Who Should I Start? Khalil Shakir or Brian Thomas Jr.

Monday, January 27, 2:05 AM

Buffalo Bills wide receiver Khalil Shakir caught six of his seven targets for 46 yards during Sunday's AFC Championship loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. The talented slot receiver led the team in targets and receptions during the defeat. Although Buffalo wasn't able to punch its ticket to Super Bowl LIX, Shakir played well. He has delivered solid results through two games against the Chiefs this year, dropping 14 catches and 116 yards on a Kansas City defense that is susceptible to big showings from slot receivers. In the coming months, there will be plenty of chatter about the Bills looking to add a true No. 1 receiver after numerous failed efforts to knock the Chiefs off their pedestal in the AFC. However, if Buffalo doesn't make a major splash at wide receiver, Shakir has shown that he's capable of handling a large dose of targets while ranking as a low-end WR2 in fantasy football. He remains an appealing option for managers ahead of 2025 fantasy drafts, barring a major shakeup within the Bills' depth chart.

Wednesday, January 29, 1:05 PM

After an impressive rookie season for Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. in 2024, new head coach Liam Coen is confident that the team can run things through Thomas again in 2025. Thomas set rookie franchise marks in catches (87), receiving yards (1,282) and touchdowns (10) to earn Pro Bowl and All-AFC honors. He's also a finalist for Rookie of the Year. Jacksonville relied more on Thomas after injuries to Christian Kirk, Gabe Davis and Evan Engram, and he delivered. Coen was impressed with the work that the 22-year-old did out of the slot. The Jaguars are going to build around quarterback Trevor Lawrence with Coen now the head coach, but Thomas is going to be a primary weapon after finishing third in the NFL in receiving yards in 2024. And with Coen running Jacksonville's offense now, Thomas is going to be drafted as a surefire WR1 in fantasy drafts this fall.