Who Should I Start? Jalen Nailor or Jaylin Noel

Monday, August 18, 10:21 PM

Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jalen Nailor (hand) is "week-to-week" after jamming his hand in practice last Thursday, according to Alec Lewis of The Athletic. Minnesota got good news with Justin Jefferson (hamstring) returning to practice on Monday. However, the team's wide receiver room behind him is having a rough offseason. In addition to Nailor's injury, Jordan Addison will miss the first three games of the season due to suspension, and Rondale Moore (knee) went down with a season-ending knee injury. If Nailor can return in time for Week 1, he could be a decent flex play in fantasy while Addison is sidelined. If Nailor misses time, third-round rookie Tai Felton could see an early-season bump in targets.

Sunday, August 24, 3:49 PM

Houston Texans wide receiver Jaylin Noel finished his preseason with a quiet stat line of three catches for 18 yards and no touchdowns. Despite the limited production, the rookie third-round pick from Iowa State has garnered significant praise from quarterback C.J. Stroud, who told beat writer Jared Koch that the young wideout "looks great" and is "making plays out here every day." While Noel currently sits behind veteran wide receiver Christian Kirk on the depth chart, Kirk is entering his eighth season and is coming off an injury. Given that his Iowa State teammate, Jayden Higgins, appears to have earned a starting role, Noel could also see the field a fair amount this season. Noel is a solid late-round fantasy flier, especially for managers who believe Kirk may be on the downslope of his career.