Who Should I Start? Marquez Valdes-Scantling or Allen Lazard

Saturday, September 13, 3:22 AM

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling saw zero targets on 15 routes run in Week 1. With George Kittle (hamstring) now on injured reserve and Jauan Jennings (shoulder) tagged as questionable for San Francisco's Week 2 matchup against the Saints, it is possible that Valdes-Scantling plays a bigger role on Sunday. Unfortunately, Brock Purdy (toe, shoulder) has been ruled out so it will be Mac Jones under center, limiting Valdes-Scantling's upside even if he does see more playing time. MVS does have the ability to stretch the field but Jones' career completion rate on passes of 20 or more air yards is a mere 30%, effectively negating that threat. If it were Purdy running the show, Valdes-Scantling would have more potential but as it is, he has little viability in Week 2.

Wednesday, October 8, 9:59 AM

New York Jets wide receiver Allen Lazard (personal) is out for the game in Week 6, as he didn't make the trip to England, where the Jets take on the Denver Broncos. Lazard is dealing with an unspecified personal issue, and Arian Smith and Tyler Johnson could see an uptick in snaps and targets as a result. Garrett Wilson and Mason Taylor remain quarterback Justin Fields' go-to targets in the pass game and should continue to be precisely that with Lazard out. Lazard has struggled to find his groove in 2025, seeing only six targets through four games, which have translated to only 24 yards and one touchdown. Fantasy managers still rostering Lazard should look elsewhere on the waiver wire and target a player trending upward.