Who Should I Start? Javon Baker or Devaughn Vele

Thursday, September 12, 2:43 PM

New England Patriots rookie wide receiver Javon Baker was a healthy scratch for the Week 1 game against the Cincinnati Bengals. While this is a concern for his future outlook, some first-year players take longer to adjust to the NFL than others. Patriots wide receiver coach Tyler Hughes said, "I think we'll see him more and more as the season goes on." Four Patriots wideouts saw targets in Week 1, including K.J. Osborn (six), Demario Douglas (three), Tyquan Thornton (three), and Ja'Lynn Polk (one). It's worth noting Kendrick Bourne (knee) is on the PUP list, but he could return as soon as Week 5. Fantasy managers should probably expect Baker to have little to no fantasy value in Year 1, but he could make noise later in his career and should continue to be stashed in deep dynasty leagues.

Monday, November 18, 10:12 AM

Denver Broncos rookie wide receiver Devaughn Vele quietly had a strong performance in the 38-6 blowout win over the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday in Week 11, although he wasn't on the receiving end of one of rookie quarterback Bo Nix's career-high four touchdown passes. Vele finished with four receptions on five targets for 66 receiving yards. Both his targets and yards were second on the team behind Courtland Sutton. The 26-year-old seventh-rounder out of Utah has had some impressive moments in his first NFL season, and while his 66 yards were his second-highest yardage total of the year, he's also failed to reach 40 yards in five of his seven games. Vele will continue to develop alongside Nix but can't realistically be trusted in starting fantasy lineups as anything more than a boom/bust WR5/flex in deeper leagues.