Who Should I Start? Ray-Ray McCloud III or Jalen Coker

Thursday, September 11, 10:39 AM

Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Ray-Ray McCloud III was quietly phased out of the offense in Week 1. Despite Darnell Mooney (shoulder) being a surprise inactive, McCloud caught just three of five targets for 51 yards in the Falcons' season-opening loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. McCloud logged 72% of the snaps, which was a noticeable dip from his 86% snap share in 2024. He operated as the WR3 behind Drake London and second-year receiver Casey Washington, signaling a reduced role in the passing attack. With Mooney expected back soon, McCloud's usage could shrink even further. From a fantasy perspective, McCloud doesn't warrant a roster spot, even in deeper formats. Unless he delivers a surprise spike in production, he should remain on the free-agent market.

Monday, September 1, 12:36 PM

Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales said that wide receiver Jalen Coker (quadriceps) is dealing with a "significant quad strain." It's the reason why the Panthers brought back veteran Hunter Renfrow, especially after trading Adam Thielen to the Minnesota Vikings last week. The Panthers placed Coker on Injured Reserve, which means that he will be forced to miss at least the first four weeks of the 2025 season after injuring his quad in practice late last week. It's a shame, too, since Coker was standing out in training camp practices this summer and was looking to be in line for a decent role as a depth piece for the Panthers passing attack. That could still happen later this year, and Coker isn't the worst IR stash in fantasy leagues if you're looking for an extra wideout. In the meantime, Renfrow could have the leg up for the WR3 role heading into Week 1.