Who Should I Start? Kevin Austin Jr. or Xavier Smith

Monday, August 11, 11:15 AM

New Orleans Saints wide receiver Kevin Austin Jr. led the team in targets Sunday against the Los Angeles Chargers, hauling in four of five chances for 42 yards. The third-year pro looks to be in play for a depth receiver role on a Saints team in the midst of a quarterback battle. New Orleans is giving a long look to quarterbacks Tyler Though and Spencer Rattler in the preseason, while the receiver room is paced by Chris Olave, Rashid Shaheed and veteran Brandin Cooks. Austin could be a factor given some of the injury histories elsewhere on the roster, but the Saints' offense looks to be a work in progress.

Saturday, August 16, 11:52 PM

Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Xavier Smith caught all four of his targets for 48 receiving yards during Saturday's preseason victory over the Los Angeles Chargers. He also rushed for five yards. Smith has been quite productive this summer. He paced the team with 55 receiving yards last week, and he now has a total of eight touches and 108 scrimmage yards through two preseason contests. NFL opportunities have been few and far between for the 27-year-old Florida A&M product, but he did total six receiving yards, 36 rushing yards, and a pair of first downs in 2024. Los Angeles' first four wide receiver spots are essentially locked up, which means they only have two or three spots to divide over seven remaining receivers (Smith, Tru Edwards, Mario Williams, Konata Mumpfield, Drake Stoops, Britain Covey, and Brennan Presley).