Who Should I Start? DJ Chark or Alec Pierce

Thursday, January 9, 9:34 PM

Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver D.J. Chark could be looking at an increased role in the passing game when the Chargers open up their playoff campaign against the Houston Texans on Wild Card Weekend. Chark barely saw the field this season due to a combination of injury and depth chart issues, but with fellow wide receivers Quentin Johnson (thigh/illness) questionable and Joshua Palmer (foot) out, it could fall on Chark to work alongside rookie Ladd McConkey as the top two LA wide receivers. Chark was able to catch his first touchdown of the season in last week's Week 18 win, so he's on the closest thing to a hot streak that he'd had in a Chargers uniform. If Johnston plays, Chark is unlikely to make much noise, but he'd be a value pick with some upside if he's the second wide receiver on the depth chart for the game.

Sunday, January 5, 8:34 PM

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce did his usual thing on Sunday, catching a deep 40-yard touchdown pass on the team's opening drive and adding another 17-yard catch in the 26-23 win over the Jaguars. Despite only 37 receptions on the season, the 24-year-old finishes as the Colts' receiving leader with 824 yards and seven touchdowns. With blazing speed, he led the league in average depth of target (aDOT) which helped him rack up the yardage. The former second-round draft pick will likely fill a similar role in 2025 but, unless he can garner additional targets, it's hard to envision outpacing this season's production. Nevertheless, he should be worthy of at least a bench spot in next year's drafts, as he can be a viable (yet volatile) fill-in when the bye weeks hit.