Who Should I Start? Keenan Allen or Luther Burden 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.

Thursday, July 31, 11:53 AM

Chicago Bears rookie wide receiver Luther Burden III "looks outstanding," according to Adam Hoge of CHGO. Burden III was kicked out of practice by Bears head coach Ben Johnson on Tuesday after making a pre-snap alignment mistake, but it appears as though he's rebounded nicely from the mental error. Drafted in the second round out of Missouri, Burden III recorded 61 catches for 676 yards and six touchdowns in 12 games for the Tigers last season. He's expected to take over for the departed Keenan Allen as the Bears' primary slot receiver this season, so he must get up to speed quickly in training camp. Burden III will have plenty of competition for targets in Chicago. Wide receivers DJ Moore and Rome Odunze figure to be ahead of him in the pecking order, and tight ends Cole Kmet and Colston Loveland might be as well.