Who Should I Start? Christian Kirk or Terry McLaurin

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.

Monday, July 28, 4:10 PM

The difference between what the Washington Commanders are willing to offer and what wide receiver Terry McLaurin (ankle) is asking for in contract negotiations is "vast," according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. McLaurin ended his holdout and reported to Commanders' training camp on Sunday, but he was immediately placed on the active/physically unable to perform list, so this could be a hold-in situation. McLaurin will turn 30 in September and has been remarkably durable throughout his career, playing in 17 games in each of the last five seasons. He caught 82 passes for 1,096 yards and a career-high 13 touchdowns in 2024, his first season playing with Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels. McLaurin profiles as a high-end WR2 in fantasy as long as he's ready to go for the regular season, but it appears as though his return to the practice field is not particularly close.