Who Should I Start? Noah Brown or Rashod Bateman

Tuesday, December 16, 11:44 AM

Washington Commanders wide receiver Noah Brown (ribs) has been placed on Injured Reserve, per JP Finlay of NBC 4 Sports. The team has also signed veteran wideout Chris Moore from the practice squad to the active roster as the corresponding move. The IR placement ends what has been an injury-ravaged season for Brown. He appeared in just four games this season for Washington, recording five receptions for 83 yards on 10 targets. The 29-year-old has had a difficult time staying healthy in recent years, playing in just 25 games over the past three seasons. With Brown sidelined, Commanders wideouts Treylon Burks and Jaylin Lane should see more opportunities alongside Washington's star wide receiver duo of Terry McLaurin and Deebo Samuel Sr.

Friday, December 26, 11:15 AM

Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Rashod Bateman has finished as a WR3 or higher in just two games all year in half-PPR formats. Once in Week 3 as the WR15 and again in Week 9 as the WR36. His average finish this season is the WR78, which firmly puts him outside of the start-worthy options in most fantasy leagues. The Green Bay Packers have been quite generous to opposing receivers (ranked 30th over the last four weeks), but Bateman will most likely have Tyler Huntley behind center in this matchup. In Huntley's other two starts this year, Bateman received one and four targets respectively, with a combined three catches for 59 yards. For fantasy managers in their championship game, Bateman projects as the WR84, which would be very hard to trust in a must-win situation.