Who Should I Start? Jauan Jennings or Quez Watkins

Tuesday, March 18, 2:52 PM

The San Francisco 49ers traded veteran wideout Deebo Samuel Sr. to the Washington Commanders this offseason, and Brandon Aiyuk (knee) could start next season on the Injured Reserve list as he recovers from a torn ACL. He could also be traded before the start of the 2025 campaign. That said, Jauan Jennings could open next year's campaign as the team's WR1, according to Athletic reporter Matt Barrows. Barrows listed Jennings ahead of Ricky Pearsall and Demarcus Robinson on his projected depth chart. Jennings, a 2020 seventh-round pick out of Tennessee, enjoyed the best season of his career in 2024. He registered 77 receptions for 975 yards and six scores. Had he not been ejected from the team's regular-season finale against the Arizona Cardinals, he likely would've notched his first 1,000-yard campaign. Jennings would have at least WR2 upside in Kyle Shanahan's offense if Aiyuk isn't available early on or is traded, though he would still have to compete with tight end George Kittle for targets.

Friday, August 30, 6:01 PM

The Pittsburgh Steelers announced on Friday that they re-signed wide receiver Quez Watkins to their practice squad after releasing him earlier this week. Watkins will return to Pittsburgh as extra receiving depth to begin the 2024 campaign behind George Pickens, Van Jefferson, Calvin Austin III, Scotty Miller and rookie Roman Wilson. The fact that the 26-year-old wasn't able to impress the coaching staff enough during training camp and the preseason to win a 53-man roster spot in one of the weakest WR rooms in the league pretty much says all you need to know about Watkins. He was a sixth-round selection by the Philadelphia Eagles in 2020 out of Southern Mississippi and racked up 98 receptions on 147 targets for 1,249 yards and six touchdowns in his four years in Philly over 49 games (25 starts). Watkins is well off the fantasy radar for now in Pittsburgh.