Who Should I Start? Richie James or Zay Flowers

Saturday, July 19, 11:06 AM

Wide receiver Richie James announced on X on Friday that he is retiring from professional football. "It took time but i have come to realize I am retired from the NFL. Seventh round out of MTSU. I feel like I was just a ballplayer to last that long. Unfortunately, my knee never healed properly. I was playing hurt since 2022. Oh well. I gave everything I got to the game of football," James wrote. The 29-year-old was originally selected 240th overall in the seventh round by the San Francisco 49ers in the 2018 NFL draft out of Middle Tennessee State. He played the first three years of his career in the Bay Area before joining the New York Giants in 2022. James last played for the Kansas City Chiefs in 2023. He will finish his five-year career with 105 catches on 143 targets for 1,372 yards and seven touchdowns in 66 regular-season games (15 starts).

Saturday, October 25, 10:39 AM

Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers has been cleared from the injury report after being a full participant in practice all week. The speedy wideout has struggled quite a bit with Cooper Rush under center, as has the entire offense, but could have Lamar Jackson (hamstring) back against the Chicago Bears. Even if Tyler Huntley has to start, Flowers has a bit of a higher ceiling than before. His matchup would most likely be Kyler Gordon, who has given up a 100% catch rate and an average of 11.5 yards per target. Overall, the Bears' defense has allowed an average of 34.32 fantasy points per game to opposing receiver groups and 10 touchdown receptions so far. Fantasy managers can look to Flowers as a high-end WR2 in this matchup.