Who Should I Start? George Kittle or Bucky Irving

Monday, December 23, 12:27 AM

San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle delivered another solid performance during a Week 16 loss to the Dolphins in Miami on Sunday. The two-time first-team All-Pro took a co-team-leading nine targets to pace the 49ers in receptions (8) and receiving yards (106). Besides missing two games with injury, Kittle has been extremely reliable this season, surpassing half-PPR Yahoo projections in 10-of-13 starts. One would imagine that Kittle will be well-represented among fantasy teams vying for championships in Week 17 when the 49ers host the Detroit Lions. Kittle will be a no-brainer start in that one regardless of matchup but should be played with increased confidence as the Lions' prolific offense is likely to force the 49ers to make heavy use of their passing attack.

Monday, December 23, 12:39 AM

Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Bucky Irving rushed for 68 yards and one touchdown on 16 carries during Sunday's Week 16 loss to the Dallas Cowboys. He also caught all three of his targets for an additional 24 yards through the air. Although the Buccaneers were upset on the road by the Cowboys, Irving still had a good game, breaking several tackles and scoring a touchdown to keep his fantasy managers happy. Perhaps most importantly, he had 16 carries while Rachaad White had just three. It's safe to say that Irving has officially taken over as the Buccaneers' primary ball-carrier, and he'll continue to rank as a high-end RB2 option in fantasy football going forward. He should be started in all leagues when the Buccaneers take on the Carolina Panthers next week.