Who Should I Start? Cooper Kupp or Rashid Shaheed

Friday, October 3, 7:56 PM

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Cooper Kupp has entered the bench stash phase of his career. He is not a viable option in Week 5 when the Seahawks host the Buccaneers. The Buccaneers have an untested passing defense, but Kupp has been too inconsistent to this point in the season. Kupp has only surpassed 6.6 fantasy points one time this season. Additionally, the Seahawks' passing volume is low. Quarterback Sam Darnold is averaging 25 passing attempts per game, and 8.5 of those passes are going to wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Some of that has been due to game script. The offense has been relatively efficient, and the defense has been elite, resulting in a lower passing volume. If the Buccaneers' offense challenges Seattle in Week 5, the passing volume could increase. However, Kupp is too risky a player to deploy right now. He still has talent, but as of now, he is a better wide receiver for the Seahawks than he is for fantasy.

Sunday, October 5, 9:43 PM

New Orleans Saints wide receiver Rashid Shaheed recorded four catches for 114 yards and a touchdown in his team's 26-14 Week 5 win over the New York Giants. Known as one of the league's premier big-play threats. Shaheed broke loose for an 87-yard touchdown catch in the second quarter. The 27-year-old has recorded 22 catches for 288 yards and two touchdowns on 30 targets through five games so far this season. Shaheed ranks third on the Saints in targets behind wide receiver Chris Olave and tight end Juwan Johnson, but he's got far more explosive potential than any of his New Orleans teammates. Shaheed remains a boom/bust flex option in the majority of fantasy leagues.