Who Should I Start? Khalif Raymond or Kendrick Bourne

Friday, January 19, 4:00 PM

Detroit Lions wide receiver Kalif Raymond (knee) has been ruled out for the Divisional Round of the playoffs on Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Raymond also missed the wild-card win over the Los Angeles Rams last weekend after he injured his knee in the Week 18 regular season finale. The 29-year-old wouldn't have really been on the fantasy radar for DFS contests this weekend if he was active, and the Lions will likely miss him most on special teams. It remains to be seen if Raymond would be ready to play in the NFC Championship if Detroit advances past the Bucs. With Raymond out again, second-year wideout Jameson Williams will have a bigger role as Detroit's No. 3 behind Amon-Ra St. Brown and Josh Reynolds. Fantasy managers shouldn't have high hopes for Williams unless he can break one of his few touches for an explosive touchdown-scoring play.

Sunday, March 10, 9:22 PM

Wide receiver Kendrick Bourne agreed to a new deal to remain in New England. The contract is for three years, and he'll be eligible to earn up to $33 million. The 28-year-old amassed 406 yards and four touchdowns off 37 catches last season. However, despite appearing on track for a career year, Bourne suffered a torn ACL during the AFC East battle with the Miami Dolphins in Week 8. Fortunately, he should be ready to go for the 2024-25 campaign. But with a new head coach in the equation and Mac Jones out of the picture, Bourne could have a tough time finding his rhythm. His knee injury is also something fantasy managers should keep in the back of their heads. Yet, while reaching for him during fantasy drafts heading into the new season isn't recommended, he's worth grabbing if he's available later than expected.