Who Should I Start? Mike Evans or T.J. Hockenson

Friday, September 5, 8:52 PM

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans missed three games last season and still was able to keep his 1,000-yard streak alive. Evans is Mr. Reliable and he has earned that title after 11 straight seasons with 1,000 receiving yards or more. Fantasy managers should expect Evans to continue having success in 2025. The Bucs are shorthanded at wideout to begin the season with Chris Godwin (ankle) and Jalen McMillan (neck) both out. That being said, Evans is expected to be leaned on heavily in the passing game. The Atlanta Falcons aren't known for their elite defense, so fantasy managers should be able to count on Evans as a WR1 for Week 1. There should be plenty of opportunities for the 32-year-old as he looks to make it 12 straight seasons with 1,000 receiving yards.

Saturday, September 6, 3:40 PM

With the Minnesota Vikings going through changes at wide receiver, tight end T.J. Hockenson is a starting-caliber option as his team prepares to take on the Chicago Bears in Week 1. The veteran tight end figures to be a key part of Minnesota's passing game with wide receiver Jordan Addison (suspension) set to miss the first three games, and could very well be the team's second option behind superstar receiver Justin Jefferson. Hockenson started only nine times last season while recovering from an ACL injury the year prior, and figures to see a natural boost nearly two years post-surgery. He caught 95 passes in 2023 despite the Vikings playing half the season with backup quarterbacks, which bodes well for managers who drafted him as Minnesota breaks in first-time starting quarterback J.J. McCarthy in 2025.