Who Should I Start? Jermaine Burton or Malik Washington

Saturday, July 26, 9:29 PM

According to Chris Roling of Bengals Wire, Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Jermaine Burton has stood out during training camp. The 24-year-old, selected as the No. 80 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, had an uneventful rookie season, amassing only four receptions for 107 yards in 14 games. There were also behavioral concerns. However, Burton has seemingly turned things around, with the wideout receiving praise from quarterback Joe Burrow while being "nothing but positive in interviews and eye-openingly good on the field." Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, who both signed new deals in the offseason, will remain the featured wideouts. Still, Burton could find himself in a bigger role if Chase or Higgins go down with an injury, potentially earning more targets than Andrei Iosivas. With that in mind, Burton has little-to-no redraft value at the moment, although he's still worth stashing on dynasty rosters.

Monday, January 6, 12:22 PM

Miami Dolphins wide receiver Malik Washington caught four of five targets for 48 yards in the season-ending 32-20 loss to the New York Jets. The rookie took on a more significant role later in the season with the injury to Jaylen Waddle (knee) and the lack of depth Miami has at the receiver position. In the last four games, Washington saw more targets, receptions, and yards than he had in any stretch this season. Tyreek Hill will surely be parting ways with the organization in the offseason, and he could find himself in a more prominent role when the 2025 season starts. Time will only tell, but the rookie has shown a level of promise that he looks to build off of when the NFL season comes around in September.