Who Should I Start? Kyle Philips or Ladd McConkey

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.

Saturday, January 11, 11:43 PM

Los Angeles Chargers rookie wide receiver Ladd McConkey was the lone bright spot of the Chargers Wild Card Round loss to the Houston Texans on Saturday. McConkey was targeted 14 times, making nine catches for 197 yards and a touchdown. The rookie's touchdown was an 86-yard play and the only one the Bolts would score in the game. While McConkey made his nine catches for 197 yards, the entire rest of the Chargers offense made five catches for 45 yards total. It was a rough performance by the LA offense, but McConkey shone through and truly established himself as an every week fantasy starter in his rookie year.