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

Tuesday, January 13, 6:48 PM

Buffalo Bills wide receiver Khalil Shakir was one of the stars of his team's Wild Card Weekend win over the Jacksonville Jaguars, recording 12 receptions for 82 yards on 12 targets. On a day when no other Buffalo pass-catcher earned more than five targets, Shakir proved he has earned the trust of Bills quarterback Josh Allen. Heading into the team's Divisional round matchup against the Denver Broncos, Allen may be forced to lean on Shakir even more heavily. Buffalo wide receivers Gabe Davis (knee) and Tyrell Shavers (knee) both suffered season-ending knee injuries during the game against Jacksonville, further depleting an already undermanned Bills' wide receiver corps. Outside of Shakir, Buffalo will likely be relying on wideouts Keon Coleman and Brandin Cooks, both of whom recorded fewer than 40 receptions during the regular season. Even in a tough matchup against Denver, Shakir profiles as a high-floor wide receiver option for fantasy managers given his high likelihood for significant target volume.

Wednesday, January 14, 1:20 PM

Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. was a big disappointment to his fantasy managers in his second season in the NFL after he came out guns blazing in his rookie campaign with 87 catches for 1,282 yards and 10 touchdowns on 133 targets in 17 games. This year, Thomas took a step back with 48 catches on 91 targets for 707 yards and two touchdowns in 14 regular-season games. "When you are part of a team that wins, the wealth will be shared. It will never truly be about one player. I will continue to pour into these guys... BT will 100% be a part of that," head coach Liam Coen said when asked about Thomas' future. The 23-year-old is going to remain involved in the Jags' passing attack, but the addition of Jakobi Meyers in 2025 really hurt his upside. Although Travis Hunter could play more defense in 2026, his presence will also be an obstacle to Thomas trying to rediscover his rookie form.