Who Should I Start? Deebo Samuel Sr. or Tony Pollard

Friday, November 28, 8:26 PM

Washington Commanders wide receiver Deebo Samuel Sr. bounced back with one of his best performances of the season in Week 11 against the Miami Dolphins, hauling in seven of his eight targets for 74 yards and a touchdown, his most yards in a game since Week 5 against the Los Angeles Chargers. Samuel has now scored in back-to-back weeks, but faces a tough matchup out of Washington's Week 12 bye against a stingy Denver Broncos defense. The former San Francisco 49er will have more competition for targets in Week 13 with No. 1 wideout Terry McLaurin (quadriceps) returning from a multi-game absence, as well as Treyon Burks (finger) after missing Week 11 against Miami. Samuel has a safe floor for receptions due to his usage on manufactured touches, recording at least four receptions in eight of 10 games played this season. He ranks as more of a WR3 in Week 13 against a Denver defense that has allowed the fewest PPR points per game to opposing wide receivers this season.

Saturday, November 29, 2:53 PM

Across 11 games this season, Tennessee Titans running back Tony Pollard has recorded 690 scrimmage yards and two touchdowns on 166 touches. The 28-year-old's 4.2 yards-per-touch average is the lowest of his seven-year NFL career. Pollard has been particularly inefficient over his last two games, recording just 67 scrimmage yards on 28 touches. Making matters worse for fantasy managers, Pollard is stuck in a nearly dead-even playing time split with fellow Titans running back Tyjae Spears. In Week 13, Pollard will face the stingy Jacksonville Jaguars run defense. Entering the week, the Jaguars' defense ranks seventh in the NFL in yards per carry allowed (3.9) and has allowed just seven rushing touchdowns on the season. Pollard appears unlikely to see a high volume of touches, nor be particularly efficient with the work he receives against Jacksonville. He profiles as a low-end RB3/flex option for fantasy managers in Week 13.