Who Should I Start? Michael Pittman Jr. or Kadarius Toney

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.

Tuesday, December 10, 4:25 PM

The Cleveland Browns waived wide receiver Kadarius Toney on Tuesday. Toney was recently signed to the 53-man active roster from the practice squad on Saturday, but he wasn't targeted at all in the team's Week 14 loss to the division-rival Pittsburgh Steelers, and he failed to haul in his only target while carrying the ball twice for minus-four yards in his three games active for the Browns this year. The 25-year-old former first-round pick by the New York Giants in 2021 out of Florida has been a massive bust in the NFL and has missed lots of time due to lower-body injuries that have slowed him down. In three-plus seasons, Toney has only managed 82 receptions on 116 targets for 760 yards (9.3 yards per catch) and three touchdowns in 35 games (10), adding 23 carries for 115 yards and another score. If nobody claims Toney on waivers, he'll be free to sign with any team.