Who Should I Start? Deebo Samuel or Tee Higgins

Friday, December 20, 11:40 PM

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel Sr. will bring the least productive five-game stretch of his career into a Week 16 matchup in Miami on Sunday. He is averaging 3.3 half-PPR points over that stretch, including a 3.4-point performance last Thursday at home versus the Los Angeles Rams. Samuel Sr. reached a low point when he dropped an important 3rd-down pass in LA territory to a chorus of boos from the home fans. He'll have better days ahead -- he's certainly a better player than this -- but at this point, Samuel Sr. is untrustable in fantasy. In addition, Miami's tough pass defense has limited fantasy receivers to the second-lowest total in the league. Perhaps Samuel Sr. sees an increase in carries, with the 49ers down to their fifth-, sixth-, and seventh-string running backs due to a deluge of injuries. It might not matter much, though, as he's only averaging 2.7 yards per carry this year with one rushing touchdown, way back in Week 1. He's projected as a WR4 this week, and most Samuel Sr. managers still in the fantasy playoffs probably benched him long ago.

Friday, December 20, 12:40 PM

Despite missing a practice this week due to a knee injury, Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins has been cleared from the final Week 16 injury report and will play against the division-rival Cleveland Browns on Sunday. Higgins has missed several games this year due to injury, so fantasy managers may have been a bit worried when they saw him miss practice on Thursday. However, the 25-year-old was being rested more than anything and is fully expected to be fine this weekend as the Bengals look to keep their slim playoff hopes alive. When healthy in 2024, Higgins has been money for his fantasy managers, scoring six touchdowns in nine games played. He's no Ja'Marr Chase, but Higgins still has WR1 upside in fantasy for this week's matchup against Cleveland. In the first meeting against the Browns, Higgins caught four of eight targets for 82 yards and a touchdown.