Who Should I Start? Rashod Bateman or Jack Bech

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.

Saturday, December 27, 9:25 AM

Las Vegas Raiders rookie wide receiver Jack Bech (back) popped up on Friday's injury report with a back issue, logging a limited practice, heading into the team's Week 17 matchup at home against the New York Giants. The rookie saw a dip in his playtime and route participation in Week 16 against the stout Houston Texans defense, but still managed to haul in two of his three targets for 43 yards. With tight end Brock Bowers (knee) going on IR before Week 17, the dominant tight end's 23% target share is likely to get divided up among the remaining pass catchers, benefiting Bech. The Raiders also shut down DE Maxx Crosby (knee) earlier this week, indicating they are looking to get rookies more involved on both sides of the ball in the final two weeks of the season. The late-week back injury is troubling for fantasy managers interested in starting Bech and should monitor his status Sunday afternoon. Bech is the team's WR2 and profiles as a deep league WR4/Flex option in a great matchup against a struggling Giants' pass defense in Week 17. If he cannot play on Sunday, desperate fantasy managers might look to rookie wide receiver Dont'e Thornton Jr. or veteran wide-out Tyler Lockett (wrist) as long-shot substitutes.