Who Should I Start? Michael Pittman Jr. or Jack Bech

Wednesday, April 23, 12:27 AM

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. (back) said that his back injury from the 2024 season is in the past and he didn't require surgery on his back. He said he was cleared to play last month and thinks he's done the work necessary to get past the fractured back that he played through last year. In addition to shaky quarterback play and Anthony Richardson eventually being benched in favor of veteran Joe Flacco, Pittman battled a busted back to finish with only 69 receptions, 808 receiving yards and three touchdowns in 16 games, which were all the lowest marks of his five-year NFL career since his rookie campaign in 2020 in which he played in only 13 games. The 27-year-old might be better off from a fantasy perspective if Daniel Jones wins the quarterback competition over Anthony Richardson this offseason, but either way, fantasy managers are going to be more skeptical of Pittman as a WR2 in 2025.

Tuesday, April 29, 4:56 PM

Las Vegas Raiders second-round rookie wide receiver Jack Bech is a strong candidate to be an immediate starter in his first NFL season, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal's Vincent Bonsignore. The TCU product was taken with the 58th overall pick on Day 2 and should line up next to Jakobi Meyers and Tre Tucker in starting three-wide sets. Rookie fourth-rounder Dont'e Thornton Jr. out of Tennessee could also push Tucker for playing time as a deep threat in 2025. Like Meyers and Tucker, Bech can play inside and outside and will likely be used in different spots on the field. The 23-year-old will probably be behind tight Brock Bowers and Meyers in terms of targets in his rookie year, but he'll be working with an established veteran quarterback in Geno Smith and could be worth a late-round dart throw in deep redraft leagues. Bech will be a solid target in rookie-only drafts once the top names at receiver come off the board.