Who Should I Start? Deebo Samuel Sr. or A.J. Brown

Thursday, February 12, 7:35 AM

Washington Commanders wide receiver Deebo Samuel Sr. continued to deliver decent contributions in the passing game last season, which was his first with the team. He finished the year with 72 catches, 727 receiving yards, and five receiving touchdowns, his highest marks in those categories since 2021. He also rushed for 75 yards and an additional touchdown on the ground. Although it was a good but not great year by Samuel's standards, he still finished as the overall WR25 in full-PPR leagues, cementing himself as a low-end WR2 or high-end WR3/flex on a weekly basis. Samuel restructured his contract with the Commanders to become a free agent this offseason, so he'll hit the open market in March. A return to Washington seems possible, but he'll presumably explore all of his options before putting pen to paper. Samuel fits best on a team with an established No. 1 wide receiver, so that he can operate as the No. 2 receiver with contributions as a gadget-type player behind the line of scrimmage or in the short-to-medium passing game. His 2026 fantasy outlook will depend on his landing spot and his eventual quarterback pairing, but for now, we'd expect him to remain a top-30 fantasy receiver.

Monday, February 9, 10:10 AM

Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown's future with the team is in doubt this offseason, but the Eagles have not had any trade talks surrounding the three-time Pro Bowler, multiple sources told Mike Garafolo of the NFL Network. Garafolo also said there have only been brief talks between the team and Brown since the 2025 season ended with a loss in the playoffs to the Los Angeles Rams. Brown seems to be more "at peace" and calm about things, but it doesn't mean that he won't be dealt this offseason after he voiced his frustrations with Philly's offense in 2025. If the Eagles trade the 28-year-old, they'd take a $43.5 million salary cap hit in 2026, so they'd be looking for significant compensation in any deal. For what it's worth, Brown said on a recent podcast that he's "excited" for next season. In 15 starts during the regular season, Brown caught 78 of his 121 targets for 1,003 yards and seven touchdowns. He has become a more volatile fantasy wideout, but a move to a new team won't necessarily boost his fantasy value for the 2026 campaign.