Who Should I Start? Michael Pittman Jr. or Rashee Rice

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.

Thursday, May 29, 3:31 PM

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice (knee) was limited to just three full games last season before suffering a major knee injury in Week 4 against the Los Angeles Chargers. Before his injury, he looked like a fantasy football league winner while securing 24 receptions for 288 yards and two scores. According to quarterback Patrick Mahomes, he is healing up nicely. "He looks like Rashee," Mahomes said after Thursday's OTAs. "I think he can be one of the best receivers in the league." Rice seemed to be locked into the WR1 role early in last year's campaign, so if he is fully healthy for the start of the 2025 season, he could be one of the best value picks at his low-end WR2 cost in fantasy drafts. That said, uncertainty surrounding his handful of off-the-field incidents from last offseason remains. It is unknown if he will face a suspension that will affect his 2025 availability.