Who Should I Start? Diontae Johnson or Elic Ayomanor

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.

Tuesday, June 24, 2:35 PM

Tennessee Titans wide receiver rookie Elic Ayomanor was selected in the fourth round of the 2025 NFL Draft following two excellent seasons at Stanford, in which he racked up 125 receptions for 1,844 yards and 12 touchdowns. Titans insider Easton Freeze believes the 206-pound pass-catcher will start for the team right away. "I'm calling my shot: I think 4th Round rookie Elic Ayomanor will be out there on the Titans' opening offensive play from scrimmage in Week 1. He's been my guy since the draft process, and I believe in his ability to both physically and mentally get up to speed in the NFL in a hurry," Freeze wrote. "He's the only true X receiver on this roster for my money, and that's where I think he's lined up to begin the year. I was really encouraged by what we've seen from him in practice so far, and look forward to his continued progress in Training Camp." While expectations for Tennessee's offense should be tempered with rookie quarterback Cam Ward under center, Ayomanor is undervalued in deeper fantasy football leagues if he's an opening-day starter. Many believed he would be selected in the top two rounds of April's draft, but he slipped to Day 3 and is evidently getting noticed early in his NFL career.