Who Should I Start? Saquon Barkley or Khalil Shakir

Monday, October 6, 6:25 PM

The Philadelphia Eagles listed running back Saquon Barkley (knee) as a non-participant on their estimated injury report on Monday due to a knee injury, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. NFL insider Ian Rapoport is reporting that Barkley had general soreness in his knee coming out of Sunday's loss to the Denver Broncos, but he fully expects to play on Thursday night against his former team, the New York Giants. It explains why Barkley's volume was so low in Week 5 -- he had a season-low six carries for 30 yards and caught all three of his targets for 58 yards and a touchdown. Last year's rushing leader remains a must-start in fantasy when he's active, but there's certainly the potential for him to see a smaller workload again on a short week against the Giants. The good news is that Barkley averaged 5.0 yards per carry on Sunday after being under 3.0 yards a carry in the previous two games.

Saturday, October 4, 6:12 AM

Buffalo Bills wide receiver Khalil Shakir has been the definition of a boom-or-bust fantasy option through the first four weeks of the season, posting point totals of 9.4, 1.7, 12.5, and 15.4. His limited usage in the offense--typically fewer than six targets per game--makes him heavily touchdown dependent, which creates weekly volatility for fantasy managers. While Shakir's big-play ability gives him upside, it's difficult to predict when those breakout games will come, making him far more valuable in best ball formats than in standard redraft leagues. Heading into Week 5, Shakir should be treated as a mid-level flex option, ranking behind more reliable volume-based receivers such as Wan'Dale Robinson and Ladd McConkey. Managers seeking a safe floor may want to look elsewhere, but those chasing upside can still take the gamble.