Who Should I Start? Quintez Cephus or Brenden Rice

Thursday, July 24, 9:20 PM

The San Francisco 49ers have signed wide receiver Quintez Cephus, according to Jennifer Lee Chan of NBC Sports Bay Area. The team waived running back Israel Abanikanda to make room on the roster for Cephus. Originally drafted in 2020 by the Detroit Lions, Cephus has not appeared in an NFL game since 2022. He profiles as a depth piece in San Francisco, but the 49ers need all the help at wide receiver they can get. Top wideouts Brandon Aiyuk (knee) and Ricky Pearsall (hamstring) are on the active/physically unable to perform list, and Jacob Cowing (hamstring) left the team's practice on Wednesday due to injury. Jauan Jennings is healthy and practicing, but he's reportedly seeking a trade if the team does not offer him a new contract. Under head coach Kyle Shanahan, San Francisco has proven the ability to get production out of unheralded players. Even still, Cephus is a long shot to make an impact in fantasy in 2025.

Tuesday, August 27, 7:41 PM

The Los Angeles Chargers announced on Tuesday that rookie wide receiver Brenden Rice and safeties Tony Jefferson and JT Woods were among the players that made the final 53-man roster heading into the 2024 regular season. Rice made the final cut after impressive during training camp and the preseason. The 22-year-old son of Hall of Famer Jerry Rice was taken in the seventh round of April's NFL draft out of USC. He might be worth stashing in deep dynasty/keeper leagues, but for his rookie season, he'll merely be a depth option for the Bolts behind Joshua Palmer, DJ Chark, rookie Ladd McConkey, Quentin Johnston, Simi Fehoko and Derius Davis. Rice excels with his route-running and also plays with a physical style on contested catches down the field. Initially, he might be a red-zone weapon for a new-look Chargers offense in 2024.