Who Should I Start? Jermaine Burton or Devaughn Vele

Friday, November 28, 10:18 PM

Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor said that wide receiver Jermaine Burton (ankle) remains week-to-week with an ankle injury, according to ESPN's Ben Baby. Burton has not played at all for the Bengals in 2025, and he doesn't seem particularly close to making his season debut for the team's Week 14 tilt against the Buffalo Bills next Sunday. Even if the 24-year-old pass-catcher can return at some point before the end of the season, he will be hard-pressed to jump into a key role in Cincy's receiving corps. The former third-round pick in the 2024 NFL draft out of Alabama played in 14 games (one start) in his rookie campaign, catching only four of 14 targets for 107 receiving yards and no touchdowns. Character concerns caused him to drop in the draft and followed him into Year 1 in the NFL. Burton reportedly made strides with his maturity in the offseason, but his health hasn't cooperated in 2025.

Saturday, December 6, 12:44 AM

New Orleans Saints wide receiver Devaughn Vele caught all eight of his targets for 93 yards and a touchdown in the Week 13 loss to the Dolphins. He has emerged as the Saints' top receiver behind Chris Olave, recording 15 targets over his last two games and playing at least 87% of snaps in each contest since Rashid Shaheed's departure. Olave (back) is questionable to face Tampa Bay, and if he is unable to play, Vele would step in as the top wideout in what should be a pass-heavy offense against a Buccaneers defense allowing the fourth-most passing yards in the league. If Olave suits up, Vele becomes a more volatile WR3/WR4.