Who Should I Start? Rome Odunze or Ladd McConkey

Saturday, October 18, 12:11 PM

Chicago Bears wide receiver Rome Odunze is coming off a quiet Week 6, recording just two catches for 32 yards. However, his day could have been much bigger, as Odunze had an 11-yard touchdown negated by a penalty and narrowly missed on a few deep connections with Caleb Williams. Despite the down week, the second-year receiver is still in the midst of a breakout season, totaling 328 yards and five touchdowns in five games, ranking as the WR7 on a per-game basis. Odunze draws a favorable matchup in Week 7 against the New Orleans Saints, who have allowed the eighth-most fantasy points to wide receivers this season. With the Saints' defense surrendering big performances to WR1s like Marvin Harrison Jr., Jauan Jennings, and Jaxon Smith-Njigba so far this season, Odunze is in a prime bounce-back spot. He should be viewed as a high-end WR2 this week, with significant big-play upside against a struggling Saints secondary.

Friday, October 24, 12:26 AM

Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Ladd McConkey caught six of his 10 targets for 88 yards and a touchdown during Thursday's Week 8 win over the Minnesota Vikings. McConkey had a relatively underwhelming start to the season, but he seems to have turned a corner with 27 catches and three touchdowns over his last four games. Since Week 5, he is averaging 18.8 fantasy points per game (PPR), which ranks as the eighth-most among all NFL wide receivers during that span. McConkey's rapport with Justin Herbert continues to solidify, and he should be treated as a low-end fantasy WR1 going forward. He'll face off against the struggling Tennessee Titans in Week 9.