Who Should I Start? Lamar Jackson or Mecole Hardman

Saturday, January 20, 8:18 PM

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson exhibited his MVP potential in the 2023 Divisional Round, accumulating 252 yards and four touchdowns, including 100 rushing yards in the team's 34-10 victory over the Texans. Despite initial skepticism about his postseason performance, the former MVP emphatically led the Ravens' offense down the field. Jackson's scoring on the first two drives of the second half led to a strategic shift to an ultra-run-heavy approach, tempering his passing statistics for the day. As the AFC's top seed, the impending title game will be at M&T Bank Stadium against either the Bills or Chiefs presents a challenge, with both teams ranking in the bottom 10 in points allowed to quarterbacks. Nevertheless, Jackson is anticipated to deliver robust numbers as the linchpin of the entire offense.

Monday, February 12, 1:28 AM

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Mecole Hardman Jr. played the role of hero for his team in Super Bowl LVIII, reeling in the game-winning touchdown from three yards out to defeat the San Francisco 49ers 25-22. Hardman pulled in each of his three targets for 57 yards in Sunday's big game, also coming down with a 52-yard bomb to get the Chiefs into a goal-to-go during the second quarter. After playing just one snap in the AFC Championship win over the Baltimore Ravens, the 25-year-old stepped up as a deep threat when it mattered most for a Chiefs offense desperate for playmaking down the field all year long. Though he authored quite a feel-good story going from a New York Jets castoff to catching a championship-winning TD, Hardman's Super Bowl heroics are unlikely to make him worth rostering in the majority of 2024 fantasy drafts. Whether it's back with K.C. or another squad, the former Pro Bowl kick returner should find a home next season.