Who Should I Start? Matthew Slater or Tim Patrick

Tuesday, February 20, 12:01 PM

New England Patriots wide receiver and special teams ace Matthew Slater announced on Tuesday that he is officially retiring from professional football. Slater holds the record for most special teams Pro Bowl appearances with 10. "I have given all that I possibly can to respect and honor the game," Slater wrote. "Though it is time for my relationship with the game to evolve, the love I have for it will last a lifetime." The former fifth-round pick by the Patriots in 2008 out of UCLA spent his entire 16-year career in New England and won three Super Bowls with the team and is the franchise's all-time leader in special teams tackles. Slater played in 239 games with the Patriots, second in team history behind only Tom Brady (285). Slater's 25 career postseason games rank ninth-most in NFL history. The 38-year-old was a team captain for 13 straight seasons.

Friday, March 8, 12:24 PM

Denver Broncos wide receiver Tim Patrick (Achilles) agreed to a one-year deal to remain with the organization for the 2024 season. The 30-year-old has missed each of the last two seasons after suffering a torn ACL and torn Achilles in his last two training camps, but it appears he's going to try to extend his career. In 2021, he caught 53 passes for 734 yards and five touchdowns. Although the new contract is a good sign for his recovery from two major injuries, he's unlikely to be on the fantasy radar in 2024. He's beyond the wide receiver age apex, and he's likely to be extremely rusty after two full years away from football.