Who Should I Start? Kyle Philips or Devaughn Vele

Tuesday, February 18, 8:54 PM

The Las Vegas Raiders signed free-agent wide receiver Kyle Philips to an undisclosed deal on Tuesday. Philips, a former fifth-round selection by the Tennessee Titans in 2022 out of UCLA will head to the AFC West after spending all of the 2024 campaign on the practice squad of the Philadelphia Eagles. In 2022 and 2023, he caught only 23 of 35 targets for 259 yards and no touchdowns in 13 games played (no starts). The 25-year-old pass-catcher also saw time on special teams as a kickoff and punt returner, which will probably be his best path to a roster spot with the Raiders. Philips will be reuniting with his old head coach at UCLA in Chip Kelly, who is now the Raiders' offensive coordinator under new head coach Pete Carroll. Philips's familiarity with Kelly won't guarantee him a roster spot out of training camp, though.

Thursday, July 24, 2:42 PM

Denver Broncos second-year wide receiver Devaughn Vele "looks like the clear WR2" early on in training camp, according to Ryan Edwards of KOA Colorado. Vele played in 13 games for Denver as a rookie last season, recording 41 receptions for 475 yards and three touchdowns. The Broncos have Courtland Sutton entrenched as their WR1, but opportunity exists behind him. In addition to Vele, the top contenders for targets in the wide receiver room are Marvin Mims Jr., Troy Franklin, and rookie Pat Bryant. A former seventh-round pick, Vele isn't as explosive as the speedy Mims and might not have the upside of Franklin or Bryant. However, he's a big-bodied target who started seven games as a rookie. Vele could be an intriguing late-round pick in fantasy if he can seize the WR2 job in Denver and run with it.