Who Should I Start? Demarcus Robinson or Luther Burden III

Saturday, December 27, 5:31 AM

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Demarcus Robinson scored his first touchdown of the season in Week 16, but was only involved enough to see one other target and finished the game with two catches for 23 yards and the score. Since the 49ers' Week 14 bye, Robinson has slid back behind Kendrick Bourne on the depth chart, but saw a slight uptick in playing time last week with Ricky Pearsall (knee, ankle) sidelined due to injuries. Pearsall is questionable for Week 17, as is tight end George Kittle (ankle). Even if both players were to be declared inactive, Robinson would be a long shot to provide fantasy value. In 12 games with the 49ers, Robinson has averaged 2.3 targets per game and owns a 17-222-1 line despite the many injuries to key pass-catchers throughout the season. Robinson is too low of a priority in the 49ers' pecking order to warrant use in the final weekend of fantasy football.

Tuesday, January 6, 12:12 PM

Chicago Bears wide receiver Luther Burden III finished his rookie season with 47 catches (60 targets) for 652 yards and two touchdowns while adding six carries for 37 yards in 15 games. Burden posted an elite 2.71 yards per route run, which only trails Odell Beckham Jr. among rookie wideouts since 2013. The rookie second-rounder caught at least three balls in his final eight games and had his best game of the season in Week 17 at San Francisco with 138 yards and a touchdown. The Missouri product has seen his opportunities increase with Rome Odunze (foot) sidelined for the past five games with a stress fracture in his foot, and Odunze's potential return in the Wild-Card round could limit Burden's fantasy appeal. However, Burden looks like a future star and should be viewed as a high-upside WR2 on Saturday against the division-rival Green Bay Packers.