Who Should I Start? De'Zhaun Stribling or Germie Bernard
Week 1 Projections
| Fant. Pts. |
Rush. Yds. |
Rush TD |
Rec. | Rec. Yds. |
Rec TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5.2 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 1.8 | 24.4 | 0.1 |
De'Zhaun Stribling News
Thursday, September 3, 10:19 AM
The Athletic's Matt Barrows thinks the plan is for rookie second-round wide receiver De'Zhaun Stribling to be the team's primary F slot receiver and Mike Evans' understudy at the X spot. The Niners brought in veteran Christian Kirk as a free agent, and he has plenty of experience as a slot receiver, but he will start the 2026 campaign on Injured Reserve with a calf injury, opening up a regular role for Stribling out of the slot to begin his first year in the NFL. The 23-year-old from Ole Miss has been one of the biggest risers on draft boards at the receiver position this summer due to a strong training camp and preseason, and the fact that wideout Ricky Pearsall (knee) has already been ruled out for the season. Stribling is a big body at WR at 6-foot-2 and 207 pounds, and he combined for 1,693 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns on 107 receptions in his final two seasons at Ole Miss. He was held out of the preseason finale due to a minor shoulder injury, but he should be ready for Week 1 in Australia next Thursday against the division-rival Los Angeles Rams, where he could quickly start producing alongside Evans. Stribling will be a popular flex option in fantasy football drafts this weekend.
Week 1 Projections
| Fant. Pts. |
Rush. Yds. |
Rush TD |
Rec. | Rec. Yds. |
Rec TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 2.5 | 30.6 | 0.1 |
Germie Bernard News
Friday, August 28, 6:14 AM
Pittsburgh Steelers rookie wide receiver Germie Bernard caught only one of his two passes in Thursday night's preseason loss to the Bills, but he made it count. Following an opening drive three-and-out by the Steelers and a muffed punt by the Bills, Pittsburgh began its second drive deep in Buffalo territory and took only one play to find paydirt. Lined up in one-on-one coverage against 2025 first-round pick Max Hairston, Bernard took a quick pass from Will Howard and muscled his way through to the end zone. "I played running back for a very long time in my childhood," Bernard said after the game. "I always had the ball in my hands. It just always translated and stayed with me." Bernard enters his rookie season seemingly locked out of the Steelers' third wide receiver spot by 2024 third-round pick Roman Wilson, but the versatility and playmaking that he has flashed throughout camp and on Thursday night could help him find the field and earn targets from Aaron Rodgers earlier than is customary for most rookies in the veteran's orbit. At RotoBaller's WR83, Bernard is not a player who needs to be targeted in 2026 drafts. Still, fantasy managers will need to monitor his early-season involvement and be ready to make a waiver claim if and when his role expands.
De'Zhaun Stribling vs. Germie Bernard
Still trying to decide between Stribling and Bernard? Check on the latest news to make sure both players are active and healthy. Our PPR projections show that De'Zhaun Stribling is projected to score 5.2 points this week while Germie Bernard is projected to score 6.5 points.
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