Who Should I Start? Jermaine Burton or Jalin Hyatt

Sunday, July 6, 11:53 AM

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Jermaine Burton continues to make a positive impression on the coaching staff. Head coach Zac Taylor has already touted the wideout's improved growth and maturity this offseason. However, it didn't end there, with offensive coordinator Dan Pitcher being the latest member of the staff to comment on Burton's personal development. "He's got a good look in his eye," stated Pitcher. "He's putting the time in." The 24-year-old, selected with the No. 80 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, had a forgettable rookie campaign, amassing only four catches (14 targets) for 107 yards. He was also held out of three contests while failing to find the end zone. Without question, Ja'Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, and Chase Brown will each command attention from quarterback Joe Burrow. Tight end Mike Gesicki should also be involved. Still, Burton has a chance to climb the depth chart, which could result in fewer snaps for Andrei Iosivas. With that said, Burton has a way to go before earning the trust of fantasy managers, although he's worth monitoring heading into Week 1. His ceiling could rise even more if Chase, Higgins, or Iosivas get injured at some point during the season, giving him streaming potential.

Saturday, June 28, 3:20 PM

New York Giants wide receiver Jalin Hyatt reported recently on the Giants Huddle podcast that he's transformed his body ahead of his third pro season. "I played at like 170, 171 last year, I'm about 194, 195 now," said Hyatt. "I felt like that was one of the things that I needed to work on from last season, just felt weak. So I just had to get stronger." The 23-year-old also noted that he's had conversations with head coach Brian Daboll about moving around the formation more in 2025. Hyatt flashed as a deep threat in his rookie season but took a step back last year with the emergence of target-hog Malik Nabers. The Giants could use a solid second option in their passing attack, though one of Hyatt's most intriguing aspects is his 4.4 speed. If he's able to maintain that with an extra 20 pounds of muscle on his frame, a bounce-back campaign isn't out of the question.