Who Should I Start? Courtland Sutton or Ladd McConkey

Friday, December 26, 3:13 PM

Denver Broncos wide receiver Courtland Sutton struggled in the 20-13 win against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 17. Coming off two back-to-back WR1 consensus outings, Sutton was held to four catches on 10 targets for 40 yards and zero touchdowns as the Chiefs' defense keyed on restricting the passing game. Sutton did lead the team in receiving yards and targets, but the lone passing touchdown from quarterback Bo Nix went to rookie running back RJ Harvey to win them the game in the final minutes. While this outing was a disappointment for fantasy managers who started Sutton in Week 17, his performance still allowed him to surpass 1,000 yards receiving for the second straight season. The Broncos will face the Los Angeles Chargers at home in Week 18.

Friday, December 26, 9:53 AM

Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Ladd McConkey returned to the end zone last week, leading the team with six targets, but a repeat performance will be difficult on Saturday against the Houston Texans. Houston's secondary is arguably the best in the NFL, ranking first in EPA/Pass and allowing the fewest passing yards per game. While McConkey remains Justin Herbert's primary target, the Texans' elite pass rush, which is tied for sixth in sacks, will likely force Herbert into quick, low-ADOT throws. This defensive pressure mirrors the conditions that led to McConkey's recent dud games rather than his productive outing against a porous Dallas secondary. While his target floor remains decent, the matchup significantly limits his big-play potential. He is a touchdown-dependent WR3 for the fantasy finals.