Who Should I Start? Marquez Valdes-Scantling or Deebo Samuel

Monday, December 23, 7:27 PM

New Orleans Saints wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling (chest, illness) is inactive for Monday's game against the Green Bay Packers. Valdes-Scantling did not practice on Thursday and Friday due to a chest/illness and was listed as questionable for Monday Night football. The 30-year-old was eventually ruled out about an hour before Monday's kickoff. MVS has put up modest numbers recently, catching eight of 17 targets for 151 yards and a touchdown over his last three weeks. Valdes-Scantling's next chance to return will be in the Week 17 matchup versus the Las Vegas Raiders. With MVS out, look for Kevin Austin Jr., Mason Tipton, Dante Pettis, and Cedrick Wilson Jr. to lead the Saints wide receivers in Week 17. Saints tight ends Juwan Johnson and Foster Moreau should also see an uptick in usage against the Green Bay Packers. Fantasy managers shouldn't trust any of these Saints targets for the fantasy football semi-finals outside of deep leagues as the Saints offense is downgraded as a whole with Alvin Kamara (groin) inactive and Spencer Rattler starting for the injured Derek Carr (concussion, hand).

Sunday, December 22, 11:26 PM

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel Sr. finally broke out of a five-game slump during a 29-17 defeat to the Dolphins in Miami on Sunday. Samuel Sr. caught seven of a co-team-high nine targets for 96 yards and a touchdown. He added five rushing attempts for 25 yards. Samuel Sr. looked angry and determined with his touches for the first time in weeks, scoring his 16-yard touchdown by running through three defenders. It's probably too little, too late for Samuel Sr.'s fantasy managers who suffered through five consecutive weeks of sub-five-point half-PPR performances, but anyone still rostering Samuel Sr. now has to at least consider him for a start in Week 17 coming off his most productive game of the season. San Francisco gets the offensive powerhouse Detroit Lions in Santa Clara on Monday night, which should force the 49ers into a pass-heavy game script, with a similar amount of carries to Sunday if rookie running back Isaac Guerendo (foot, hamstring) misses another game.