1:42 PM
Baltimore Ravens veteran wide receiver Rashod Bateman said on Friday that new offensive coordinator Declan Doyle is using him much differently than in his previous years with the Ravens, according to Bobby Trosset. "I'm moving around all over the place. In the past, I've been a one-dimensional receiver. I feel like he sees my talent. As a receiver, you want somebody to believe in you, to see your ability. I'm in the slot, outside. That's a blessing for me. I appreciate him for doing that so I get to show my talent more & more," Bateman said. It's something for fantasy managers to consider before completely writing off the 26-year-old former first-rounder in 2021 from the University of Minnesota. However, it's still hard to fathom Bateman being a weekly fantasy starter after disappointing in all but one of his five NFL seasons to this point, outside of his 45-756-9 line in 17 games in 2024. That feels especially true after Baltimore added rookie receivers Ja'Kobi Lane and Elijah Sarratt, who will be looking to take valuable targets away from Bateman in 2026. Unless WR1 Zay Flowers misses time with an injury, Bateman probably won't be much more than a deep-league bench stash at the WR position.
Christian Kirk vs. Rashod Bateman
Still trying to decide between Kirk and Bateman? Check on the latest news to make sure both players are active and healthy. Our PPR projections show that Christian Kirk is projected to score 4.8 points this week while Rashod Bateman is projected to score 6.2 points.
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