Who Should I Start? Kendrick Bourne or Jimmy Horn Jr.

Saturday, October 25, 6:01 AM

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Kendrick Bourne will likely be in the team's starting lineup for Week 8 with Ricky Pearsall (knee) declared out. With Pearsall out in Weeks 5 and 6, Bourne exploded for 142 receiving yards in both games. His production cratered in Week 7, however, to two catches for 14 yards on two targets, while Jauan Jennings (ankle, ribs, shoulder) earned seven. An increasingly healthy Jennings could remain a focal point on offense, and George Kittle's target share will assuredly grow after being used almost exclusively as a blocker in his return from injured reserve last week. Bourne's rapport with Mac Jones (knee, oblique), who will start again in Week 8, may be for naught with the increasing number of mouths to feed. Bourne projects as a borderline WR3/4 and will be a tough start against a Houston defense that ranks fourth in fantasy points allowed to wide receivers.

Wednesday, October 29, 12:27 AM

Carolina Panthers rookie wide receiver Jimmy Horn Jr. has played in four of eight games this season, catching five of his eight targets for 65 yards and handling six carries for 37 yards. After being a healthy scratch for the first month of the season, the sixth rounder out of Colorado played at least 20% of the snaps with multiple touches in the first three weeks when he was playing. His snap share dipped to just 13.1% in their Week 8 blowout loss to the Bills, but they still made an emphasis to get the ball in his hands with two rush attempts and a target. The Panthers need another consistent pass-catching threat outside of fellow rookie Tetairoa McMillan. Second-year wideouts Jalen Coker and Xavier Legette have had moments, but Horn has 4.4 speed and shiftiness that make him a tough cover. He could be a rookie who emerges over the second half of the season.