Who Should I Start? Michael Pittman Jr. or Khalil Shakir

Friday, January 10, 12:10 PM

Indianapolis Colts general manager Chris Ballard said that wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. (back) will not require surgery for the fractured back that he played through late in the 2024 season. "One tough dude. Example of what you want," Ballard said. It's a testament to Pittman's toughness that he missed just one game due to his back injury. But the 27-year-old's back issues and inconsistent play from the quarterback position in Indianapolis in 2024 led to Pittman posting only 808 receiving yards -- his fewest since his rookie season in 2020 -- to go with 69 receptions (also his lowest mark since 2020) and only three touchdowns in 16 games. Better health will give him a chance to rebound in 2025, but his overall upside might be dependent on quarterback Anthony Richardson's health and his ability to improve as a passer.

Monday, January 27, 2:05 AM

Buffalo Bills wide receiver Khalil Shakir caught six of his seven targets for 46 yards during Sunday's AFC Championship loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. The talented slot receiver led the team in targets and receptions during the defeat. Although Buffalo wasn't able to punch its ticket to Super Bowl LIX, Shakir played well. He has delivered solid results through two games against the Chiefs this year, dropping 14 catches and 116 yards on a Kansas City defense that is susceptible to big showings from slot receivers. In the coming months, there will be plenty of chatter about the Bills looking to add a true No. 1 receiver after numerous failed efforts to knock the Chiefs off their pedestal in the AFC. However, if Buffalo doesn't make a major splash at wide receiver, Shakir has shown that he's capable of handling a large dose of targets while ranking as a low-end WR2 in fantasy football. He remains an appealing option for managers ahead of 2025 fantasy drafts, barring a major shakeup within the Bills' depth chart.