Who Should I Start? Deebo Samuel or Zay Flowers

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.

Saturday, December 21, 9:37 PM

Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers reeled in 5-of-8 targets for 100 yards in Week 16's 34-17 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers. He added three yards on his lone carry. The 24-year-old was quiet for most of the contest but salvaged his day late with a field-flipping 49-yard grab. It was the first time that Flowers had reached the century mark since way back in Week 9, and just the third time in that stretch he's recorded at least five receptions. Despite the boom-bust nature of his game, the second-year wideout is far and away quarterback Lamar Jackson's No. 1 target and a dynamic player when in space with the ball in his hands. The former first-round pick will get a favorable matchup in Week 17 against a Houston Texans defense that's allowed the ninth-most fantasy points per game to wide receivers through 15 weeks (36.0).