Who Should I Start? Jauan Jennings or Jameson Williams

Wednesday, June 11, 12:24 PM

San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan said that wide receiver Jauan Jennings (calf), who isn't practicing during mandatory minicamp this week, is expected to be ready for the start of training camp in late July. The Niners are playing it safe with Jennings and Ricky Pearsall (hamstring) with Brandon Aiyuk (knee) not expected to be ready until around midseason. Barring a setback with his calf in training camp, Jennings could be the team's WR1 to open the 2025 season with Aiyuk sidelined. The 27-year-old had a career year in 2024 with 77 receptions on 113 targets for 975 yards and six touchdowns in 15 games (10 starts) with Aiyuk suffering a season-ending knee injury in Week 7. Jennings should at least have a bigger role again early on in 2025, but he could be the No. 3 target for quarterback Brock Purdy behind tight end George Kittle and second-year wideout Ricky Pearsall (hamstring).

Friday, May 30, 12:41 PM

Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell said that the team is expecting wide receiver Jameson Williams "to have a huge season." The Lions are expecting more from Williams after his breakout season in 2024 in which he caught 58 of his 91 targets for 1,001 yards and seven touchdowns in 15 regular-season games (11 starts). The 24-year-old former 12th overall pick in 2022 out of Ohio State battled injuries in his first two NFL seasons and also was hit with a suspension before finally realizing his potential last year. He also had 11 carries for 61 yards and a touchdown as a rusher. While fantasy managers have come to love Williams' big-play potential in one of the highest-scoring offenses in the NFL, it's going to be hard for him to maintain significant targets in an offense that lost offensive coordinator Ben Johnson. Detroit could emphasize the deep passing game more often, but Williams will be more of a boom/bust WR3/flex.