Who Should I Start? Rashod Bateman or Jaxon Smith-Njigba

Thursday, December 4, 9:55 PM

Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Rashod Bateman (ankle) was a limited participant in practice on Thursday. This was a step backward after he had logged a full session on Wednesday. Fantasy managers should pay close attention to his status on Friday, as it appears he's trending in the wrong direction. In the event that he can't suit up this week, DeAndre Hopkins would likely operate as the Ravens' No. 2 receiver alongside Zay Flowers. At the moment, neither Bateman nor Hopkins is a reliable fantasy option in leagues with 12 or fewer teams.

Friday, December 5, 11:09 AM

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba is in a position to bounce back in Week 14 against the Atlanta Falcons. After being the most consistent player in fantasy through his first 11 games, JSN finally came back down to Earth in Week 13. He logged just two receptions for 23 yards. These types of games happen relatively often for wide receivers. Week 13 was also a very strange game for Seattle. Quarterback Sam Darnold was relatively ineffective, but the Vikings' offense was completely inept. Seattle ultimately kicked a lot of field goals and scored on defense, which propelled them to victory. Although Smith-Njigba's matchup with the Atlanta Falcons in Week 14 is not ideal, he has proven to be matchup-proof in just about every game this year. Darnold's play should improve. It cannot get much worse than it has been over the last few weeks. Even with Darnold playing poorly, JSN has still managed to produce in fantasy. Start Smith-Njigba as a top-five option once again in Week 14.