Who Should I Start? Michael Thomas or Allen Lazard

Wednesday, September 11, 8:40 PM

The National Football League on Wednesday announced that it has lifted the suspension of free-agent wide receiver Michael Thomas. Thomas was suspended for the first game of the 2024 NFL season for an incident with a construction worker near his home last year. The fact that the 31-year-old remained without a team all offseason is a sign that he may struggle to latch on with an organization despite the fact that he's past his one-game suspension. Just several years ago, Thomas was the best receiver in the league, but injuries have limited him to 20 games since the start of the 2020 campaign, and he played in just 10 games with the New Orleans Saints last year before a knee injury ended his season. He caught 39 passes for 448 yards and one touchdown in 2023. Thomas belongs on the waiver wire in all leagues and is unlikely to be on the fantasy radar in 2024.

Tuesday, October 14, 9:41 PM

New York Jets wide receiver Allen Lazard has recorded just four catches for 24 yards on six targets across four games so far this season. Still, Lazard could have a chance to make his mark in New York now that star Jets wideout Garrett Wilson (knee) is facing a multi-week absence due to a knee injury. Lazard missed the team's Week 6 matchup against the Denver Broncos due to personal reasons, so his status for Week 7 is somewhat unclear. If he's able to return to the lineup in Week 7, Lazard could be the favorite to start at wide receiver for the Jets alongside fellow veteran Josh Reynolds in a favorable matchup against the Carolina Panthers. In the very deepest of fantasy leagues, Lazard could be a short-term desperation flex option while Wilson is sidelined.