Who Should I Start? Jacob Cowing or Brenden Rice

Saturday, October 26, 3:43 AM

San Francisco 49ers rookie Jacob Cowing should see some involvement at wide receiver when the team hosts the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday night. The fourth-rounder spent the first weeks of the season on the active roster returning punts before seeing his first career offensive action in Week 7. He delivered two catches on three targets for 50 yards against Kansas City, which led all 49ers receivers with Jauan Jennings (hip) out, and Deebo Samuel Sr. (illness/wrist) and Brandon Aiyuk (knee) leaving the game early. Cowing's fantasy value this week hinges on the health of Samuel Sr. and George Kittle (foot). If both play, Cowing is a touchdown-dependent shot in the dark and not recommended in standard leagues. But if both miss, he becomes the second in line for targets behind fellow rookie Ricky Pearsall, with 2023 seventh-round pick Ronnie Bell and journeyman Chris Conley in the mix. WR-desperate fantasy managers in deeper leagues are advised to keep an eye out and consider Cowing if the 49ers get more bad injury news this weekend.

Tuesday, August 27, 7:41 PM

The Los Angeles Chargers announced on Tuesday that rookie wide receiver Brenden Rice and safeties Tony Jefferson and JT Woods were among the players that made the final 53-man roster heading into the 2024 regular season. Rice made the final cut after impressive during training camp and the preseason. The 22-year-old son of Hall of Famer Jerry Rice was taken in the seventh round of April's NFL draft out of USC. He might be worth stashing in deep dynasty/keeper leagues, but for his rookie season, he'll merely be a depth option for the Bolts behind Joshua Palmer, DJ Chark, rookie Ladd McConkey, Quentin Johnston, Simi Fehoko and Derius Davis. Rice excels with his route-running and also plays with a physical style on contested catches down the field. Initially, he might be a red-zone weapon for a new-look Chargers offense in 2024.