Who Should I Start? Kalif Raymond or Tory Horton

Wednesday, December 24, 10:32 PM

Detroit Lions wide receiver Kalif Raymond had his best performance of the season in Week 16 against the Pittsburgh Steelers, recording four catches for 62 yards and a touchdown on five targets. Raymond could see an expanded role again in Week 17 against the Minnesota Vikings, as top Lions wideout Amon-Ra St. Brown (knee) is questionable to play due to a knee injury. However, if St. Brown is active, there's reason to believe Raymond's performance in Week 16 is unlikely to be repeated. Lions quarterback Jared Goff threw 54 passes against Pittsburgh, 17 more than he attempted in his first matchup of the season against the Vikings in Week 9. Additionally, Minnesota has been a very tough matchup for opposing passing attacks. The Vikings enter the week ranked second in the NFL in total passing yards allowed (2,790) and tied for second in passing touchdowns allowed (14). Raymond has some upside as a deep-league flex option for fantasy managers if St. Brown is sidelined. If St. Brown is active, fantasy managers should likely avoid Raymond in Week 17.

Friday, January 2, 7:30 PM

Seattle Seahawks rookie wide receiver Tory Horton (shin) is not expected to return for the rest of the season, according to head coach Mike Macdonald. Horton was placed on Injured Reserve on Nov. 22 with a shin injury. "It just needs time and rest. It's unfortunate, but these things happen. We're with him, he's doing a great job. We're just not going to have him right now," Macdonald said. In his last game played in the Week 9 win over the Washington Commanders, the 23-year-old fifth-rounder had his best game of the year, catching all four of his targets for 48 yards and two touchdowns with Cooper Kupp out due to injury. Rashid Shaheed has replaced Horton as an electric kick returner on special teams and as a deep threat down the field on offense after being acquired in a midseason trade with the New Orleans Saints. Horton should be fully recovered for offseason workouts.