Who Should I Start? Marquez Valdes-Scantling or Tucker Kraft

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).

Wednesday, December 25, 9:36 PM

Green Bay Packers tight ends Tucker Kraft (hip) and Luke Musgrave (ankle) were both listed as limited participants on Wednesday's practice estimate. The Packers noted that since they didn't practice on Wednesday, their injury report was merely an estimation. In other words, if they had practiced, both Kraft and Musgrave would have been limited. While any sort of appearance on the injury report is newsworthy and should be monitored, players who are limited on Wednesday typically progress to full participants by the end of the week and are able to play on Sunday. We'll gain more insight into the tight ends' statuses over the next two days of practice, but as of now, fantasy managers should expect them to suit up in Week 17 against the Minnesota Vikings. Of the duo, Kraft has the most fantasy appeal, ranking as a fringe top-12 option at the tight end position.