Who Should I Start? JuJu Smith-Schuster or Curtis Samuel

Thursday, May 2, 2:33 PM

Starting next month, the New England Patriots could cut wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster at a cost of $9.6 million in dead money and no salary cap relief, per Over the Cap, while releasing him before then would incur $2.6 million more in dead money and take a small chunk out of their league-leading $54 million cap room. If the Pats traded Smith-Schuster after June 1, they'd save almost $7 million in cap space and clear room for their young receivers to see more playing time. New England could prioritize playing time for rookies Ja'Lynn Polk and Javon Baker, plus 2023 sixth-rounder Demario Douglas. It all means that Smith-Schuster may no longer be the team's No. 2 receiver, especially with Kendrick Bourne and K.J. Osborn also on the roster.

Thursday, March 14, 6:07 PM

The Buffalo Bills signed free-agent wide receiver Curtis Samuel to a three-year, $24 million deal on Thursday that includes $15 million guaranteed. The deal is worth a maximum of $30 million. Since seeing Gabe Davis depart for the Jacksonville Jaguars in free agency earlier this week, the Bills have added Mack Hollins and Samuel as receiver additions for quarterback Josh Allen. Samuel, 27, spent the last three seasons with the Washington Commanders, combining for 132 catches on 192 targets for 1,296 yards and eight touchdowns in 38 games (26 starts). He will provide some much-needed receiving depth in Buffalo behind Stefon Diggs, Khalil Shakir and tight end Dalton Kincaid, but Samuel doesn't figure to be much more than a WR3/flex option in deeper fantasy leagues on a weekly basis in 2024.