Who Should I Start? Keenan Allen or Calvin Austin III

Tuesday, August 5, 8:10 PM

Free-agent wide receiver Keenan Allen has agreed to a one-year, $8.52 million contract with the Los Angeles Chargers, according to Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport of NFL Media. Allen, 33, spent the first 11 years of his career with the Chargers after going in the third round of the 2013 draft. He became one of the most productive players in franchise history, hauling in 904 passes and 60 touchdowns while earning six Pro Bowl nods. Allen went to the Chicago Bears via trade before last season and posted respectable production with 70 grabs, 744 yards, and six scores, but he remained on the open market for several months. He's now reuniting with quarterback Justin Herbert and giving him another significant receiving weapon to join Ladd McConkey (undisclosed), who hasn't practiced as a result of an undisclosed injury. McConkey should be fine, but the Chargers still found themselves in need of help after the recent retirement of Mike Williams. Allen visited the Chargers last week, and head coach Jim Harbaugh publicly expressed a desire for the team to sign him. Harbaugh got his wish. Based on Allen's track record and his rapport with Herbert, he should continue to be an asset for fantasy managers.

Friday, August 8, 3:05 PM

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Calvin Austin III (undisclosed) will not play in the team's preseason game on Saturday against the Jacksonville Jaguars, according to Brooke Pryor of ESPN. The Steelers are going to play it safe with Austin in their preseason opener, but Austin and DK Metcalf are locks for the receiver room in 2025. The departure of George Pickens (traded to Dallas) definitely opens up opportunity for Austin as the WR2 in Pittsburgh this year, but can he take advantage? The 26-year-old former fourth-rounder took a step forward last year with 36 catches for 548 yards and four touchdowns in 17 regular-season games (eight starts). What Austin lacks in size, he makes up for in speed. However, the Steelers are expected to be a run-first offense that uses a lot of two-tight end sets, so Austin's volume may not increase all that much. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers is also a big question mark.