Who Should I Start? Luke McCaffrey or Jimmy Horn Jr.

Friday, October 3, 10:19 PM

Washington Commanders wide receiver Luke McCaffrey will have another opportunity for more playing time in Week 5. Washington continues to deal with multiple injuries at wide receiver, with Terry McLaurin (quadriceps) and Noah Brown (groin) both ruled out again for Sunday. McCaffrey has now scored touchdowns in back-to-back games without those two players, finding the end zone for the first time in his career on a 43-yard catch and run against the Raiders in Week 3. The second-year wideout, however, hasn't run a high number of routes in any game this season, despite injuries to the top of Washington's receiver room. He ran a season high of just 13 routes this past week against Atlanta. That signals that the coaching staff prefers not to use him on the outside, as journeyman receiver Chris Moore stepped into that role and ran close to a full number of routes against Atlanta. McCaffrey's role could expand this week against a stingy Chargers defense, but he's likely only playable in deeper leagues.

Friday, October 3, 3:12 PM

Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales said that rookie wide receiver Jimmy Horn Jr. will "definitely" be a part of the team's wide receiver rotation, per Joseph Person of The Athletic. Horn Jr. has been a healthy scratch in each of Carolina's first four games but appears poised to make his NFL debut, perhaps in Week 5 against the Miami Dolphins. Panthers wide receiver Jalen Coker (quad) is eligible to return off Injured Reserve this week, but not guaranteed to play, and the team lost veteran wideout David Moore (elbow) to IR after he suffered an elbow injury in Week 4. On the other hand, second-year wide receiver Xavier Legette (hamstring) looks poised to return in Week 5 after a two-game absence due to a hamstring injury. If Horn Jr. is active for Week 5, he'll likely be battling with Legette and veteran Hunter Renfrow for playing time alongside standout rookie Tetairoa McMillan.