Who Should I Start? Michael Gallup or Laviska Shenault Jr.

Wednesday, June 11, 10:02 PM

Washington Commanders wide receiver Michael Gallup (hamstring) is dealing with a hamstring strain that has kept him off the field for the first two days of mandatory minicamp this week, a source told The Washington Post's Nicki Jhabvala. Gallup spent the first six years of his NFL career with the Dallas Cowboys after they selected him in the third round (81st overall) in 2018 out of Colorado State before signing with the Las Vegas Raiders in free agency. The 29-year-old then abruptly retired and didn't play at all in 2024. He's making a comeback back in the NFC East, but Gallup is facing an uphill battle for playing time in D.C. behind Terry McLaurin, Deebo Samuel Sr., Noah Brown (undisclosed), K.J. Osborn and Luke McCaffrey. Gallup's hamstring injury isn't helping his cause in minicamp. He's off the fantasy radar for now.

Tuesday, July 1, 9:41 PM

The Athletic's Joe Buscaglia lists Buffalo Bills wide receiver Laviska Shenault Jr. on the bubble watch heading into training camp. Shenault is likely best suited for the X receiver role behind Keon Coleman, and his run-after-the-catch skills and speed give him a real shot to with the kickoff-return job. The Bills made a low-cost investment in Shenault after liking him in the pre-draft process before his draft year. Despite all those things that Buscaglia mentions, he also writes that the odds are that Shenault doesn't make the team beyond training camp because they'll have answers elsewhere to the value he'd provide. If the 26-year-old doesn't make the 53-man roster, he'll be a prime candidate to be stashed on the practice squad for depth. Shenault caught just five passes for 36 yards as mostly a kickoff returner in 2024 with the Seahawks and Chargers.