Who Should I Start? DeMario Douglas or Kyle Williams

Wednesday, November 19, 2:53 AM

New England Patriots wide receiver DeMario Douglas continues to face significant competition within his own position group. Ahead of Week 12 against the Cincinnati Bengals, Douglas faces an uphill battle to handle the workload necessary to produce in fantasy football. Douglas has already tied his career-high of three touchdowns this year, but he is behind his 2024 pace in targets, catches, and receiving yards. In fact, he's averaging only 2.1 catches and 30.2 yards per game, and he has surpassed 45 yards in just two different weeks. The 24-year-old has slipped down the pecking order this season after New England brought in Stefon Diggs, Mack Hollins, and Kyle Williams. Meanwhile, Kayshon Boutte (hamstring) has taken on a larger role as a playmaker. While Douglas can still hold his own as a receiver, he has failed to separate himself from the rest of his teammates. As a result, he has a lower fantasy ceiling and remains off the radar in leagues with 14 or fewer teams.

Thursday, November 13, 12:38 AM

New England Patriots wide receiver Kyle Williams should continue to see more involvement during Thursday Night Football against the New York Jets in Week 11. Williams is coming off a strong outing against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in which he posted a season-high (and, thus, career-high) 56 percent snap share. He caught one of two targets in the victory, breaking off an impressive 72-yard touchdown that wound up on numerous highlight reels. While we can't count on the rookie to break off a huge touchdown every week, last Sunday's big play should be enough to earn him more opportunities going forward. His volume will also continue to benefit from the absence of Kayshon Boutte (hamstring), who is headed for his second consecutive absence. Williams still has to compete with players like Stefon Diggs, Mack Hollins, and DeMario Douglas for volume, but he's certainly starting to earn the trust of Drake Maye and New England's coaching staff. Williams is a WR5 with a low floor and high ceiling this week. Managers in most leagues can leave him on the bench until we see him consistently earn more targets.