Who Should I Start? Diontae Johnson or Devaughn Vele

Tuesday, June 24, 2:10 PM

Cleveland Browns wide receiver Diontae Johnson believes veteran quarterback Kenny Pickett will be the team's starting quarterback following the competition against Joe Flacco and rookies Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders. Pickett spent last season with the Philadelphia Eagles, winning his first Super Bowl ring as Jalen Hurts' backup. The 2022 first-round pick out of Pitt struggled to make a positive impact with the Pittsburgh Steelers, throwing for 4,474 yards, 13 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions in 25 career games. He looked competent in limited action with the Eagles, throwing for 291 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception. However, that was behind the league's best offensive line and with A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith, Dallas Goedert, and Saquon Barkley to throw the ball to. If Pickett wins the starting job in Cleveland, he likely won't offer much fantasy upside and can be ignored in single-QB formats to start the new campaign. If he struggles early, the team could opt to move to Joe Flacco or one of the first-year signal callers.

Thursday, July 24, 2:42 PM

Denver Broncos second-year wide receiver Devaughn Vele "looks like the clear WR2" early on in training camp, according to Ryan Edwards of KOA Colorado. Vele played in 13 games for Denver as a rookie last season, recording 41 receptions for 475 yards and three touchdowns. The Broncos have Courtland Sutton entrenched as their WR1, but opportunity exists behind him. In addition to Vele, the top contenders for targets in the wide receiver room are Marvin Mims Jr., Troy Franklin, and rookie Pat Bryant. A former seventh-round pick, Vele isn't as explosive as the speedy Mims and might not have the upside of Franklin or Bryant. However, he's a big-bodied target who started seven games as a rookie. Vele could be an intriguing late-round pick in fantasy if he can seize the WR2 job in Denver and run with it.