Who Should I Start? Michael Pittman Jr. or Cade Otton

Friday, December 20, 10:52 PM

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. was a full participant in practice on Friday. The 27-year-old did not practice on Wednesday, but was back to a full participant the following two sessions to close out the week. The 6-foot-4 wideout has dealt with back issues seemingly all season long, but it has cost him just one week of playing time. The former second-round draft pick has been Anthony Richardson's preferred target in the passing game over the last four weeks since being reinstated as the starting QB, averaging over five catches per contest, albeit for just 60 yards per game. The fifth-year pro hasn't scored a touchdown since Week 6, which happened to be against his Week 16 opponent, the Tennessee Titans. Although he found paydirt in that first meeting, he did so on just three catches for 35 yards. With the Titans allowing the fifth-fewest fantasy points to opposing receivers and with Richardson completing less than 50% of his passes on the season, expectations for Sunday's divisional showdown should be tempered. While the Colts are 3.5-point favorites in this one, there is a low expected total of 42.5 and Pittman Jr. projects as a WR4 this week, so hopefully fantasy managers have other options.

Saturday, December 21, 4:18 PM

Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end Cade Otton (knee) has been downgraded to out for Sunday night's game against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 16. The Bucs will be without Otton and will play Payne Durham at tight end in his absence. Otton was a big pass-catching threat at the position but Durham has caught just two passes so far this season. It will be a big fantasy downgrade at the position for Tampa Bay which also expects Ko Kieft and Devin Culp to fill in some at tight end. Kieft and Culp have yet to catch a pass this season. Expect wide receivers Mike Evans and Jalen McMillan to benefit the most from Otton's absence, likely seeing an uptick in targets.