Who Should I Start? Curtis Samuel or Rashod Bateman

Thursday, March 14, 6:07 PM

The Buffalo Bills signed free-agent wide receiver Curtis Samuel to a three-year, $24 million deal on Thursday that includes $15 million guaranteed. The deal is worth a maximum of $30 million. Since seeing Gabe Davis depart for the Jacksonville Jaguars in free agency earlier this week, the Bills have added Mack Hollins and Samuel as receiver additions for quarterback Josh Allen. Samuel, 27, spent the last three seasons with the Washington Commanders, combining for 132 catches on 192 targets for 1,296 yards and eight touchdowns in 38 games (26 starts). He will provide some much-needed receiving depth in Buffalo behind Stefon Diggs, Khalil Shakir and tight end Dalton Kincaid, but Samuel doesn't figure to be much more than a WR3/flex option in deeper fantasy leagues on a weekly basis in 2024.

Tuesday, February 27, 3:21 PM

Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh said that wide receiver Rashod Bateman is going to get the ball "a lot more" next season and said that he expects the wideout to take a big step forward in 2024. Odell Beckham Jr. may not return in free agency, which would help, but most fantasy managers will likely want to see it before believing Harbaugh's words. The 24-year-old disappeared more often than not in his third NFL season in 2023, finishing with just 32 receptions for 367 yards and one touchdown on 56 targets in 16 regular-season games. A lot more would have been expected of the former first-rounder had we known he was going to stay healthy all year. Unless Zay Flowers or tight end Mark Andrews miss time with injury in 2024, Bateman will have an uphill battle to climb again for consistent fantasy value.