Who Should I Start? Jaxon Smith-Njigba or Rashee Rice

Saturday, June 15, 3:04 PM

Seattle Seahawks second-year wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba is an obvious breakout candidate in his sophomore season despite being in a receiving corps that still has DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett and in an offense that figures to lean more on the running game than new offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb did at the University of Washington. In his first year in the league in 2023, Smith-Njigba had 63 catches for 628 yards and four touchdowns in 17 games. No player stood out more than JSN during spring workouts and minicamp, although Metcalf and Lockett weren't always on the field with him. He was downright dominant at times, though, and head coach Mike Macdonald said "we're expecting big things out of him." The 22-year-old has his fantasy ceiling capped as long as Metcalf and Lockett are healthy, but fantasy managers still shouldn't mind rostering him as a WR4/flex.

Monday, July 22, 1:54 PM

Kansas City Chiefs CEO Clark Hunt said that there has been no discussion with the NFL regarding a possible suspension for wide receiver Rashee Rice. A potential punishment from the league is still a ways off as of right now. Everyone is expecting the 24-year-old second-year pass-catcher to open the 2024 season with a multi-game suspension following his involvement in a high-speed, multi-car crash back in April in which he was charged with aggravated assault, collision involving serious bodily injury, and collision involving injury. Rice has taken part in all offseason workouts and is present for the start of training camp. It's possible that he may avoid a suspension to open the regular season, but all expectations are that a suspension is eventually coming. With the suspension hanging over his head and after KC added Marquise Brown and rookie Xavier Worthy this offseason, Rice's fantasy stock has fallen and he's currently ranked as RotoBaller's No. 39 fantasy receiver.