Who Should I Start? Marquise Brown or Calvin Austin III

Saturday, November 1, 2:30 PM

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Marquise Brown has recorded 32 catches for 316 yards and four touchdowns on 49 targets across his first eight games of 2025. However, Brown has seen his role in the offense shrink in recent weeks. After earning at least five targets in each of his first five games of the season, Brown has failed to reach the five-target mark in each of his last three. He was held without a catch on just one target in his most recent outing in Week 8 against the Washington Commanders. With Chiefs wideouts Rashee Rice and Xavier Worthy back from the suspension and injury that limited their participation early in the season, Brown appears likely to remain in a marginalized role. Kansas City will play the Buffalo Bills in Week 9 in a matchup that has definite shootout potential. Still, Brown is unlikely to provide fantasy-relevant production if he fails to crack 40% of the team's offensive snaps, a number he hasn't reached since Week 6. Brown profiles as a desperation deep-league flex option in Week 9 against Buffalo.

Saturday, November 1, 1:06 PM

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Calvin Austin III will hope to bounce back from a quiet Week 8 in a Week 9 showdown with the 7-1 Indianapolis Colts. Fellow receiver Roman Wilson had a breakout showing last week, but it was Austin that logged the second-most snaps among Pittsburgh's wideouts behind DK Metcalf. While the Colts have been difficult to defeat on the scoreboard, they've proven beatable through the air, giving up the third-most fantasy points per game and most receptions to opposing receivers. Austin has the explosiveness to break a big play against this defense and should be involved in what is projected to be a high-scoring affair. However, the fourth-year pro has not been consistent enough to warrant consideration in most fantasy leagues. He should be viewed as a low-end flex option with upside in deeper leagues on Sunday.