Who Should I Start? Kristian Wilkerson or Brenden Rice

Saturday, August 24, 10:36 AM

Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Kristian Wilkerson made a solid impression in the Raiders' preseason finale, snagging three catches for 35 yards and a touchdown in Friday's 24-24 tie to the San Francisco 49ers. While this performance boosts his chances of making the final roster, fantasy managers should temper their expectations. Even if Wilkerson secures a spot, he's likely to be no higher than fifth or sixth on the depth chart. In the Raiders' offense, this translates to minimal regular-season opportunities, barring multiple injuries ahead of him. His preseason touchdown showcases some red-zone potential, but Wilkerson's fantasy relevance will be severely limited with established targets like Davante Adams and Jakobi Meyers ahead of him. At best, he's a name to remember for deep dynasty leagues or as a potential in-season waiver wire option if injuries decimate the Raiders' receiving corps. For now, Wilkerson remains off the radar in all but the deepest of fantasy formats.

Sunday, August 31, 10:08 PM

Free agent wide receiver Brenden Rice is working out for the New Orleans Saints on Monday, according to Jordan Schultz of Fox Sports. Rice is the son of Hall of Fame wideout Jerry Rice. A seventh-round pick of the Los Angeles Chargers in 2024, Rice appeared in three games without recording a catch as a rookie and was released by Los Angeles earlier this week. The 23-year-old worked out for the Philadelphia Eagles on Friday, so there are at least a couple of teams with speculative interest. The Saints have a solid top-four in their wide receiver room between Chris Olave, Rashid Shaheed, Brandin Cooks, and Devaughn Vele. If Rice signs in New Orleans, it would likely be a practice squad deal.