Who Should I Start? Diontae Johnson or DeMario Douglas

Thursday, July 31, 11:47 AM

Cleveland Browns wide receiver Diontae Johnson has "mostly played with the second and third offensive units" in training camp practices, according to Zak Jackson of The Athletic. Jackson writes that Johnson may be competing with second-year wideout Jamari Thrash for the primary slot receiver role, or "even for a roster spot." In 12 games last season split between the Carolina Panthers, Baltimore Ravens, and Houston Texans, Johnson recorded 33 catches for 375 yards and three touchdowns. The 29-year-old has significantly more NFL production under his belt than Thrash, who had just three catches in nine games for Cleveland as a rookie in 2024. Johnson had been a useful fantasy player for most of his career up until 2024, but it appears he has some work to do just to make the Browns roster heading into 2025.

Wednesday, August 6, 11:51 AM

New England Patriots wide receiver DeMario Douglas was "popping" during New England's practice session on Wednesday, according to reports from Mike Reiss of ESPN. During a scrimmage against the Washington Commanders, Douglas was credited for "having a day" against their secondary. The 24-year-old is competing alongside Stefon Diggs for the top role in the wide receiver room. Last season, Douglas began to establish a strong connection with Drake Maye over the final stretch. In his last eight games, he saw just under five targets per game and eclipsed the 50-yard mark three times. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status during camp as he could continue to establish himself, as the top pass catcher. For now, he is worth a look as a WR4 with upside in standard formats.